Ukrainian Braised Lamb Shanks with Roasted Vegetables and Buckwheat (Kasha) Bread

by olga

Servings: 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 lamb shanks
1 large Spanish onion
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 quarts chicken stock
6 small red-skin potatoes in 1-inch chunks
4 large carrots, in 2-inch chunks
2 parsnips in 1 1/2-inch chunks
2 large zucchini in 1 1/2-inch chunks
3 to 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper

BUCKWHEAT BREAD:

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon coarse cornmeal
1 cup fine kasha (buckwheat kasha)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 egg
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup minced onions
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

INSTRUCTIONS

Lamb Shanks:
In a large, heavy-bottomed braising pan or Dutch oven, heat the oil to very hot. Brown the lamb shanks 2 at a time. Remove them to a side platter. Add the onions and cook until lightly colored. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Return the lamb shanks to the pan and cover 2/3 up with chicken stock. On low flame, cook for 1 hour, repositioning the shanks for even cooking until very tender. Remove the shanks and strain the stock. Preheat oven to 400°F. Skim off most of the fat and bring stock to slow boil in the pan.

Blanch the potatoes in the stock for 2 minutes. Transfer to roasting pan and set in oven. Blanch and transfer carrots, then parsnips and then zucchini in same manner.

Roast vegetables for 10 minutes. Add lamb shanks to roasting pan with vegetables after 5 minutes and roast them for the final 5 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar to stock and reduce over high heat until thickened. Adjust vinegar to taste. Serve shanks with vegetables and sauce.

Buckwheat Bread:
Preheat oven to 375°F Lightly coat a 9 by 9-inch baking pan with 2 teaspoons of the butter. Put the cornmeal in the pan and shake to coat. In a bowl, stir together the kasha, flour, baking powder and salt. Mix in eggs, onion and buttermilk, then the remaining butter. Transfer to prepared pan and bake for 18 minutes or set and crusty. When cool enough, cut into squares.

CHEF COMMENTS

This is fine milled buckwheat cereal called kasha. Do not use the large grained buckwheat.

Tagged: lamb, ukrainian add tags

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