Lamb shanks braised in a yoghurt sauce recipe
For the lamb shanks, preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3.Season the lamb shanks all over with ½ tsp of the salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Pat the seasoning into the meat.In a food processor, blend the ginger, garlic and four tablespoons of the water to a smooth paste. Set aside.Heat the oil in a large, non-stick, ovenproof pan over a high heat. (NB: You will need to use a pan with a tight-fitting lid.) When the oil is smoking, add the lamb shanks and fry for 3-4 minutes, turning regularly, or until lightly browned on all sides. Remove the lamb shanks from the pan and set aside on a warm plate.Add the cumin, cloves, cinnamon and peppercorns to the hot oil in the pan the lamb shanks were cooked in. Fry for 10-15 seconds, or until fragrant.Add the ginger and garlic paste and stir well. Fry for 5-6 minutes, or until lightly browned.Remove the pan from the heat and allow the contents to cool slightly, then add the yoghurt. Stir until well combined, then add the remaining water and stir again until well combined.Return the pan to the heat, then add the ground coriander, chilli powder or cayenne pepper, ground turmeric and the remaining one and a half teaspoons of salt. Stir well until combined.Return the lamb shanks to the pan so that they are covered in the yoghurt mixture. Bring the mixture to the boil, then cover the pan with aluminium foil and place the lid on top.Transfer the pan to the oven and bake slowly for three hours, turning the shanks over every 30 minutes.Remove the pan from the oven and remove the lid and aluminium foil. Place the pan over a high heat and bring the yoghurt mixture to the boil. Reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering, then simmer the remaining liquid for 6-7 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has reduced and the sauce has thickened. Baste the lamb shanks regularly with the remaining sauce as you simmer it.Meanwhile, for the basmati pilau with dill and cardamom, rinse the rice in several changes of water. Drain well, then place the drained rice into a bowl and cover generously with fresh water. Set aside for 30 minutes to soak, then drain well again. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan over a medium heat. (NB: You'll need a pan with a tight-fitting lid.) When the oil is hot, add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and bay leaves and fry for 5-10 seconds, stirring well.Add the onions and fry for 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly, or until coloured. Add the soaked, drained basmati rice and the chopped dill and stir well. Reduce the heat slightly and cook the rice for 2-3 minutes, stirring well, or until the rice is coated in the oil and has begun to cook.Add the stock and bring to the boil. Season, to taste, with up to a teaspoon of salt if necessary, then cover with a lid. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting and cook the rice for 20-25 minutes, or until tender.To serve, divide the rice equally among four serving plates. Place one lamb shank alongside each. For the lamb shanks, preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3. For the lamb shanks, preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3. Season the lamb shanks all over with ½ tsp of the salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Pat the seasoning into the meat. Season the lamb shanks all over with ½ tsp of the salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Pat the seasoning into the meat. In a food processor, blend the ginger, garlic and four tablespoons of the water to a smooth paste. Set aside. In a food processor, blend the ginger, garlic and four tablespoons of the water to a smooth paste. Set aside. Heat the oil in a large, non-stick, ovenproof pan over a high heat. (NB: You will need to use a pan with a tight-fitting lid.) When the oil is smoking, add the lamb shanks and fry for 3-4 minutes, turning regularly, or until lightly browned on all sides. Remove the lamb shanks from the pan and set aside on a warm plate. Heat the oil in a large, non-stick, ovenproof pan over a high heat. (NB: You will need to use a pan with a tight-fitting lid.) When the oil is smoking, add the lamb shanks and fry for 3-4 minutes, turning regularly, or until lightly browned on all sides. Remove the lamb shanks from the pan and set aside on a warm plate. Add the cumin, cloves, cinnamon and peppercorns to the hot oil in the pan the lamb shanks were cooked in. Fry for 10-15 seconds, or until fragrant. Add the cumin, cloves, cinnamon and peppercorns to the hot oil in the pan the lamb shanks were cooked in. Fry for 10-15 seconds, or until fragrant. Add the ginger and garlic paste and stir well. Fry for 5-6 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the ginger and garlic paste and stir well. Fry for 5-6 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the contents to cool slightly, then add the yoghurt. Stir until well combined, then add the remaining water and stir again until well combined. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the contents to cool slightly, then add the yoghurt. Stir until well combined, then add the remaining water and stir again until well combined. Return the pan to the heat, then add the ground coriander, chilli powder or cayenne pepper, ground turmeric and the remaining one and a half teaspoons of salt. Stir well until combined. Return the pan to the heat, then add the ground coriander, chilli powder or cayenne pepper, ground turmeric and the remaining one and a half teaspoons of salt. Stir well until combined. Return the lamb shanks to the pan so that they are covered in the yoghurt mixture. Bring the mixture to the boil, then cover the pan with aluminium foil and place the lid on top. Return the lamb shanks to the pan so that they are covered in the yoghurt mixture. Bring the mixture to the boil, then cover the pan with aluminium foil and place the lid on top. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake slowly for three hours, turning the shanks over every 30 minutes. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake slowly for three hours, turning the shanks over every 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and remove the lid and aluminium foil. Place the pan over a high heat and bring the yoghurt mixture to the boil. Reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering, then simmer the remaining liquid for 6-7 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has reduced and the sauce has thickened. Baste the lamb shanks regularly with the remaining sauce as you simmer it. Remove the pan from the oven and remove the lid and aluminium foil. Place the pan over a high heat and bring the yoghurt mixture to the boil. Reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering, then simmer the remaining liquid for 6-7 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has reduced and the sauce has thickened. Baste the lamb shanks regularly with the remaining sauce as you simmer it. Meanwhile, for the basmati pilau with dill and cardamom, rinse the rice in several changes of water. Drain well, then place the drained rice into a bowl and cover generously with fresh water. Set aside for 30 minutes to soak, then drain well again. Meanwhile, for the basmati pilau with dill and cardamom, rinse the rice in several changes of water. Drain well, then place the drained rice into a bowl and cover generously with fresh water. Set aside for 30 minutes to soak, then drain well again. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan over a medium heat. (NB: You'll need a pan with a tight-fitting lid.) When the oil is hot, add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and bay leaves and fry for 5-10 seconds, stirring well. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan over a medium heat. (NB: You'll need a pan with a tight-fitting lid.) When the oil is hot, add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and bay leaves and fry for 5-10 seconds, stirring well. Add the onions and fry for 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly, or until coloured. Add the onions and fry for 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly, or until coloured. Add the soaked, drained basmati rice and the chopped dill and stir well. Reduce the heat slightly and cook the rice for 2-3 minutes, stirring well, or until the rice is coated in the oil and has begun to cook. Add the soaked, drained basmati rice and the chopped dill and stir well. Reduce the heat slightly and cook the rice for 2-3 minutes, stirring well, or until the rice is coated in the oil and has begun to cook. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Season, to taste, with up to a teaspoon of salt if necessary, then cover with a lid. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting and cook the rice for 20-25 minutes, or until tender. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Season, to taste, with up to a teaspoon of salt if necessary, then cover with a lid. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting and cook the rice for 20-25 minutes, or until tender. To serve, divide the rice equally among four serving plates. Place one lamb shank alongside each. To serve, divide the rice equally among four serving plates. Place one lamb shank alongside each.