Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
Lamb shanks browned and cooked in red wine, stock and tomatoes for 8 hours until the meat falls from the bone. Four servings.
Photograph credit: Lamb Shank with roast potatoes, peas & carrots (15293719149) by CharmaineZoe's Marvelous Melange from England · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
How to Make Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
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Season the shanks with the salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the shanks on all sides for 10 minutes. Lift into the slow cooker.
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Cook the onion and carrots in the same pan for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and purée for 1 minute, then the wine, scraping the base, and boil for 3 minutes. Tip over the shanks.
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Add the tomatoes, stock, rosemary and bay leaf. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, until the meat falls from the bone. If your slow cooker runs hot, check at 7 hours.
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Lift out the shanks, skim the fat from the sauce and, if it is thin, boil it in a pan for 10 minutes. Serve the shanks with the sauce.
Notes for Getting It Right
- Brown the shanks well; the sauce takes its colour from this.
- Keep the liquid at about halfway up the meat.
- Lift the shanks out carefully at the end.
- Reduce the sauce in a pan for a thicker finish.
Common Substitutions & Variations
- An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
Serving Suggestions
- Mashed potato
- Green beans
- Roast carrots
- Crusty bread
Keeping and Reheating
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days in the sauce. Freezes for up to 3 months. Reheat gently, covered.
Questions About Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
How long does Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks take to make?
About 8 hours 15 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 8 hours of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks?
Brown the shanks well; the sauce takes its colour from this. Keep the liquid at about halfway up the meat. Lift the shanks out carefully at the end. Reduce the sauce in a pan for a thicker finish.
What should I serve with Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks?
Mashed potato; Green beans; Roast carrots; Crusty bread.
Can Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks be made ahead or frozen?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days in the sauce. Freezes for up to 3 months. Reheat gently, covered.
Is Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is dairy-free, high-protein, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks?
About 791 kcal per serving, with 79 g protein, 13 g carbohydrate and 47 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks Nutrition Facts
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
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