Sunday, May 30, 2010

EASY SLOW COOKER LAMB SHANKS


the slow cooker wins another round. i love my little red slow cooker. i think it is the best 20$ i ever spent. no need for the big fancy model with the digital readout. no need for the auto timer. i guarantee when it's done you'll be there waiting.

i know we're moving into summer and everyone is is starting up with their "Lite Summer Fair", but i say, "Don't put away the slow cooker". there's just something so satisfying about throwing a few ingredients in a pot, walking away with no worries and coming home to a fabulous, no-fail meal that tastes and smells like grandma's been in the kitchen all day. pure comfort.

did i mention the clean up?...one pot.



SLOW COOKER LAMB SHANKS...easy peezy

3-4 lbs lamb shanks

1 onion sliced thick

3-5 spears fresh rosemary

8-9 peeled garlic cloves

2 carrots cut large

put sliced onion in the bottom of the crock pot.

salt and pepper the lamb shanks...generously

put everything in the pot.

add enough beef stock or broth to almost cover meat (shown above). don't fill too full.

NOTE...please read comments.  i have cooked this both ways...with water and with beef broth, but broth is better.  homemade broth is best.  watch your salt content if using canned broth.  sometimes i will add in some veal demi glace. 

get the rosemary tucked in so that it's not just floating on the top.

cook on low for 7-8 hours.

if you're home you might want to check it around 5 hours and flip the meat. also you might want to squeeze in a few small potatoes...there should be enough room at this time.

7-8 hours later your ready for a tried and true comfort meal

remove the meat and the veg. for serving and strain the liquid.

DON'T THROW THE COOKING LIQUID OUT. strain, let it sit and separate. refrigerate or freeze for another fabulous dish that requires a rich deep homemade broth.

47 comments:

Frankie said...

this sounds amazing!

thu said...

this looks amazing! i love summer crock pot recipes!

btw - where did you get your crockpot? i love the purple :)

jules said...

hi thanks for stopping by...

i bought my crockpot at good ol'Target. i think the color in the photo is a bit off, because it's basically a red outside with a redish maroon interior. whatever it is... $20.00 you can't go wrong...right?

pigpigscorner said...

Looks so comforting! I really should invest in a slow cooker!

alisa-foodista said...

Looks delicious! I had my crockpot a few months ago and I cant imagine why I waited so long to have it.

carisnell said...

These lamb shanks look amazing! I just want to reach in and eat them! I'd love to feature the recipe on my site with full credit and links to you if you are keen. www.canigettherecipe.com
Please let me know asap! Thanks!

jules said...

Cari...i would be honored. thanks for the opportunity. go ahead and use whatever you would like. i couldn't find a way to contact you directly. if you need anything else let me know.

carisnell said...

Thanks so much Jules! You are on this week! You can view your recipe here: http://www.canigettherecipe.com/2010/10/week-40-vol-ii-october-10-2010.html

Anonymous said...

Sorry, just tried this and it is tasteless!! :(

Jules and Ruby said...

Anonymous...so sorry this didn't work for you. it's always worked for me. it's not meant to have HUGE flavors...just easy comfort food. maybe not enough salt and pepper? anyways...sorry it didn't work for you. thanks for the report though. always like to hear back...good or bad.

Anonymous said...

This was REALLY tasteless. I used beef stock instead of water and it didn't help much.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beautiful. I used a roux to make a gravy with the stock and added an oxo cube to it. Lamb was so tender it fell off the bone. Will be doing this again. And again

Jules and Ruby said...

HI Anonymous...WOW, thanks for the great comment. i was getting worried after the last two. love the roux idea. i just made this again last week due to the comments above. i DID use beef stock instead of water and i made sure i salted it as i usually do...mine turned out great. i DO like things with a punch of flavor as you can see by other post in my blog, but this happens to be a recipe that the WHOLE family likes...just nice and comforting, no surprises. i think i will add to the post that readers should take the seasoning into their own hands like you did....thank you so much again for the comment

Mellie said...

We thoroughly enjoyed this dish for dinner tonight. Lamb shanks were on special last week. Threw all the ingredients in a bag and froze it ready for tonight. Delicious! My 11 & 13 year olds loved it too. Thanks for the inspiration.

Jules and Ruby said...

MELLIE...so glad you liked it...it IS a good comfort meal for the "whole" family. good left overs to, easy warm up. thanks for the great report

Natasha said...

I was looking for a recipe to cook a couple of lamb knuckles and came across yours for shanks instead. Did it today in the slow cooker I used water and about 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar and it was delish will be doing it again. I linked your recipe on to my blog. http://mummyofaredhead.blogspot.co.nz/

Jules and Ruby said...

hi Natasha...great idea with the wine vinegar...i'll have to give that a try next time. thanks for the report

Blair said...

Hi,

I'm an editor for a slow cooker recipe Web site, AllFreeSlowCookerRecipes.com, and we linked to this recipe on our site. I wanted to check in about permission, and also ask about using this recipe in an upcoming eCookbook. Please contact me via our contact page, and address to attention to "Blair."
Thanks! http://www.allfreeslowcookerrecipes.com/index.php/hct/contact_us_page

Anonymous said...

Cooked this last night changed it a little though I seasoned some flour coated the shanks and browned them off in the slow cooker pot first (I can put mine on the stove top) I also added parsley thyme and a couple of bayleaves and red wine reduction on the onions after they were softened.

