
Gingered Slow-Braised Lamb Shanks
Makes 4 ServingsIngredients
* | 1/4 cup olive oil |
* | 4 12-oz. domestic hind bone-in lamb shanks |
* | 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt |
* | 1 1/4 tsp. black pepper |
* | 1 anchovy fillet, minced |
* | 2 tbls. chopped peeled fresh ginger |
* | 8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced |
* | 1 fennel bulb, trimmed, cored, and thinly sliced |
* | 1 Spanish onion, thinly sliced |
* | 1/2 tsp. fennel seeds |
* | 3/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes |
* | 2 tsp. ground cumin |
* | 2/3 cup dry red wine |
* | 1 cup balsamic vinegar |
* | 3 Roasted Tomatoes |
* | 1/2 cup cooked chick peas, rinsed |
* | 3 fresh rosemary sprigs |
* | 10 cups water, or Dark Stock, Chicken Broth or canned low-sodium chicken broth |

Instructions
1 | Preheat the oven to 275 to 300 degrees. |
2 | Place a large cast-iron skillet or other heavy ovenproof skillet or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and when it is hot, add 2 tablespoons of the oil. Sprinkle the lamb shanks with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1 teaspoon of the pepper and add them to the pan. Cook until they are browned on both sides, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Set the shanks aside and discard the oil. |
3 | Wipe the skillet clean and reheat it. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the anchovy fillet, ginger, and garlic, stirring well after each addition, and cook until the garlic is golden, about 3 minutes. Add the fennel, onion, fennel seeds, pepper flakes, cumin, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the wine, and vinegar, stirring well after each addition. Cook until the sauce has reduced somewhat, about 5 minutes. |
4 | Add the tomatoes and chick peas and return the shanks to the pan. Add the rosemary and water, bring to a simmer, and transfer the skillet to the oven. |
5 | Bake, uncovered, until the meat is falling off the bone, about 3 hours. Transfer to 4 plates or a large serving platter. |
6 | Serve over Apple-Fennel Mashed Potatoes |


Source
From THE OLIVES TABLE by Todd English and Sally Sampson. Text Copyright(C) 1997 by Todd English and Sally Sampson. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.