Thyme and Balsamic Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks

Ingredients

• 2 lamb shanks
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 400 g tinned tomatoes (1 can)
• 1 red onion
• 1-2 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsp gluten-free flour
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp honey (40 mL)
• 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar (60 mL)
• 1 tbsp arrowroot or tapioca flour
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. You will need one large frying pan and your slow cooker to make this. You'll start with your frying pan.
2. Prep your ingredients. Peel and slice the onion into thin slices, and peel and finely slice the garlic. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl or mug, mix the 3 tablespoons of gluten free flour with a pinch of salt and pepper. Then, coat the lamb shanks in the flour, shaking off any excess. (You can do this by shaking together in a zip lock bag, or simply placing the lamb shanks on a plate/tray and dusting over the flour, turning the lamb a few times).
4. Heat the frying pan up on the stove over a moderate-high heat and add half the olive oil. Pop in the lamb shanks and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning regularly so the lamb shanks are just lightly browned all over. Then remove shanks from the pan and set the shanks aside.
5. Add the rest of the oil to the pan. Return it to the heat and add the onion, garlic and dried thyme. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and the onion is starting to turn translucent. Then, add in the balsamic vinegar, honey and tomatoes. Stir it all together until just bubbling, then remove from the heat.
6. Place the sauce in the base of the slow cooker pot. Put the lamb shanks on top of the sauce, so the bone of the shanks is sitting pointing up. Spoon a little bit of the sauce over the meaty parts of the lamb shanks that are sticking out of the sauce.
7. Pop the lid on the slow cooker and set to cook on low for 8 hours (or the equivalent on high - about 4 hours).
8. Once the lamb has finished cooking, carefully lift out the shanks and set aside.
9. If you can put your slow cooker pot directly over a heat source (i.e. you can put it on the stove), leave the sauce in the pot, otherwise transfer to a pan. Heat the sauce up until it's bubbling and stir it occasionally, allowing it to cook, uncovered, for about 10-15 minutes until it reduces and thickens a little. While this is happening, dissolve the arrowroot flour in a tablespoon of water and add this to the pot as well, to help thicken the sauce. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
10. Serve the lamb shanks with a few generous spoonfuls of the thickened sauce, together with your favourite sides. I recommend sweet potato mash, and greens! Garnish with fresh parsley if desired (as pictured).

source:https://nourisheveryday.com/thyme-balsamic-slow-cooker-lamb-shanks/

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