Recipe: Chocolate lamb shanks

Melt-in-the-mouth lamb and a rich sauce – irresistible on a cold evening. Photo / Fresh Media

A pressure cooker cooks a bold meat dish in a surprisingly short time – perfect when you want a hearty meal after a busy day. Quick to assemble, you can put it on in the morning and come home to a house redolent with delicious smells. Serve the lamb shanks with crusty bread or a creamy mash to soak up the sauce.

Chocolate lamb shanks

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 lamb shanks

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 onion, diced

3 garlic cloves, crushed

2 cups beef stock

1 cup red wine

1 Tbsp tomato paste

¾ cup chopped tomatoes

1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

2 tsp chilli powder, optional

1 cinnamon quill

1 red chilli, chopped (optional)

½ orange, juice and grated zest

20g dark chocolate, shaved

Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

1. Add the oil to a large deep frying pan over high heat. Sear the lamb shanks in batches until browned, then set aside.
2. Turn the heat down to medium, add extra oil if needed, then add onion and garlic to the pan. Saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring often.
3. Place the lamb shanks in a pressure cooker bowl with the bone sticking upward. Add the rest of the ingredients so the lamb meat is covered. Cook for 45 minutes. The shanks will cook beautifully – meat easily pulls off the bone. If you are using a conventional slow cooker, cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.
4. Remove the cinnamon quill, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with crusty white bread or your favourite sides.

– fresh.co.nz