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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Diet recipes >>  Braised Lamb Shanks

Braised Lamb Shanks Recipe, Nutritional Value


A lamb shank is part of the shoulder meat that is cut till the leg, so it contains leg and shoulder meat and bone. This cut of meat is cooked with slow cooking techniques to ensure that the meat is fully cooked and imbued with flavor. Braising lamb shanks is a popular way to cook lamb shanks. There are different recipes to make braised lamb shanks.

Ingredients:

 

  • 2 lamb shanks
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 medium sized onion, chopped
  • 2 large carrots and celery stalks, each, chopped
  • 4 medium potatoes, chopped into chunks
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 ¼ cup stock or water
  • Fresh or dried thyme, rosemary and oregano about 2 teaspoons together
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ cup sherry
  • Salt to taste

Preparation time: 2.30 hours

Directions & serving size:

  • Season the lamb shanks and brown them in the oil.
  • Once the shanks are browned, remove them and set them aside.
  • Add the chopped vegetables in the same pan, with potatoes added last.
  • Cook these vegetables for some time.
    The onions must get translucent.
  • Add the garlic, the browned lamb shanks and herbs.
  • Add the sherry and bring this dish to a boil.
  • Add the stock or water and put this bowl in a pre-heated oven and bake it for one to one and half hour.
  • Remove from the heat and serve one shank with the braised liquid. Alternatively you can strip the meat from the bones and return it to the pot before serving.
  • This dish can serve 3 to 4 people.
Serving instructions:

  • This dish can be served individually or as a stew. It can also be served with a rice pilaf or some polenta.

Nutritional Value Per Serving


  • Per serving the calorie count for braised lamb shanks is about 480 to 500 calories depending on the variation of the recipe.
  • Total fat can be up to 22 grams.
  • Cholesterol in lamb shanks is 93 milligrams.
  • You can reduce the sodium content by using low sodium chicken stock for more flavor and less salt.

Health benefits:

  • Lamb is known to contain omega 3 fatty acids. More on health benefits of lamb
  • If lean, it can be a good source of protein.
  • Lamb, especially pasture fed, is known to even contain high quantities of vitamin B12 and B1, B2, B3 and B6.
Tips and warnings:

  • Red wine, red wine vinegar, lots of spices or any broths are great ideas for braising liquid. The slow cooking process ensures that flavors develop really well and meat is cooked beautifully.
  • If you already suffer from high blood pressure or cholesterol issues, you might want to keep away from lamb shanks.
Submitted on January 16, 2014