Recipe for Lamb Shanks in Oven Braised with Dried Figs
Lamb shanks recipes make any occasion special, but during holidays like Passover or Easter, they are a festive main dish that really shines. This recipe for lamb shanks in oven not only shows you how to cook lamb shanks but also incorporates whole spices that infuse into the meat.
Lamb at Passover
Lamb is the perfect protein choice for holiday celebrations, and Passover is no different! With its rich flavor and global traditions, American Lamb elevates any dining experience. We’ve all been doing more cooking at home recently, so the holidays are a welcome chance for trying something new. This dish ties in flavors from around the world to create a dish fit for any holiday celebration.
American Lamb
Choosing American Lamb is important to me as it’s raised by farmers and ranchers right here in the U.S. The passion these individuals have for creating a high-quality, sustainable protein is reflected in the delicious flavor and nutritional value. Did you know that American Lamb is packed full of nutrients essential for immune function: zinc, selenium, protein and iron? Super important in today’s world!
I also love choosing American Lamb as my protein choice because of how easy it is to cook. Recipes like this one are a great way to use shanks, with Easter coming I might cook a boneless leg or even a rack, and I love using ground and stew meat (or any other cut you can cube up) for quick, nutritious lunches during the busy week. While American Lamb can be found across America, reach out to the American Lamb Board for help locating some product in your area!
Double Down on Dried Figs
Figs and lamb are a natural pairing. In California Dried Figs, the floral sweetness of fresh figs gets concentrated into a jammy intense flavor that stands up to the robust taste of lamb. Our Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid California Dried Mission Figs are particularly well-suited for lamb. We tend to liken them to the dark chocolate and red wine of the fig spectrum while California Dried Golden Figs are more delicate and nutty. In this recipe for lamb shanks in oven, the figs soak up the wine and aromatics of shallot and garlic with spices. Serve with pearl couscous, also known as Israeli couscous to soak up all that savory sauce.
How to Cook Lamb Shanks for Passover with Figs
Ingredients
For the Rub
- 1/4 cup flour or matzo meal
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- Kosher salt and pepper
For the Lamb Shanks
- Kosher salt and pepper
- 4 pounds lamb shanks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 head garlic , cut in half
- 2 cups Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Mission Figs (1 1/2 cups cut in half lengthwise, remaining figs chopped)
- 1 cup grapes , divided
- 1 cup shallots , peeled and left whole if small or cut in half if large
- 2 cups Manischewitz wine
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1/4 cup malt vinegar
- Whole spices (optional to include all) 2 cinnamon sticks, 2-3 star anise pods, 2 green cardamom pods, 4 whole cloves
- 1 1/2 cups pearl couscous
- 2 1/4 cups chicken stock or water (or a combination)
- 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh herbs: use any combination of parsley, dill, mint, cilantro, tarragon, oregano, and/or basil
- 2 scallions , thinly sliced
- 2 chiles (jalapeño or serrano) , thinly sliced
- Juice from 1 lemon
Instructions
- Dry the shanks with a paper towel (dry meat browns, wet meat steams); place on a large, rimmed baking sheet; season shanks on all sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Mix the rest of the rub ingredients together in a small bowl, massage into lamb. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour or, preferably, chill overnight then bring to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In a large Dutch oven, heat oil, over medium-high heat, until shimmering. Cooking in batches, add the shanks and sear on all sides, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer the shanks to a plate.
- Add the garlic, cut side down, and cook, undisturbed, 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Add the figs, 1/2 cup of grapes and shallots and cook, until the shallots begin to brown, about 4-8 minutes. Add Manischewitz wine, chicken stock, vinegar and whole spices (if using), scraping any browned bits off bottom of pan. Stir in the whole spices then arrange lamb shanks back into pot.
- Cover, with a lid or aluminum foil, transfer shanks to oven and braise, turning them halfway through cooking, until meltingly tender, about 2½ – 3 hours (exact time will vary depending on shank). Add remaining 1/2 cup of grapes for the last 20 minutes of cooking time.
- Carefully remove lamb shanks with tongs and transfer to a plate. Strain braising liquid and transfer figs, grapes, and shallots to a plate. Pour braising liquid back into the pot, with the garlic (optional: squeeze some of the garlic from the skin) and simmer, until braising liquid is thick enough to coat a spoon, about 30-40 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (optional to discard the whole spices).
- To make the couscous, heat olive oil in pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add couscous and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes. Add salt, chicken stock or water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer until couscous is al dente (slightly chewy and tender), and the liquid is absorbed; about 5-7 minutes (check your package directions for exact timing). If there’s any excess liquid, simply it drain it off. Fluff with a fork and let cool.
- Toss couscous with 3/4 cup of fresh herbs, scallions, chilies (if using), lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- To serve, spread couscous out on a serving platter. Arrange the lamb shanks, figs, grapes shallots and garlic on top. Spoon a generous amount of the braising liquid over shanks, top with remaining fresh herbs, freshly cracked pepper and flaky sea salt. Serve with additional braising liquid alongside for more drizzling. (Note: dish can also be served in individual serving bowls).
