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Minted Lamb Shanks Perfectly Oven Braised with Gravy

Minted lamb shanks slow cooked in the oven in a mix of red wine and stock that makes the perfect base for an outstanding gravy!

Now roasting a shoulder or leg of lamb is far from being a realistic way to eat for two. But these part roast, part braised minted lamb shanks are my idea of the perfect Sunday lunch for two!

Gravy being poured over minted lamb shanks served with peas and mashed potato.

Oven Cooked Lamb Shanks with a Mint Gravy

Growing up the ultimate special Sunday lunch would have been lamb. A meat that we could not afford to eat often and one I love.

Whether that be in the form of my slow cooker lamb shanks, curried lamb shanks or indeed my lamb rogan josh curry it remains my favourite meat.

If you are a lover of lamb then please do check out my Barnsley chop recipe or my lamb shoulder chops in red wine and tomato sauce.

Mint and lamb are a match made in heaven. Mint features heavily in the beautiful and simple homemade gravy.

Sure this takes a while to cook, but it is all very easy and my gosh, your house will smell amazing whilst they are cooking.

If you don’t have the time for cooking these then check out my minted lamb meatballs or minted lamb chops. They both contain similar flavours but cook much faster!

Overhead oven cooked minted lamb shanks served with peas, mashed potato and red wine gravy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size lamb shanks should I buy?

I like to serve a single lamb shank as a portion, greedy but hey, this is treat food!

You should look for individual lamb shanks that weigh around 300-400g (10-14oz).

Is there a substitute for lamb stock?

I lived in Central Europe when I developed this recipe. A place where lamb stock is impossible to find and lamb was costly so I didn’t cook with it often enough to make stock.

As a result, I made this many times with beef stock and it works a treat.

What is mint sauce?

I know that my British readers are down with this, you all know what I mean. I like to use Tracklemans mint sauce but use whatever you can lay your hands on and that you enjoy.

If you are not from the UK you may be scratching your head! Don’t worry you can make your own with vinegar, sugar, salt, and mint, it is really simple.

If you want to make your own this homemade mint sauce recipe is a solid place to start.

Oven cooked minted lamb shanks served with peas, mashed potato and red wine gravy.

Serving Suggestions.

This is full on old school meat and two veg fodder.

I like to serve these simple minted lamb shanks with buttery mashed potatoes and peas.

However these work equally well with celeriac mash and even Swede and carrot mash.

The peas are a non-negotiable for me, the sweetness of them is perfect alongside the mint in the gravy.

It would be equally good with roast potatoes and Vichy carrots or glazed Chantenay carrots.

Part roast, part braised minted lamb shanks with mashed potato, peas and gravy.

Equipment Used

I only mention specific brands of equipment if I think they make a material difference to a recipe. If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section of the recipe.

  • Stovetop.
  • Oven.
  • 30cm or 12″ frying pan or skillet, not nonstick if possible.
  • Roasting tin or dish, use one that is just large enough to hold the lamb shanks.
  • Kitchen tongs.
  • Blender.
  • Fine mesh sieve.
  • Weighing scales and or measuring cups and spoons.
  • Tin foil.
Part roast, part braised minted lamb shanks with mashed potato, peas and gravy.
Yield: 2 Servings

Minted Lamb Shanks Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes

These minted lamb shanks are slowly braised in the oven until soft and juicy and whilst they are resting we make the most incredible gravy with the cooking liquid.

Ingredients

  • 2 Lamb Shanks
  • 100g (⅔ Cup) Onion
  • 100g (⅓ Cup + 1 Tbsp) Mint Sauce
  • 125ml (½ Cup) Red Wine
  • 250ml (1 Cup) Lamb Stock
  • 30g (1½ Tbsp) Honey
  • 1 Sprig Rosemary
  • 1 Tbsp Oil
  • ½-¾ Tsp Salt
  • ¼ Tsp Pepper
  • 1 Tsp Cornflour
  • 1 Tsp Water

Instructions

  1. Heat a heavy-based 30cm or 12" skillet or frying pan (not nonstick) over a high heat.
  2. Season the lamb shanks generously with salt and pepper.
  3. Cut the onion into quarters don't bother peeling or removing the root.
  4. Add the oil to the pan and then add the onion quarters cut side down.
  5. Whilst the onions are caramelising sear the lamb shanks on all the sides that you can.
  6. Transfer the onions and lamb shanks to a roasting tin or dish that is just large enough to hold the lamb shanks.
  7. Return the pan to the heat and get it nice and hot.
  8. Add the red wine and reduce by half.
  9. Pour in the beef stock and add the honey and 75ml (⅓ Cup) of mint sauce.
  10. Pour this mix over the lamb and throw in the rosemary.
  11. Cover the tin with foil and cook in the oven at 170°C or 340°F for 2 hours.
  12. Remove the foil and turn up the heat to 200°C or 400°F and cook for another 30 minutes.
  13. Remove from the oven and allow the lamb to rest for 10 minutes.
  14. Use a pair of tongs to discard the onion skins and blend the onions.
  15. Pass the blended onion and the liquid from the cooking pan through a sieve into a very hot pan and reduce by half.
  16. Mix together the cornflour and water and then whisk through the gravy and add the final tablespoon of mint sauce before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 977Total Fat: 48gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 318mgSodium: 769mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 2gSugar: 25gProtein: 89g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.

Did you make this recipe?

If you made this recipe, I'd love to see what you did and what I can do better, share a picture with me on Instagram and tag me @krumplibrian and tell me how it went!

Rakel

Thursday 16th of November 2023

Went to a farm close by last weekend and got two shanks, always better than from a supermarket. Made it today with beef stock since I didn´t have the lamb one and wow was this a winner, we can´t move now, made it with mash and peas but mine never looks as good as yours even though it did look pretty impressive, it´s the taste that matters, so thank you for sharing.

Brian Jones

Saturday 18th of November 2023

Hey Rakel... thanks for taking the time to write to me, it really does make my day when people enjoy what I cook :)

So glad you enjoyed this! Presentation is something that I have been playing with for years and it is incredibly important for me to grab peoples attention and invite people to my site. But hearty home cooked presentation is just as valid as my efforts to make my food look inviting for the ever increasing visual world of the internet!

Thanks again.

Brian

Ray Leahy

Monday 10th of April 2023

1st time cooking a Lamb Shank and WOW ……,Result !!!!

Slight twist I cooked it in the Slow Cooker 6 Hours High and the End Result ……. Amazing

Brian Jones

Saturday 22nd of April 2023

So glad you enjoyed it Ray, lamb shanks in the slow cooker work really well!

Sue R

Monday 21st of December 2020

Really loved this. Only thing was I was too lazy to blend in the onions but it didn't matter. Very tasty. I made a double batch and did it in a big Le Creuset Dutch oven so guess what we're having tonight too :) Hope you and your family have a great Christmas.

Brian Jones

Wednesday 30th of December 2020

Thanks Sue... I think this is one of my favourite recipes of the year, we love it and it is a regular fixture on our table.

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