Braised Lamb Shanks with Flageolets

(Shared recipe submitted by John Overholt.)

Bravo, John! I made this recipe and it is excellent. When I made it, I had to make a few changes. John, who has since passed away, lived near London, England, and could get products that are not readily available in my area of the United States. For example, I have had flageolets, but they are difficult to find, so I substituted white beans. You can view my version of this recipe, Braised Lamb Shanks with White Beans, in the similar and related recipes. However, if you can get all of the ingredients listed below, try the original.

Ingredients

• 4 lamb shanks
• 3 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 to 2 carrots, finely diced
• 3 sticks celery (no leaves), finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 12 ounces dried flageolet beans (or haricot/navy), soaked for 12 hours (see notes below)
• Bouquet Garni
• 2 sprigs rosemary, fresh if possible
• 1 can tomatoes, chopped, seeded and skinned
• 1 tablespoon (say 3-inches if in a tube) tomato puree
• 6 ounces lamb stock
• 6 ounces light red wine, such as Merlot

Brown the lamb shanks in the oil in a heavy frying pan. Transfer to a heavy (iron?) casserole large enough to take the meat in one layer. Cook onion, carrot and celery in the same frying pan over low heat until lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or so. Add the vegetables to the meat and deglaze the frying pan with the wine, lamb stock and about 12 ounces of water. Add to the meat and vegetables. Add drained beans to the casserole. Add bouquet garni, rosemary and freshly milled pepper (NO salt). Cover casserole tightly and cook at 325° F for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until the beans are cooked but NOT mushy. Add tomatoes, tomato puree and salt to taste. Cover and cook for a further 1-1/2 hours, occasionally stirring gently.

Remove 2 or 3 good sized ladlefuls of the bean and tomato mixture with plenty of liquid and whiz in your blender until smooth. Add this puree to the casserole and gently mix it in. Serve one lamb shank and a portion of the vegetables to each person. Sprinkle a good portion of freshly chopped parsley over each serving (actually gremolata might be nice).

Notes: If desired, use 1/2 flageolet and 1/2 borlotti beans. The mixture gives a nice colour contrast.