Lamb shanks are one of the most irresistible meats when cooked well, and are best enjoyed falling off the bone and swimming in sauce. So if you’re looking for lamb shank recipe inspiration, we’ve pulled together our favourites here – from Moroccan braised lamb shanks to curries, stews and a classic red wine number. Enjoy!
Dinner ideas
June 18, 2023
Lamb shanks massaman
Tender lamb shanks cooked low and slow until falling off the bone and served in a mild Massaman curry.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
May 24, 2022
Slow cooker lamb shanks with tomato, chilli and fetta
Shank you very much!
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Dinner ideas
April 28, 2021
Lamb shank osso buco
In this lamb shank osso buco recipe, the meat is slow cooked in the oven until tender and falling off the bone. Delicious!
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
July 27, 2021
Slow-cooked lamb shank pie
Slow down and say shank you very much.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
June 30, 2022
Tomato-braised lamb shanks with creamy polenta
Shank you very much!
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
March 22, 2023
Slow-cooker lamb shanks
Come home to perfectly tender lamb shanks.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
May 18, 2022
Lamb shanks with mash and silverbeet
Shank you very much.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
May 31, 2011
Winter lamb shank and vegetable soup
It’s worth the wait.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
June 17, 2020
Julie Goodwin’s lamb shank cacciatore
A warming family dinner.
Dinner ideas
May 25, 2022
Lamb shank stew with creamy mash
Warm up with a comforting stew.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
February 28, 2010
French-trimmed lamb shanks are redolent with the spices of the Middle East in this Moroccan inspired dish.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
May 26, 2022
Lamb shanks
Shank you very much!
ByWomen's Weekly Food
October 31, 2009
Braised lamb shanks with white bean purée
Cosy up with this winter with tender slow-cooked lamb shanks and dreamy white bean purée.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
December 31, 1975
Slow-cooked thai lamb shanks
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Dinner ideas
October 29, 2014
Lamb shanks with risoni and tomato
Meaning “big rice” in Italian, risoni is pasta shaped like long grain rice. It blends beautifully with these fragrantly slow-cooked lamb shanks.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
June 5, 2008
Maple syrup-glazed lamb shanks
Maple syrup brings its unique flavour as well as sweetness to these glazed lamb shanks. It’s important to use real maple syrup for this recipe rather than a maple syrup flavoured alternative.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
September 30, 2009
Lamb shanks in chilli sauce
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Baking
January 31, 2011
Baked lamb shanks with orzo
You can replace orzo with risoni if you like. Orzo, like risoni, absorbs cooking liquid. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a little extra water. If you make this dish in advance, you will need to add some water or stock when reheating. Note
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Baking
July 29, 2012
Lamb shanks with vegetables
“Frenched” is when the shanks are trimmed of all excess fat and sinew. Both ends are often trimmed as well for presentation. It is not a necessary step. Note
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
August 3, 2015
Red curry lamb shanks
Spice up dinner tonight with these juicy and succulent red curry lamb shanks – full of delicious Asian inspired flavour, this dish is sure to become a family favourite!
