We have given this melt-in-the-mouth braised lamb shanks recipe a Persian twist. Using Ras el Hanout to capture that amazing middle eastern flavour. Slow-cooking it in the oven for fall-off-the-bone lamb meat!
You'll never want to cook lamb another way again!
Perfect for special occasions, anniversary dinners or when you want something a little bit luxurious. Serve with mashed potatoes or saffron couscous.
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Braised Lamb Shanks
This video will show you how to cook Lamb Shanks to perfection.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this delicious Braised Lamb Shanks recipe.
Or jump straight to the Recipe Card to get cooking.Ingredients
This dish is so much more than choosing the perfect lamb shanks. The ingredients have been carefully selected to create an absolutely delicious dish filled with flavour.
Let's take a look at them!
Olive Oil
Olive oil prevents the dish from sticking to the pot. We like the rich flavour it adds and the way it enhances the other flavours too. If you don't have olive oil, you could choose other cooking oils, like vegetable or sunflower oil.
Lamb Shanks
Supermarkets are great places to get good meat, or you could head to your local butchers.
Look carefully at the meat and bone to make sure you're not getting a cut that is all bone.
We cooked two lamb shanks. But if you are serving more people and you dish or dutch oven is big enough, you can add more (same cooking time)
Alternatively, you could use another cut of lamb, though it may not be as tender.
Vegetables
We carefully selected vegetables that would complement the flavours of Persian Lamb Shanks. Onions and carrots finely diced to add a sweet and aromatic flavour. You could use red onion if you prefer a sharper taste or shallots for a milder flavour.
We also used butternut squash as we like their earthy sweetness and root vegetables help to thicken sauce. This is a very versatile dish, so you can use any vegetable your family prefers.
Tomato
We used a sundried tomato paste for ease and for its intense tomato flavour. You could use regular tomato paste with a milder flavour or even fresh tomatoes.
Garlic
We add garlic paste for ease and to give the dish an aromatic and powerful flavour. Fresh garlic can be used instead or you could use a store-bought jar of finely chopped garlic. Remember that you may need to adjust the amount used.
Ras el Hanout
Ras el Hanout is a complex and aromatic spice blend containing paprika, cumin, chilli, cinnamon, and rose petals. Some blends may also contain additional herbs and spices.
You can experiment with different herbs and spices to find the flavours that suit you or keep it simple, seasoned with salt and black pepper.
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is often used in Persian dishes and gives a sweet tartness to the braising liquid that the Lamb Shanks will be cooked in.
Thyme
Fresh herbs are a great way to enhance the flavours of this braised lamb dish, we used fresh thyme but fresh rosemary would work well too!
Lamb Stock
Stock cubes are a great way to create a rich braising liquid to cook lamb shanks. They're made to compliment the meat you use, so lamb stock cubes are best. Don't make a lamb broth; use the cube with the cranberry juice.
If you only have chicken broth cubes or beef broth / beef stock cubes available, they can still make a wonderful sauce with the cranberry sauce.
Equipment
You will need a large cast iron pot or dutch oven to make these slow cooked lamb shanks. Then the whole lamb shank recipe can be cooked in the same pot from pan to oven.
Alternatively, you could use a casserole dish or oven-safe pot, but you will then also need a frying pan when searing the lamb meat.
A long-handled spoon would also be helpful to spoon sauce, as well as heat-resistant gloves for handling the hot pot.
Instructions
Braised Lamb Shanks are a one-pot, restaurant-quality dish that is easy to make and always impresses, perfect for special occasions or when you need a little luxury.
Slow cooking lamb shanks at a low to medium heat prevents tough meat leaving them fork tender.
Searing the Lamb
To start season lamb shanks with salt and pepper. Heat oil and add shanks, searing until all the shanks are slightly browned. This is an important step as it really builds the amazing flavor and texture of lamb meat.
Once browned, remove shanks from the pan.
Creating the Persian Spiced Sauce
To create a lovely rich sauce for your slow-cooked lamb shanks chop an onion and dice your carrots. Add these to the oil in the pan and fry them until they have softened.
Add your sundried tomato puree, garlic puree and ras el hanout to the pan with the softened carrot and onion and mix it all together.
Stir in the cranberry juice and add the stock cube and bring it all to a boil over medium-high heat, creating an absolutely amazing sauce.
Slow-cooking the Braised Lamb Shanks
Reduce heat and return lamb shanks to the pan and baste them in that delicious sauce, carefully spooning it over the lamb meat so it really soaks up all those wonderful flavours.
Add sprigs of fresh thyme or fresh rosemary and season generously with salt and pepper before placing on the lid and allowing it to braise in the oven.
Oven Temperature
Braise lamb shanks in a preheated oven set to 150°C fan / 170°C conventional oven / 325°F or Gas Mark 3.
Cooking Time
After 1 hour and 45 minutes, you can turn the lamb shanks and baste them again before adding your butternut squash.
