Lamb Shanks With Butternut Squash Recipe

A tasty lamb recipe. If you want, you can leave out the beans and serve over mashed potatoes.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons olive oil
• 2 (1 lb)  lamb shanks
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 8  garlic cloves (6 unpeeled, 2 minced)
• 3  celery ribs, coarsely chopped
• 2  carrots, coarsely chopped
• 1  onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 (400 g) can chopped tomatoes
• 1  cup dry red wine
• 3  cups  chicken stock
• 1  slice orange zest (optional)
• 500 -600  g  butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 1/2 squash)
• 2  tablespoons  chopped parsley
• 2  teaspoons  finely grated lemon zest
• 3⁄4 cup  cooked cannellini beans (optional)

Directions

1. Heat half the olive oil in a large pot or stove-top safe casserole dish.
2. Season the lamb shanks with salt and pepper, add them to the casserole and brown well. Transfer the shanks to a plate.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F and arrange two racks in the oven, one to hold the casserole and one to hold a baking sheet with the squash.
4. Add the unpeeled garlic cloves, celery, carrots and onion to the casserole. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
5. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add the wine and boil over high heat until the liquid is very syrupy, about 10 minutes.
6. Return the shanks to the casserole and add the stock and orange zest. Bring to a simmer.
7. Cover the casserole and braise the shanks in the oven for 2-3 hours until the meat is very tender. Turn the shanks from time to time as they cook.
8. Meanwhile, on a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the squash with the remaining 2 Tbsp of olive oil.
9. Season with salt and pepper and bake in the oven (along with the lamb) for about an hour, or until tender.
10. In a small bowl, mix the minced garlic with the parsley and lemon zest (the "gremolata"). Set aside.
11. Remove the shanks from the oven and transfer to a plate. Pass the sauce through a coarse strainer, pressing hard on the vegetables. Discard the vegetable pulp. Skim the fat from the surface of the sauce.
12. Return the sauce to the casserole, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil over moderately high heat until the sauce thickens as much as you like. I boil it for at least 10 minutes.
13. Add the lamb shanks and squash; simmer just until warmed through. Add the cannellini beans if using, cover and remove from heat.
14. Let stand for a few minutes to allow for the flavors to blend.
15. Spoon the vegetables and sauce into 2 large shallow bowls and set the lamb shanks on top.
16. Garnish with the gremolata and serve.