Lemon Lamb Shanks: The Ultimate in Flavor & Comfort
Lemon Lamb Shanks are a delicious dish that can be served in many different ways. The lamb shank is seasoned with plenty of herbs, garlic and lemon juice, which give it its full flavor.
This recipe involves browning the shanks first then simmering them in the sauce until they fall off the bone. If you want to serve your Lemon Lamb Shanks as part of an appetizer buffet or even just a week night dinner, try serving them over polenta or risotto!
What is Lemon Lamb Shanks
Lemon lamb shanks are a Greek recipe that’s both easy to make and delicious. The meat is braised in a lemony sauce until it falls off the bone, then served with orzo and vegetables for a complete meal. You can find lemon lamb shanks at most Greek restaurants but if you want to make this classic dish at home, look no further than this recipe!
What makes lemon lamb shanks so easy? It all starts with the braising liquid. A combination of olive oil, onions, garlic cloves and tomatoes provides an intense flavor base for these tender cuts of meat. After browning each side on medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven (or casserole dish), add some red wine before covering your pot tightly with aluminum foil; this will let out steam while cooking without letting too much moisture out through evaporation—and keep those juices inside where they belong!
6 lamb shanks
(I used 1½-inch thick shanks.)
2 tablespoons dried Greek oregano
Greek oregano is a stronger herb than regular oregano and is used to give the dish a unique flavor. You can find it in Middle Eastern grocery stores or online.
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
So, you want to make the perfect lemon lamb shanks. Great! But first things first: you need to start with a good quality olive oil. This is one of those instances where using a high-quality ingredient will really affect your dish and make it taste better than if you’d used an off-brand product.
2 onions, finely chopped
Onions are stinky. A lot of people don’t like the smell of them, but I do! When you chop them, they release all their aroma and make the whole house smell so delicious.
4 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
For the garlic, smash it with the back of a knife and peel it.
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice (4 to 5 lemons)
To make homemade lemon juice, you can use a hand-held citrus press or a simple knife. If you’re using a knife, cut the ends off of your lemons and place them on a cutting board. Holding one end of each lemon down with your hand, carefully slice off the peel from both sides in long strips until it is removed completely.
Once the peels have been removed, cut into sections and add them to a measuring cup along with the pulp.
Squeeze all of these pieces over and into another measuring cup filled with 3 cups water until no more juice comes out.
Strain out all solids through cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer and set aside to chill in refrigerator overnight before cooking.
Salt and pepper
Add the lamb shanks to a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice, cumin and garlic powder. Pour over the lamb shanks and toss to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
Grated zest of 2 lemons
To zest the lemons, you’ll need a zester or microplane grater. Use the finest blade attachment on your grater and start at one end of the lemon, lightly scraping off some of the outermost part of its peel. Continue until all four sides have been zested. The lemons should be fully covered in their peels with no white showing through.
This is a delicious recipe!
It’s a traditional Greek recipe. The meat is very tender and the lemon flavor makes it perfect for entertaining. It’s also healthy, since the lemon helps to make you feel less full. This is a great recipe, and if you’re looking for something new to try, I highly recommend it!