Continue cooking with the lid on until the butternut squash is soft and the lamb falls off the bone - about 45 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Prepare a serving plate with your chosen side dish. We recommend mashed potatoes or couscous.
Why not try our homemade white loaf, delicious mashed potatoes or our air fryer baby potatoes?
Remove lamb shanks place on top, then add some vegetables and pour over the rich cranberry and tomato sauce.
And for extra veggies, our air fryer parsnips will really add to those root vegetables you used in the sauce see below recipe card for more side dish ideas.
See how easily the meat fell off the tender lamb shanks!
📖 Step by Step Recipe
Oven Braised Lamb Shanks - Persian Spiced
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Lamb Shanks
- 1 Onion Finely diced
- 1 Carrot Finely diced
- 1 tablespoon Sundried Tomato Puree or 2 tablespoon tomato puree
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Puree or 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon Ras el Hanout Persian spice
- 500 ml Cranberry Juice
- 1 Lamb stock cube
- 2 Sprigs Fresh Thyme or Rosemary
- 450 grams Butternut Squash Cut into cubes
- Salt and Pepper season to your liking
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 150°C fan / 170°C conventional oven / 325°F or Gas Mark 3Season 2 Lamb Shanks with Salt and Pepper. Pour 2 tablespoon Olive Oil in a lidded cast iron or casserole dish. Heat over medium heat to sear and brown the outside of the lamb.Remove from the pan and set aside whilst you create the sauce.
- Dice 1 Onion and 1 Carrot Add to the remaining oil and lamb juices. Fry over medium heat until softened (5-8 minutes)
- Add 1 tablespoon Garlic Puree, 1 tablespoon Sundried Tomato Puree and 1 tablespoon Ras el Hanout in with the softened onion and carrot and stir together.
- Add 500 ml Cranberry Juice and 1 Lamb stock cube and bring to a boil.
- Take off the heat, return the lamb shanks back to the pan, baste the lamb shanks with the sauce, add 2 Sprigs Fresh Thyme to the sauce and season with Salt and Pepper
- Place the lid on the oven dish.(If you have not got a hob to oven pan/dish, place lamb and sauce in an ovenproof dish and cover with foil).(If you have not got a hob to oven pan/dish, place lamb and sauce in an ovenproof dish and cover with foil)
- Cook for 1hr and 45 minutes at 150°C fan / 170°C conventional oven / 325°F or Gas Mark 3.
- Remove from the oven, turn lamb shanks over & re-baste the braised shanks with sauce.
- Add 450 grams Butternut Squash cubed around the lamb in the sauce, replace the lid and cook for a further 45 minutes.
- Cook until the lamb easily falls off the bone with a fork and the butternut squash has softened. You can cook for longer if needed.
- Serve with your chosen side with some butternut squash and drizzle the rich sauce on top.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published on 27/01/2020. Updated on 10/07/2023 to include new pictures, a clearer structure for the blog post, an updated recipe card with measurements in each step and a FAQ section.
Lamb Shank Side Dishes
We have some great recipes that will compliment the Persian lamb shanks dish wonderfully.
- Focaccia Bread (Olive & Herb)
- Air Fryer Mushrooms (Garlic Portobello)
- Dough Balls Recipe
- Coconut Pilau Rice
Storage
We doubt there will be any leftovers with this delicious dish. However, if there are, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
You can also freeze leftover lamb, and sauce for up to 3 months.
Reheating
When reheating this lamb shanks recipe, we suggest doing it in a oven-proof pot or cast iron pot. Gently reheating until it is completely hot throughout. Slowly reheating will help keep that amazing flavour.
More Lamb Recipes
If you are looking for more lamb recipe ideas? We have plenty of great recipe options to choose from!
- Keema Rice - Lamb Mince Biryani
- Saddle of Lamb Roast Joint
- Rolled Lamb Breast (Slow Cooked)
- Barnsley Chops - Double Loin Lamb Chops
We love this fall off the bone lamb shank recipe, I'm sure you will too, please leave us a comment to let us know how it went.
Amy
What a perfect combination of flavors. This would be so good as a Holiday meal, and the photos are just lovely!
Kay
Thank you, Amy
You are right this can be a great holiday recipe but we love it all year round lol, Luke loves this meal, it is one of his favourites 🙂
Enjoy !!
Liz
The tart cranberry juice and the sweet butternut squash is such a yummy combination! Great flavors
Kay
Thank you, Liz
The flavours of the lamb, cranberry juice and ras el hanout are amazing and the butternut squash just soaks it up, my mouth is watering now lol
Glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Erin
This was so tender with great flavor! I love what the cranberry juice adds to the dish.
Amy
So tender and juicy!
Audrey
This was excellent. So much good flavor.
Connie
Love lamb and your dish looks incredible! With the spices and the rose added to it. How unique! Making me want to make it this weekend.
