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Braised Beef Shanks

Braised Beef Shanks

Braised Beef Shanks come together with sauteed vegetables, beef broth and warm spices in the slow cooker to make a hearty, flavorful meal.
Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds beef shanks
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup carrots, chopped
  • 1/2 cup celery, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried ground sage
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, optional

Instructions

  • Begin by generously sprinkling salt and pepper on both sides of the beef shanks.
  • Add one tablespoon of canola oil to a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the shanks for about 3 to 5 minutes on each side. The shanks should be golden brown after searing. Place the shanks in the bottom of a slow cooker set to low heat.
  • In the same skillet you used to sear the meat, add the onion, carrots, and celery and saute until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the remaining ingredients to the pan and stir to combine. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    simmer the sauce
  • Pour the sauce over the beef shanks in the slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours. The meat will fall away from the bone and the marrow will soften.
  • Remove the bones from the slow-cooker and break the meat into large chunks. Mix the marrow into the sauce to make it thick, rich, and robust. The aroma is amazing. Serve with mashed potatoes and a vegetable of your choice. Recipe makes 4 servings.
    Braised Beef Shanks

Equipment

  • 1 skillet
  • 1 5-quart slow-cooker

Notes

What are beef shanks?
The shank is a cut of beef taken from the lower leg of a cow. It is usually somewhat tough and needs to be cooked for a few hours before it becomes tender. It is can be used in soups, stews and braising recipes. Shanks are rich in flavor, due to the marrow of the bone mixing with the braising liquid during cooking. They can be found in the meat section of the grocery store or by asking your a butcher at the meat counter.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 32gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 1285mgPotassium: 914mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 2993IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 5mg