Name: Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks with Red Wine Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 170 min
Total time: 180 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 lamb shanks (, around 13 oz / 400g each (Note 1)); 1 tsp each salt and pepper; 2 - 3 tbsp olive oil (, separated); 1 cup onion (, finely diced (brown, yellow or white)); 3 garlic cloves (, minced); 1 cup carrot (, finely diced (Note 2)); 1 cup celery (, finely diced (Note 2)); 2 1/2 cups / 625 ml red wine (, full bodied (good value wine, not expensive! Note 3)); 28 oz / 800g can crushed tomatoes; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 2 cups / 500 ml chicken stock, low sodium ((or water)); 5 sprigs of thyme ((preferably tied together), or 2 tsp dried thyme); 2 dried bay leaves ((or 4 fresh)); Mashed potato, polenta or pureed cauliflower; Fresh thyme leaves, optional garnish