It was really yummy!

Jules and Ruby said...

hi Anonymous...i hope other readers see your comment...your version sounds "deluxe". browning first IS a better way to go, but sometimes i fall for the short-cut and just throw it all in. thanks so much for your report

Anonymous said...

Hello love lamb shanks slow is always the way to go, love the recipe easy I season and brown off shanks in a large pan first

Sarah said...

Made this yesterday, my first time using a slow cooker. Deeeeeeeeee-licious!! Using this ATLEAST once a fortnight!!

Jules and Ruby said...

hi Sarah...thanks so much for the report...it's nothin' fancy, but it sure is easy and comforting, right?

Tersea said...

I tried and my family absolutely loved it thanks xox

Bike Pretty said...

mandaI made this yesterday and it was delicious. I *did* sear the lamb, but next time I'll try without.
Thanks for the awesome recipe! I should have made more O_o

Jules and Ruby said...

hi Teresea...thanks so much for the report.

hello Bike Pretty...
good idea to sear...more flavors come out with the yummy browning. this is the lazy mans, no-fuss recipe. thanks so much for giving this a try.

John In Finland said...

Just tried the lamb shanks in the slow cooker. I followed your recipe to the letter and served up an amazing meal. The lamb was so soft, tender and tasty it was heaven. Well done and thanks a lot

Jules and Ruby said...

HI John in Finland...
thanks so very much for the report. hope to hear from you again sometime

Unknown said...

All prepped and ready to cook this for the second time. Hopefully it turns out as good as the 1st one. I'll be making a roux for the leftover stock to make a nice gravy with oxo cubes again

Jules and Ruby said...

hi Robbie...nice goin"...now that you mention it...i think i need some lamb shank soon. i know you'll make it tasty

Unknown said...

Turned out amazing. Again. Everyone wanted gravy so I just used the stock and added plain ol gravy granules to it. Turned out beautiful

Jules and Ruby said...

hey ROBBIE...THANKS for the great report...or should i say..."SHANKS" a lot

Valerie F. said...

Excellent recipe, and soooo easy. I added tarragon to it, plus some red wine. Tenderest, and tastiest lamb I've ever had. Thanks so much.

Jules and Ruby said...

hi Valerie...YAY...i LOVE tarragon. and good add with the red wine!

Ash said...

My first slow cooker recipe! Thank you, it's so easy and no tomato or wine like so many of the recipes I've looked at, which doesn't appeal to my family. I didn't have rosemary so I just used some of the dried spices in the pantry, smells amazing! Thanks

Dave said...

This is the best slow cooker lamb shanks recipe I have down to date. Nice and simple and it worked a treat. Thanks

Anonymous said...

I tried this today and it was delicious. I cooked enough for 4 people and my husband and I ate it all in one sitting. I added a little bit of red wine and mushrooms (because I love mushrooms). I served it with mashed potato and snow peas. The only downfall was that I used purple carrots, so the entire meal turned purple. That's okay though. There's none left, so I don't need to lament it.

- Rebbecca

Billie said...

Thank You for your recipe. I know my husband will love this!!

Anonymous said...

I have been married for 42 yrs and it's the first time I cooked lamb shanks. I have seen it on the menu at many restaurants but I wondered what was so special about a cut of meat that wasn't so special. Well I cooked up a storm tonight here in Adelaide Australia. My family absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for a very tasty Saturday night dinner.I would love to cook them for you if ever you visit our city.
Thank you so much
Freda.

Anonymous said...

I have been married for 42 yrs and it's the first time I cooked lamb shanks. I have seen it on the menu at many restaurants but I wondered what was so special about a cut of meat that wasn't so special. Well I cooked up a storm tonight here in Adelaide Australia. My family absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for a very tasty Saturday night dinner.I would love to cook them for you if ever you visit our city.
Thank you so much
Freda.

Anonymous said...

I have been married for 42 yrs and it's the first time I cooked lamb shanks. I have seen it on the menu at many restaurants but I wondered what was so special about a cut of meat that wasn't so special. Well I cooked up a storm tonight here in Adelaide Australia. My family absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for a very tasty Saturday night dinner.I would love to cook them for you if ever you visit our city.
Thank you so much
Freda.

Unknown said...

Hi, sorry I'm a bit of a late comer! How many shanks is 3-4 lbs? Thank Calista

Anonymous said...

Cooked this last night and it was AMAZING! It was cooked in 5 hours though, much quicker than expected. I did half homemade beef broth with half beef cube stock (didn't have enough homemade) and seasoned the broth/stock as well as the actual shanks quite heavily. I'm a flavour/salt freak but cooked for a friend and it was a hit, said it's the best lamb shanks he's ever had! Cant wait to make it again. Thank you

plasterers bristol said...

we had this for dinner the other night. superb. really reccomend. Thanks for sharing. Simon

KathleenDixonDonnelly said...

Broth? Really? Have always used red wine...

Unknown said...

First time cooking lamb shanks. Delicious!! Thanks for the no red wine option : )
Will definitely be coming back to this recipe next time I’m cooking for friends.

cambelt2001 said...

Used this recipe for Christmas dinner 2019. The shanks were from a local farm bit they were amazing. Wanted a recipe that didn't use red wine. Used oxo cubes and will try beef broth next time. Thank you!

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