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Asian-Style Lamb Shanks with Cauliflower Puree and Greens

These shanks make an incredible and very impressive dinner party dish! The Asian flavours are warming and perfect for a chilly winter evening! If you’ve got a slow cooker you could also cook the shanks that way – just brown them off in a pan first.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Course Main
Servings 4
Calories 385 kcal
Dairy Free, Diabetic, Gluten Free, Kid Friendly

Ingredients
  

Lamb shanks

  • 4 lamb shanks I used premium hind lamb shanks from Lean Meats
  • 2-3 tablespoons flour for dusting (use gluten-free if required)
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 large red chilli chopped
  • 2 cm ginger piece sliced thinly and cut into fine matchsticks
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 8 star anise whole
  • 2 cinnamon quills
  • ½ cup tamarind puree
  • 4 large kaffir lime leaves
  • 2-3 tablespoons soy sauce use gluten-free if required
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 tomatoes chopped
  • 3 cups beef or chicken stock check label if eating gluten-free
  • coriander leaves cilantro to garnish

Cauliflower puree

  • 4 cups cauliflower chopped
  • 2 spring onions sliced
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup chicken stock check label if eating gluten-free
  • 1 tablespoon butter use coconut oil for dairy-free

Asian greens

  • 4-6 baby bok choy quartered lengthways
  • 1-2 teaspoons soy sauce use gluten-free if required
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 160degC/320 Fahrenheit.
  • Season flour with salt and pepper, then coat the lamb shanks in the seasoned flour. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large fry pan over medium heat. Add the shanks and cook until browned all over, about 6 minutes. Remove from pan and wipe the pan clean.
  • Add another drizzle of oil to the fry pan and cook onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, chili, ginger, star anise, cinnamon, and ground coriander. Cook for a further 1-minute. Add kaffir lime leaves, tamarind, soy sauce, sugar and tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes to let the tomatoes break down. Add stock and bring to a rapid simmer.
  • Place the browned lamb shanks and sauce in a deep casserole dish or Dutch oven and cover tightly with a lid or tinfoil. Cook in the oven for 2 ½ – 3 ½ hours until the meat is soft and falling off the bone.
  • Remove lamb shanks from the sauce and keep warm. Place sauce in a fry pan and reduce over high heat to half of its volume. Season with salt and pepper if necessary (it may already be salty enough from the soy sauce).
  • While the sauce is reducing make the cauliflower puree. Heat butter in a pot over medium heat. Add spring onions and cauliflower and cook until cauliflower begins to soften a little, about 5 minutes. Add milk and stock and bring to a rapid boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until the liquid has reduced by about half and the cauliflower is very soft.
  • Use a stick blender to puree the cauliflower and season to taste with salt and pepper. If it seems too runny, return to a medium heat and stir continuously until it thickens.
  • Place bok choy in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave for a few minutes until bright green and just wilted, about 1 minute. Drain and drizzle over soy sauce and sesame oil.
  • To serve spoon some cauliflower puree onto each plate, and serve with a lamb shank and wilted bok choy. Spoon over some sauce and garnish with coriander leaves.

Notes

For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour, soy sauce and stock, and for dairy-free use coconut oil in place of butter in the mash.