Soy-Braised Lamb Shanks
I thought I was tired of braised lamb shanks, having cooked them for so many years. But then I added a step that utterly transforms them. Reducing the braising liquid and then basting the lamb with it makes this dish wonderfully rich. Serve this with Green Apple and Jalapeño Duo (page 177); the green apple puree and salad balance the richness with a bright, refreshing acidity.
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 4
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Step 2
Heat a large Dutch oven over high heat until very hot. Add enough oil to generously coat the bottom of the pan and heat until almost smoking. Carefully slide in the lamb shanks in a single layer. Do not crowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Cook until golden brown on one side, about 4 minutes. Turn on another side and continue cooking and turning to evenly brown all sides and the top, about 8 minutes longer. Drain all of the fat from the pan.
Step 3
Meanwhile, heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add enough oil to generously coat the bottom of the pan and heat until shimmering. Stir in the onions, shallots, and garlic. Season with a pinch of salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and tender, about 10 minutes.
Step 4
Add the onion mixture to the pan with the lamb, along with the pears, scallions, lemongrass, ginger, chile, anise, wine, vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. Add enough water to cover the lamb by 1/2 inch.
Step 5
Cover and bring to a boil. Transfer to the oven and braise until the meat is completely tender and falling off the bone, about 3 1/2 hours. Uncover and carefully transfer the lamb shanks to a dish. Raise the oven temperature to 375°F.
Step 6
Strain the braising liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a large saucepan, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Bring to a boil and continue to boil over high heat until reduced by a third.
Step 7
Return the shanks to the Dutch oven, meat side down, and pour the reduced liquid over them. Transfer to the oven and cook, basting every 5 minutes, until lacquered with a mahogany glaze, about 15 minutes. There should still be syrupy sauce left in the pan.
Step 8
Serve the lamb shanks with the sauce spooned over the meat.