Balsamic Braised Lamb Shanks – A traditional and delicious Easter main dish prepared with lamb shanks slow cooked to a melt in your mouth perfection with balsamic vinegar, wine, garlic and rosemary.
Table of Contents
Hello my internet pals! How goes it? Can I convince you to chat with me about lamb and wine and balsamic vinegar?
I’m clearly preparing for Easter and thought you might also want to get a head start.
Though, in all honesty, lamb is barely my choice of snack, but all that changed once I got in on this wine and balsamic vinegar shenanigans. Garlic, too. And rosemary. All those just kind of always go together, don’t you think? e.g. Garlic and Rosemary Balsamic Roasted Pork Loin
I’ve made lamb for us before – check out my mom’s One Pot Oven Baked Risotto with Lamb Chops – and that one is also very, very good. I am way too picky when it comes to lamb, but that recipe and this Balsamic Braised Lamb Shanks recipe are a definite go.
This post is sponsored by STAR FINE FOODS. Thank YOU, friends, for supporting the brands that make Diethood possible!
HOW TO MAKE BRAISED LAMB SHANKS
Here’s how this situation is gonna start: first and foremost, get yourself a bottle of STAR Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. This guy is aged in oak casks and the aging makes it thicker and the oak gives it a distinctive taste and undertone. It’s perfect for marinades, or drizzled over meat, pasta, fish, salads and pizza.
That up there is a tangy, sweet and savory marinade prepared with said STAR Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, red wine, lots of garlic, and a sprig of rosemary. THAT is also what our lamb shanks are going to be submerged in for a couple of hours during cooking.
NOTE!
- True balsamic vinegar, like the one in this recipe, will have a thick pouring consistency, which we refer to as a glaze. Thus, Balsamic Glaze pours thick like syrup. If you are using a balsamic vinegar that’s the consistency of red wine vinegar, you will need to reduce it until it reaches a thick sirupy consistency.
Please study the photo above. Especially if you’ve never cooked lamb shanks before. Do you see how it’s all covered in meat and skin and fat? OK. Good. Now know that while cooking, most of that fat toward the tip of the bone is going to melt off and that is how you are going to end up with that naked bone in the end.
Like SO ⤵⤵⤵
Oh but about that marinade. Yeah, that stuff will be poured over our lamb and cooked for about 1.5 to 2 hours in the oven.
The recipe is really super easy. You’re not even doing much. Hands on is maybe 10 minutes, all spent while you browning the lamb shanks and preparing the marinade. The rest of the time, those guys are in the oven, getting all prepped up and pretty for our Easter lunch.
But yep, that’s it! One pot and couple of hours to a perfect fork tender meat that is so full of flavor, and it couldn’t be easier to make.
For more information on STAR Fine Foods Products, please check them out on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
STAR Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Gold Edition is available at select Walmart stores and >>> ONLINE <<<
ENJOY!
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TOOLS AND INGREDIENTS USED IN THIS RECIPE
Balsamic Braised Lamb Shanks
Ingredients
- 1/2 tablespoon STAR Olive Oil , divided
- 4 lamb shanks
- salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste
- 2 large yellow onions , cut in wedges
- 1/4 cup STAR Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
- 1 cup red wine (use your favorite one)
- 2 cups low sodium fat free chicken broth
- 6 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 sprig rosemary , leaves only
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Rub lamb shanks with a bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the remaining olive oil in a dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat.
- Add the lamb shanks and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes per side.
- In the meantime, prepare the marinade by combining balsamic vinegar, red wine, chicken broth, garlic and rosemary leaves; mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Remove lamb shanks from the pot and set aside.
- Add the onions to the hot oil; cook for 2 minutes, frequently stirring, until onions begin to soften.
- Pour in the prepared marinade and return lamb shanks to the pot; bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.
- Cover with a lid and place in the oven; cook for 1.5 hours.
- Remove the lid, flip the lamb shanks to the other side, and continue to cook for 30 more minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve over mashed potatoes drizzled with the cooking liquid.
Notes
- Recipe Notes:
True balsamic vinegar, like the one in this recipe, will have a thick pouring consistency. Balsamic Vinegar pours thick like syrup. If you are using a balsamic vinegar that's the consistency of red wine vinegar, you will need to reduce it until it reaches a thick sirupy consistency.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
