Lamb Shanks with Olives and Capers
James Carrier
Notes: If you can't find pitted olives, you can use those with pits (warn guests to bite with care) or you can cut the olives from their pits (keep the pieces as large as possible).
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Rinse lamb and pat dry; lay shanks side by side in a 12- by 17-inch pan about 2 inches deep. Bake in a 450° regular or convection oven, turning once, until meat is well browned all over, about 25 minutes total. Reduce oven temperature to 325°.
Step 2
2
Meanwhile, place capers and olives in a fine strainer and rinse with cool water; drain. Mince rosemary or combine with about 1 cup of the wine in a blender and whirl until minced. Scatter capers, olives, and rosemary over lamb (or pour rosemary-wine mixture evenly over lamb) and add the wine (the rest of the wine if whirling some with rosemary); stir around shanks to scrape up browned bits. Sprinkle pepper and lemon peel over meat; add lemon juice to pan. Cover pan tightly with lid or foil.
Step 3
3
Bake until meat is very tender when pierced and pulls easily from the bone, 3 to 3 1/4 hours.
Step 4
4
Spoon equal portions of Lemon Couscous into wide, shallow bowls. With tongs, lift lamb shanks from pan and set one on couscous in each bowl. Skim and discard fat from juices in pan. Ladle juices with olives and capers over meat. Garnish each bowl with about 1/2 cup watercress sprigs.
Ingredients
6 lamb shanks (about 6 lb. total)
1 jar (4 oz.) capers, drained
1 1/2 cups pitted green olives in brine such as Picholine (see notes)
1/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves or 3 tablespoons dried rosemary
1 bottle (750 ml.) dry white wine
2 teaspoons fresh-ground pepper
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
3 tablespoons lemon juice
About 3 cups watercress sprigs, rinsed and crisped
Directions
Step 1
1
Rinse lamb and pat dry; lay shanks side by side in a 12- by 17-inch pan about 2 inches deep. Bake in a 450° regular or convection oven, turning once, until meat is well browned all over, about 25 minutes total. Reduce oven temperature to 325°.
Step 2
2
Meanwhile, place capers and olives in a fine strainer and rinse with cool water; drain. Mince rosemary or combine with about 1 cup of the wine in a blender and whirl until minced. Scatter capers, olives, and rosemary over lamb (or pour rosemary-wine mixture evenly over lamb) and add the wine (the rest of the wine if whirling some with rosemary); stir around shanks to scrape up browned bits. Sprinkle pepper and lemon peel over meat; add lemon juice to pan. Cover pan tightly with lid or foil.
Step 3
3
Bake until meat is very tender when pierced and pulls easily from the bone, 3 to 3 1/4 hours.
Step 4
4
Spoon equal portions of Lemon Couscous into wide, shallow bowls. With tongs, lift lamb shanks from pan and set one on couscous in each bowl. Skim and discard fat from juices in pan. Ladle juices with olives and capers over meat. Garnish each bowl with about 1/2 cup watercress sprigs.
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