Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
These Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks are the ultimate comfort food — rich, tender, and bursting with flavour. Made with wholefood ingredients, this nourishing dish is naturally gluten free, dairy free, and perfect for a cozy night in.
Lamb Shanks usually feature prominently on the menu of many great restaurants, but they are fairly easy to make at home, especially when using a slow cooker.
My favourite thing about slow cookers is that the meat will be literally falling off the bone once it has finished cooking.
I have included two methods with this recipe, the first is my preferred method and involves an extra 30 minutes of prep time. The second method is perfect if you do not have time to do the prep and you basically throw everything straight into the slow cooker.
RECIPE FEATURES
Gluten & dairy free – suitable for people with gluten & dairy intolerances.
Easy to make – this recipe is easy to make and requires only a few steps.
Made with fresh wholefood ingredients – which are easy to find at any supermarket, health store, food markets or on-line store.
HOW TO CHOOSE A GREAT LAMB SHANK
Choose lamb shanks that are about 5cm (2 inches) in diameter and that have a rich reddish brown colour. This will indicate that their freshness and will be perfect to use in the recipe.
WHAT IS A SLOW COOKER
- A slow cooker is a pot that either sits inside a heating plate or it sits inside a unit.
- They typically heat from the bottom and as such, some dishes will burn or the food will stick to the bottom if there is not enough amount of fluid in the pot.
- They usually have three settings; high, low and keep warm.
Cooking is so easy when you use a slow cooker (easy enough that you don’t need to settle for takeaway, so long as you plan a little bit ahead) and the results are fantastic.
If you are cooking meat, it is always really tender or falling off the bone, depending on what cut of meat you are cooking.
SLOW COOKER MEAL TIPS
- Use the low setting whenever possible. This will help to bring out the flavours of the dish you are cooking. I only recommend using the high setting, if you are running short on time.
- Roll the meat in some tapioca flour (or other healthy thickener) to help thicken up the liquid while cooking
- Make sure you keep the lid on to ensure that no heat escapes and your meal is cooked properly
Slow Cooked Shredded Lemon Garlic Chicken
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Marsala
Lastly, if you make this slow cooker meal then I would love to hear from you. You can either leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! If you do make this recipe, please tag me on Instagram! It really makes my day when I see your creations of my recipes.
Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
Ingredients
- 4 lamb shanks french-trimmed (I used grass-fed organic)
- 1/4 cup arrowroot flour or tapioca
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 onion large, chopped
- 2 carrots medium, chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 14 oz crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups beef stock preferably organic or home made
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- Sea salt and pepper
Instructions
Preferred Method
- Add the arrowroot flour to a plate and season with salt and pepper. Coat each shank and shake away any excess flour.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of coconut oil on a large fry pan on moderate high heat and brown shanks for approximately 10 minutes, turning regularly. Place shanks in slow cooker
- Turn fry pan heat to medium and heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Add onion, garlic, carrot and celery and cook until softened, approximately 5 – 8 minutes
- Add tomato paste and stir through for approximately 1 minute
- Add stock, tomato and herbs and bring to the boil
- Add to the shanks in the slow cooker and cook for 6-7 hours on low heat.
- Remove the shanks and cover to keep warm. Turn the slow cooker heat to high and cook liquid, uncovered for approximately 30 – 60 minutes or until thickened slightly
- Serve and enjoy
Quick & Easy Method (great if you are short on prep time)
- Season lamb shanks with salt and pepper and place in the slow cooker
- Place the remaining ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
- Serve and enjoy
This looks just delicious! I am excited to try this now that the weather is cooling down, it sounds so comforting 🙂
Thanks so much Jaimie 🙂
Just how much does ! (one ) lambshank weigh ?
when do I add the flour?
Fixed up now! sorry about that. The flour is used to coat the shanks 🙂