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Garlic-Braised Beef Shanks

This recipe for garlic-braised beef shanks is a masterclass in slow-cooking, transforming a humble, protein-rich cut of meat into a melt-in-the-mouth delicacy. By simmering the beef with whole heads of garlic, fresh thyme, and bright lemon zest, the sauce develops a profound depth of flavour that is both savoury and subtly sweet. The addition of chunky carrots and celery turns this into a complete, nourishing meal that celebrates traditional British comfort food.

Perfect for a weekend dinner or a sophisticated Sunday roast alternative, this high-protein dish benefits significantly from being prepared a day in advance. Resting the beef in its cooking juices allows the flavours to mature and makes it easy to remove any excess fat for a cleaner finishing sauce. Serve these tender shanks in deep bowls with plenty of the garlic-infused gravy and perhaps some creamy mashed potatoes to soak up every drop.

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Ingredients for Garlic-Braised Beef Shanks

  • 6 (1 1/2-inch-thick) beef shanks (2.7kg )

  • 1 tablespoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • 80g plain flour

  • 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 425ml reduced-sodium beef broth (14 fluid ounces)

  • 475ml water

  • 4 large heads of garlic, 1/4 inch of root end cut off and discarded to expose cloves

  • 2 (4-inch-long) strips fresh lemon zest

  • 8 fresh thyme sprigs

  • 2 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California

  • 3 celery ribs, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces

  • 3 large carrots, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

  • Garnish: celery leaves

  • parchment paper

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 177°C.

Pat shanks dry and rub all over with salt and pepper. Dredge shanks in flour, turning to coat. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then brown shanks on all sides in 3 batches, adding 1/2 tablespoons oil if necessary, 5 to 6 minutes per batch.

Transfer shanks to a large roasting pan. Add broth and water to skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits. Nestle garlic (cut sides down), zest, thyme, and bay leaves with celery and carrots around shanks in pan and add broth mixture. Cover surface with a sheet of parchment paper and tightly cover pan with foil. Transfer to oven and braise until meat is very tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Skim off and discard fat from cooking liquid and cool mixture completely, uncovered, about 1 hour, then chill, covered, at least 6 hours.

Preheat oven to 177°C (leave rack in middle position).

Skim off and discard any remaining fat from surface of pan juices and reheat shank mixture, covered, in oven, turning shanks over once, 1 hour. Discard bay leaf, thyme sprigs, and zest. Transfer shanks and vegetables with garlic to a serving dish and keep warm, covered. If pan juices measure more than 725ml , boil in a cleaned 12-inch skillet until reduced; if less, add water. Squeeze garlic pulp from 1 head into pan juices, discarding skin, and whisk to incorporate, then add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over shanks and serve, along with vegetables and remaining garlic heads.

Avvertenza

Sebbene sia stato fatto ogni sforzo per garantire che le informazioni siano accurate e aggiornate, le esigenze individuali possono variare e i requisiti dietetici possono differire in base alle condizioni di salute personali. Controlla sempre le etichette degli alimenti e le informazioni sugli allergeni prima di preparare o consumare qualsiasi ricetta. Se hai preoccupazioni specifiche per la salute, allergie, intolleranze o stai seguendo una dieta prescritta dal medico, consulta il tuo medico di base, farmacista o un dietista registrato prima di apportare cambiamenti significativi alla tua dieta o stile di vita.

Storia dell'articolo

Le informazioni su questa pagina sono revisionate da clinici qualificati.

  • 29 Gen 2026 | Pubblicato originariamente

    Autore:

    Redattori di ricette del Regno Unito

    Revisione paritaria di

    Redattori di ricette del Regno Unito
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