Braised Lamb Shanks with Figs and Eggplant

Why you'll love this lamb shank recipe

• It's all cooked in one big casserole pot – simple to make, easy to clean up afterwards
• There are so many incredible flavours that come together in spectacular fashion
• Slow cooked lamb shanks taste buttery, rich, tender and delicious
• Leftovers are easy to store and taste even better the next day!

What to serve with your braised lamb shanks recipe

Sides

Mashed potatoes

What better to serve with a hearty slow cooked lamb stew than a side of delicious creamy mashed potatoes? Try my extra special roasted garlic mashed potatoes or, if you prefer something extra decadent and creamy, make my French-style Mousseline potatoes.

Rice

Simple steamed rice makes for an excellent side dish with braised lamb shanks. Add a twist with my sweet potato rice recipe. Or, go for a creamier, more flavorful rice – my simple risotto, for example.

Couscous

Another grain that goes great with lamb shanks, couscous is really easy to make. Add your favorite vegetables for wonderfully hearty Sunday lunch.

Polenta

A delicious creamy side dish that is originally from Italy, polenta is an excellent alternative to the likes of mash potatoes, rice and couscous.

Wine pairing

Rich lamb stew recipes pair very well with dry red wines with a good amount of acidity. This kind of wine helps to balance out the richness of the meat, as well as the subtle spices in the dish.

I recommend an Italian Chianti, which should be widely available in most supermarkets. Other fantastic red wines are Burlesque, which has plummy tones and hints of black pepper, and Petit Saó, which has floral, honey notes as well as fig undertones.

Other great wines to pair with lamb shanks include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.

Popular substitutions for this recipe

Variations to this recipe

Omit the wine

I highly recommend using wine with this braised lamb shanks recipe – a red wine sauce adds a wonderful richness and depth of flavour. However, if you've rather leave the wine out, no problem! Just replace with stock (lamb or vegetable stock will do) or simply add extra water.

Add herbs

This recipe calls for spices and a garnish of parsley. However, I've left out herbs during the actual cooking stage. Feel free to add a few sprigs of fresh thyme or fresh rosemary into the pot. Rosemary, in particular, goes wonderfully well with lamb.

Make it thicker

If you prefer your sauce thicker, you can make a cornstarch slurry by taking 125ml (½ cup) of the cooking liquid and stirring 14g (2 tbsp) cornstarch into it. Place the pot over a low heat and stir while drizzling the slurry back into the sauce. It should thicken after a few minutes.

Leave out the spice

If you prefer your braised lamb stew without spice, simply leave out the nutmeg and cinnamon.

Add a secret flavour-maker

This lamb shank stew has got some incredible flavor. However, you can make it even richer by adding a secret ingredient or two.

When you return lamb shanks to the pot, add a dash of Worcestershire Sauce . If you kind find this classic British sauce, use a suitable alternative – I've got a list of best Worcestershire Sauce substitutes.

Another way to bring a little magic to any lamb stew is to add a single anchovy into the pot after you've fried the onions. It might sound bizarre, but trust me. It just works!

Make it tomatoey

Add a tablespoon of tomato paste when you return the lamb shanks to the pot.

Make more or less

One of the beauties of this dish is that you can adapt the amount. Use two or three shanks instead of four, add extra shanks if you wish, or bulk out the stew with vegetables of your choice.

More luscious lamb recipes

Lamb is such an underrated meat! Get creative and cook up some of the following sensational lamb recipes:

• BBQ pulled lamb – another slow cooked lamb recipe, this time in the form of a burger. Pulled pork might be all the rage, but this recipe takes things to a whole new level!
• Lamb leg steak – fast cooking doesn’t get better than this! Cook up these sensational steaks in less than 20 minutes for a quick and easy Sunday lunch
• Indian leg of lamb – if you’ve never had Indian leg of lamb, you’re in for a treat. It’s a spicy slow-cooked masterpiece!
• Lamb massaman curry – a heavenly Thai curry that’s hearty and intensely flavored, yet mildly spiced with cumin, bay leaves, star anise and nutmeg.
• Lamb shish kebab – for those who doubt you can have a healthy kebab, here’s your proof. The perfect demonstration of healthy fast food with big flavors. Best of all, it’s really quick to prepare.
• Slow cooker lamb shanks – this lamb steaks recipe is the ultimate Sunday lunch comfort food!
• Smoked leg of lamb – just one mouthful of this amazing recipe will be enough to have you hooked. When it comes to taste, smoked meat is in a different league and this is the perfect smoked lamb recipe for smoking newbies and experts alike.
• Lamb noisettes with rosemary sauce – when it comes to flavor pairings, few things go together like lamb and rosemary. Lamb noisettes are similar to lamb steaks, and this simple recipe is beautiful, elegant, full of flavor and very easy to make.
• Lamb sandwich with avocado and jam – if you have lamb leftovers, this is the recipe for you!
• Lamb jalfrezi – traditional curry recipes like lamb jalfrezi are the perfect way to use up leftover lamb
• Lamb pasanda – creamy and delicious, this curry can be made with leftover lamb 
• 7 hour slow-roast shoulder of lamb – a slow cooked masterpiece that’ll linger long in the memory
• Lamb dopiaza – a hearty stew-like curry that’s super comforting, the lamb is simmered in until tender
• Honey glazed rack of lamb – you’ll be surprised how something so simple can taste so good!
• Lamb shish kebab – can you believe that you can make a healthy kebab? Here’s the proof. The whole family will love these quick and easy, incredibly tasty kebabs 
• Lamb massaman curry – Have you ever made a massaman curry? If not, this succulent Thai curry is soon to become a firm favourite of yours!
• Lamb Tacos – These amazing Mexican lamb tacos are off-the-charts tasty! Tender, smoky and spicy slow-cooked lamb that melts in your mouth, served up in a warm tortilla and finished with your favorite toppings.