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Baking
November 29, 2014
Oven-braised lamb shanks
Relive the classic British Sunday roast with these tender lamb shanks. Gather the family for a warm winter feast that everyone will enjoy.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
August 31, 2010
Lamb shanks bourguignon
Food referred to as “à la bourguignon” is food cooked in the style of the famous French wine region of Burgundy, and is instantly recognisable by its red wine sauce containing mushrooms, bacon and onions.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
July 31, 2009
David’s lamb shanks
David’s favourite meat is lamb and his favourite cut of lamb is the shank. This slow-cooked stew is best cooked the day before and reheated gently. He’s a smart man, that Dave.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
In season
April 1, 2008
Lamb shanks in five-spice, tamarind and ginger
Star anise, cloves, cinnamon, sichuan pepper and fennel seeds are the spices that make these lamb shanks in five-spice with tamarind and ginger so fragrant.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
July 31, 1975
Rosemary-scented lamb shanks with almond couscous
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Dinner ideas
November 30, 2010
Braised lamb shanks with mushroom risotto
If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. Covering the shanks with the cooked celery and leek is an easy way to keep the lamb hot and moist while you cook the […]
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
March 31, 2010
Lamb shank, fennel and vegetable soup
To freeze. Complete the recipe to end of step 2. Pack into freezer-proof containers, leaving a 2.5cm (1 inch) space to allow for expansion. Seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a saucepan or microwave on medium power (50%) until heated through Note
ByWomen's Weekly Food
June 30, 2009
Lamb shanks that will fall off the bone and melt in your mouth with a flavour-packed bean ragu.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
June 23, 2022
Lamb shank shepherd’s pie
Fight food waste in the tastiest way possible.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
December 31, 1975
Pomegranate-glazed lamb shanks
ByWomen's Weekly Food
January 31, 2011
Lemon and ginger lamb shanks with broad beans
This mouth-watering dish uses preserved lemons, a prominent ingredient in North African cooking. The flavour is salty, unique and perfumed.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
August 31, 2009
Lamb shanks and lentils
You could use lamb leg or shoulder, cut into chunks, instead of shanks. Note
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
June 3, 2015
Lamb shanks with lentils and pancetta
Succulent lamb shanks with hearty lentils and pancetta- a family favourite on a cold winter’s night.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
June 26, 2020
Lamb shanks and eggplant stew
Nourish your family with this delicious lamb shank and eggplant stew.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
March 31, 2010
Braised lamb shanks with tzatziki and tomato salad
Served with grilled pita bread, this beautiful slow-cooked lamb stew is just what you need on a cold day.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Baking
May 8, 2022
Moroccan lamb shanks
Shank you very much!
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Dinner ideas
July 21, 2008
Lamb shank and pearl barley soup
Succulent lamb shank pieces combine with chunks of vegetables to make this spice infused soup.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Slow cooker recipes
May 17, 2021
Lamb shank and spinach korma curry
Tender buttery lamb in a rich korma curry.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
4 lamb shank recipe tips
- When you’re choosing your recipe, check that you have all the cooking implements you need. If not, you can add them to your shopping list or choose a different recipe.
- Get your lamb shanks as close to the cooking day as possible. According to the CSIRO, meat (other than poultry) can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days. But the temperature needs to be correct and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Take note of the cooking time and amount of liquid needed for the recipe, but remember to check it as cooking time can vary depending on the equipment (dishes, oven, slow cooker etc).
- If your lamb shanks haven’t cooked enough, just put them back on to cook a little longer. You can also add extra liquid if needed.
What cooking method is best for lamb shanks?
Lamb shanks are a tougher cut of meat meaning once cooked for a long time over a low heat all that tough collagen breaks down to create a rich and buttery fall-apart meat. So, the great thing about lamb shanks is that you can not over cook them. All that will happen is that the meat becomes extra tender and no longer attached to the bone. Depending on the dish, this can actually be helpful.
The most important thing to remember is to brown your lamb as well as you can. Shanks are a difficult shape to brown evenly, but do your best as this browning is the key to creating a rich flavour base for your lamb dish –or any other protein that’s slow cooked in a braising liquid.
What to pair with lamb shanks?
Some classic lamb shank pairings include tomatoes, green beans, potato and red wine. There are also delicious recipes that use pomegranate, lentils and curry. If you’re using a lamb shank recipe, it will give you ingredients to pair with them for a delicious meal.
Looking for more lamb recipes?
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Women's Weekly Food
Trusted by home cooks for 90 years, The Australian Women’s Weekly’s Test Kitchen and cookbooks hold a singular place in shaping home cooking within the Australian culinary landscape. Today, the AWW Test Kitchen in Sydney is a thriving hub for food content, connected to two bustling photographic studios where a talented team of Australia’s best recipe developers, art directors, editors and photographers create our world class food content. Our recipes are thoroughly tested and tasted and given the Test Kitchen tick of approval, guaranteeing you’ll get great results in your home kitchen.
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