Braised Lamb Shanks (Persian Style)

Braised lamb shanks slow cooked in a fantastic sauce with Persian spices, saffron, lemon juice and herbs makes a spectacular feast. Succulent lamb in an amazingly delicious sauce can also be cooked in oven or crock-pot!! 

Our favorite lamb dishes are Kabob Koobideh and Roast Lamb Shawarma.

Best Way To Cook Lamb shanks

The meat of lamb shanks is tougher with more connective tissue. However, the simple trick of braising it and slow cooking in a sauce converts it into fabulously juicy meat that will just fall of the bone. Make sure to choose lamb meat properly.....more on that below.

Persian Braised Lamb Shanks

Years ago I had these amazing lamb shanks at a Persian restaurant in California. I have cooked it several times over the years and now have perfected it to this stunningly delicious recipe here.

And the bonus with browning and then slow cooking lamb shanks is that it gives the sauce time to cook to silky perfection.

How to Make It: Step By Step

Brown the lamb shanks and saute onions with spices.

Transfer lamb shanks and onion-spice mixture to the pot. Add herbs, lemon zest, saffron, lemon juice and water.

Bring it to a boil and simmer. Cook until fork tender and meat is falling of the bone.

Tips And Tricks

• Make sure to brown the meat just on the surface. This requires that the pan reaches a high heat, but not smoking.
• Choose similar sized lamb shanks that are about 0.75 to 1 pound in weight each (300 to 400 grams approx). For more about choosing lamb shanks check this out.
• Make sure to not choose meat cuts from overly mature livestock.
• Use fresh herbs for best taste and flavor.
• Slice the onions thin so they can cook into a silky sauce.
• Persian lamb shanks can be prepared ahead and freezes well too.

What To Serve With It?

• Rice such as: Persian dill rice, Zereshk polo (skip the chicken) or even plain saffron flavored rice
• Breads: Persian barbari bread or simple Flatbreads.
• Just add some green salad, pickles, yogurt and olives to the spread.

Nutrition Facts

Lamb shanks are a good source of complete protein, supplying all the essential amino acids. They also provide plenty of vitamin B-12, niacin and selenium, in addition to being a good source of zinc, iron and potassium.

I recommend you to choose grass fed lamb for better taste and health. Please do remember to consume red meat in moderate amounts.

More Lamb Recipes:

• Moroccan Lamb Stew with Cauliflower Couscous
• Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb Stew)
• Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Mushrooms and Olives
• Lamb Biryani
• Grilled Lamb Chops

More Holiday Recipes:

• Spiced Roast Goose
• Lentils and Rice with Cranberries
• Saffron Recipes

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5 from 8 votes

Braised Lamb Shanks

Braised lamb shanks slow cooked in a fantastic sauce with Persian spices, saffron, lemon juice and herbs makes a spectacular feast. Succulent lamb in an amazingly delicious sauce can also be cooked in oven or crock-pot!!

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time1 hr 30 mins

Total Time1 hr 55 mins

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Course :Main Course

Cuisine :Persian

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 255kcal

Author: Roxana Begum

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 3 lb lamb shanks (4 shanks, about 0.75 lb per lamb shank)
• ▢ Salt to taste
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 onion large
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic grated
• ▢ 3 teaspoon Advieh Khoresh (Persian spice mix, see note)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon turmeric
• ▢ ½ teaspoon saffron dissolved in 2 tablespoon hot water
• ▢ 2 tablespoon lemon juice
• ▢ 2 bay leaves
• ▢ 2 thyme sprigs fresh or 2 tablespoon fresh dill
• ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon zest or orange zest (see note)
• ▢ Fresh thyme or dill weed for garnish

US Customary - Metric

Equipment

• ▢
  Cast Iron Skillet
• ▢
  Heavy Bottomed Cooking Pot
• ▢
  Dutch Oven (Optional)
• ▢
  Slow Cooker (Optional)
• ▢
  Kitchen Tongs

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Instructions

Stove Top

• Heat one tablespoon of oil in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
• When the oil is hot, place the lamb shanks and season well with salt and pepper. You may work with two shanks at a time.
• Then brown the shanks well on all sides using a pair of tongs. It should take about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the seared lamb shanks and set aside.
• In the same skillet add the remaining oil and heat it. Then add the sliced onion and sauté until light golden brown.
• Next add the grated garlic and stir couple minutes. Add the Persian spice mix, and turmeric. Then turn of the heat.
• Transfer the lamb shanks and sautéed onion-spice mixture to a heavy bottomed cooking pot. Add the saffron water, lemon juice, bay leaves, thyme (or dill) and the lemon zest.
• Add about 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil, and then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 1½ to 2 hours until fork tender. The meat should be falling of the bone.
• Adjust the seasonings as per taste.
• Transfer the lamb shanks to a serving dish.
• Cook down the sauce further if it is too thin and then pour it over the lamb shanks. Or you may strain the sauce and then cook it. Discard the bay leaves.
• Tip: You may also cook this from start to finish in a dutch oven or a heavy bottomed pot that heats up well for browning the meat.

Oven:

• Follow the same instructions as above.

  And cook the lamb shanks in the oven at 325 degrees F in an oven safe dish making sure to seal it well or use a fitting lid.

Slow cooker:

• Brown the lambs shanks and prepare the onion-spice-herb mixture. Transfer to slow cooker. 
• Add the water and cook according to the instructions for about 4 to 5 hours at high or 6 to 8 hours at low setting.

Notes

1. Be sure to brown the meat just on the surface. And this requires that the pan reach a high heat, but not smoking.
2. Choose similar sized lamb shanks that are about 0.75 to 1 pound in weight each (300 to 400 grams approx). For more about choosing lamb shanks check this out.
3. Do not choose meat cuts from overly mature livestock.
4. Use fresh herbs for best taste and flavor.
5. For a silky sauce, do slice the onions thin.
6. Braised lamb shanks can be prepared ahead and freezes well too.
7. Advieh (Persian spice mix) recipe is on the blog. May also substitute it with a good ready made middle eastern or eastern Mediterranean mixed spice blend.
8. You may use 1 tablespoon dried lime powder instead of lemon zest. Lower the amount of lemon juice as per taste.
9. Grind the saffron threads using a mortar and pestle into a fine powder. Tip: Adding a pinch of sugar to the saffron is helpful to grind it fine.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Lamb Shank | Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 8.7mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3.2mg

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