Braised Lamb Shanks With Barley

This is a recipe of my mother, Mary Marble Wettergreen, which she often prepared in the oven. But I have found that lamb shanks are ideally suited to the crockpot,. Assemble the crockpot version the night before or very early in the morning.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 4 (8 ounce)  lamb shanks
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 3  fresh garlic cloves (or 1 tsp. garlic powder)
• 1  medium onion, chopped fine
• 2  bay leaves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 tsp. fresh thyme)
• 1  pinch nutmeg (optional)
• 2  tablespoons salt
• 3⁄4 cup pearl barley
• 1 (14 ounce) can tomatoes, chopped
• 1  tablespoon tomato paste
• 1  cup water
• 1⁄2 cup dry red wine (such as burgundy (or substitute water)

Directions

1. In heavy skillet or dutch oven, brown lamb shanks in hot olive oil. Remove shanks and set aside.
2. Saute onion, garlic and spices in oil until onion is soft.
3. At this point you can transfer the entire dish to the crock pot, or cook it in the dutch oven. Add salt, barley, tomatoes, tomato paste, water (and wine if desired) to shanks. Make sure all the barley is immersed in liquid.
4. TO BAKE: Cover Dutch oven closely and bake in a 325 degree oven for 3 hours or until shanks are very tender and falling off the bone.
5. CROCKPOT: Cook the dish on "Low" for at least 8 hours. I found it easiest to assemble the night before and then just plug in the crockpot when I leave for work in the morning.
6. In either case, turn off the heat and let the dish sit uncovered for 10-20 minutes. Use a tablespoon and skim off any excess fat from the top before serving.