Ingredients
- Moroccan Braised Lamb Shanks with Quince and Couscous with Apricots, Mint, Cilantro, Parsley and Fried Shallots
- Serves 4
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 lamb shanks, room temperature
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 quinces, peeled, cored and cut in fourths, and placed in a water bath with the juice of a lemon
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 cups beef stock
- 4 strips lemon peel
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 pinch saffron strands (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Season the shanks with salt and pepper and brown well on all sides. Remove shanks to a plate.
To the Dutch oven, add butter and melt over medium high heat. Add onions and cook until lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes. Add quince and cook for 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add coriander, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir well and add beef stock, strips of lemon zest, honey, saffron (optional) and browned lamb shanks and bring to a boil over high heat. Place a lid on Dutch oven and put in oven to cook for 1 hour.
Turn shanks and cook another hour.
Remove from oven and remove any excess fat. Taste for seasoning and add the lemon juice to taste.
Garnish with fresh cilantro