Amy
I love a good lamb shank recipe. Even in the summer we have it as it's just so delicious. Love that it's made with tingling sauce! The cranberry juice is such a great addition. I've never tried that before but can imagine it's a perfect match.
Christina
I can't wait to try this recipe, it looks SO delicious!
Luke
Let us know how you get on Christina 🙂
Ayngelina
Oh I love Persian food but I have never made Persian lamb, thanks for the inspiration!
Luke
Always a pleasure we love lamb shanks and like to add a bit of extra flavour to them!
Ronald J. Robinson
Hello Kay,
That's really awesome article for me. Thanks for your good job.
Lamb Shanks
Organising menu for upcoming dinner event is not an easy task for me, but thanks to you I love Persian lamb shanks recipe so much and hope my guest will like it too.
Cindy
I usually don't like lamb but cooked with these spices I might!
Kay
It is lovely, please give it a go!! The smell is also divine!!
Marie Phillips
My kids and I absolutely love grilled lamb chops. This looks really good too. I have never had lamb shanks and never prepared lamb this way, but I bet it would be awesome and so tender. We will be trying it.
Kay
Hi Marie
Thanks for your comment!
If you like lamb you will love this recipe 🙂
Enjoy!
fashionandstylepolice
What a yummy meal! I would love to try my hands on the recipe. It sounds amazingly tasty.
Kay
Thank you for your rating and comment 🙂
This meal is soooo yummy!!
Hope you enjoy and let us know what you think of the recipe?
ohmummymia
It's been over two months when I'm on my vegetarian diet so it's not a recipe for me but my husband would love it. Looks really nice
Kay
Hi Ohmummymia
I hope your husband likes this dish, we loved this recipe:)
Let us know what your husband thinks of the dish?
Sarah M
It's a mouthwatering recipe. Persian foods are rich in flavour and I'd love to try this succulent Persian lamb shanks.
Kay
Hi Sarah
Thanks for your comment!
We loved this recipe the lamb was succulent and sure was mouthwatering:)
Enjoy!!
Amber Hurley
Totally making these for my husband because his favorite meat is lamb!
Kay
Hi Amber
Thanks for your comment!
Hope you and your husband like this recipe, let us know what you think?
Alvern Success Unscrambled
This looks amazing but I am vegetarian. Just last week I was looking at the menu of the Persian restaurant called Zaytoon which is not too far from here. The vegetarian options do look delish.
Kay
Hi Alvern
Thanks for your comment!
Have a look at our vegetarian/vegan recipes you might like them 🙂
Sophia
Oh my goodness this sounds amazing. Unfortunately I have some pet sheep so I don't eat lamb, but looks good nonetheless!
Kay
Hi Sophia
Thanks for your comment!
I can understand why you don't want to eat lamb then, try and have a look at our vegan/vegetarian recipes these might be good for you 🙂
Pearl | ownthepool
These look so delicious, especially with the squash! I will make this for the family this month!
Kay
Hi Pearl
Thanks for the comment!
The butternut squash was amazing with this recipe, it soaked up the juices which tastes awesome!!
Hope you enjoy this dish:)
Lisa @ Midwest Glam
I’ve actually never tried lamb before. Your dish looks quite fancy and delicious. I love the plating.
Kay
Hi Lisa
Thanks for the comment!!
I'm sure you will love this recipe, let us know what you think if you try this recipe out?
Jessica
Ok, this looks beyond delicious! We don’t eat lamb often, but I do love it and find it a special delectable treat when we do.
Kay
Hi Jessica
Thanks for the comment:)
This dish is mouthwatering, the lamb just falls off the bone!!
Hope you enjoy!!
Nyxie
These look amazing! I'm seriously hungry now, and I just ate!
Kay
Hi Nyxie
Thanks for the comment 🙂
This is such a nice recipe, hope you like this if you do make this dish!!
Tanya
Thanks for the recipe the photos looks fantastic! I do not eat meat but I will check out the vegetarian dishes!
Kay
Hi Tanya
Thanks for your comment:)
Check out our blog we have vegetarian and vegan recipes on there you may like!
Tara Pittman
My husband would be drooling over this. He loves a good lamb shank
Kay
Hi Tara
Thank you for your comment:)
I'm sure your husband will love this dish!
This is by far one of our favourite recipes so far lol
Joanna
Ras el hanout is such an amazing spice. I bought it a while ago and used it to roast a leg of lamb. The flavour was incredible!
Kay
Hi Joanna
Thank you for your comment:)
The flavours from Ras el hanout are awesome and brings so many flavours to this dish!
Krysten Quiles
I've actually never tried lamb before but this looks so decadent! I may need to change that. Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us!
Kay
Hi Krysten
Thanks for your comment 🙂
Hope you like this recipe as much as we did!!
Amber Myers
This sounds incredible. It's been ages since I've had lamb, so I'll have to try these out for sure. The plate looks amazing.
Kay
Hi Amber
Thanks for your comment
Hope you enjoy this recipe, let us know what you think if you do cook this recipe?