Moroccan-Style Honey-Braised Lamb Shanks

Name: Honey-Braised Lamb Shanks (Mrouzia)
Prep time: PT0D0H0M
Cook time: PT0D0H0M
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: ¼ cups olive oil; 3 tbsp. unsalted butter; 4 lamb shanks, frenched, if desired; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 1 large white onion, finely chopped; 1 cup golden raisins; 2 tbsp. ras el hanout (available at The Spice House , or make your own ); ¼ tsp. crushed saffron threads; 1 stick cinnamon; 1 cup blanched whole almonds; ⅔ cups honey; Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

Give those legs the Mediterranean treatment with a sweet, nutty, sauce.

Serves
serves 4

PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID MALOSH; FOOD STYLIST: SIMON ANDREWS; PROP STYLING: SUMMER MOORE

By SAVEUR Editors

Updated on January 4, 2022

Lamb shanks are braised for hours with a sweet sauce of honey, almonds, and raisins in this centuries-old Moroccan dish served at Mansouria in Paris. For a more aesthetic presentation, french-cut the shanks. (Frenching is the culinary term for removing meat, fat, and sinew to reveal the clean bone.) The North African spice blend ras el hanout is available at most supermarkets.

Featured in: "Couscous Royale."

Ingredients

¼ cups olive oil
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
4 lamb shanks, frenched, if desired
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 large white onion, finely chopped
1 cup golden raisins
2 tbsp. ras el hanout (available at The Spice House, or make your own)
¼ tsp. crushed saffron threads
1 stick cinnamon
1 cup blanched whole almonds
⅔ cups honey
Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

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Instructions

Step 1

To a large Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, add the oil and butter. Season the lamb all over with salt and black pepper. When the fat is hot and shimmering, add the lamb and cook, turning occasionally, until the meat is well browned on all sides, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Step 2

To the empty Dutch oven, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the raisins, ras el hanout, saffron, and cinnamon stick, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the almonds, honey, 3 cups of water, and the reserved lamb. When the liquid boils, turn the heat to medium and cook, partially covered, until the lamb is very tender, about 3½ hours.

Step 3

To serve, divide the shanks among four plates, ladle over the cooking liquid, and sprinkle each portion with sesame seeds.

To a large Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, add the oil and butter. Season the lamb all over with salt and black pepper. When the fat is hot and shimmering, add the lamb and cook, turning occasionally, until the meat is well browned on all sides, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
To the empty Dutch oven, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the raisins, ras el hanout, saffron, and cinnamon stick, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the almonds, honey, 3 cups of water, and the reserved lamb. When the liquid boils, turn the heat to medium and cook, partially covered, until the lamb is very tender, about 3½ hours.
To serve, divide the shanks among four plates, ladle over the cooking liquid, and sprinkle each portion with sesame seeds.