Lamb Shanks with Star Anise & Sweet Potato

Slow cooked lamb shanks are paired with fragrant star anise and sweet potato providing a wholesome and satisfying winter meal.

Ingredients (4 to 6 servings):

• 4 trimmed lamb shanks
• 2 red onions, halved, thinly sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 tbs finely grated fresh ginger
• 3 whole star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tbs no-added-salt tomato paste
• 250ml (1 cup) chicken stock
• 250ml (1 cup) water
• 400g can diced tomatoes
• 400g sweet potato, peeled, cut into 2cm cubes
• 2 tsp tamari
• 2 tsp lime juice
• Baby coriander leaves, to serve
• Steamed broccolini, to serve

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160C/140C fan forced.
2. Heat a large flameproof casserole dish over high heat. Spray with olive oil. Cook lamb shanks in 2 batches for 1-2 minutes each side or until browned. Transfer to a plate.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Spray casserole dish with olive oil. Add onion and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until soft.
4. Add garlic, ginger, star anise and cinnamon and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until aromatic.
5. Stir in tomato paste for 1 minute. Add lamb shanks, stock, water and tomato to pan. Bring to boil. Cover.
6. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes. Add sweet potato. Bake, covered, for a further 1 hour or until lamb is very tender.
7. Stir in tamari and lime juice. Season with pepper. Sprinkle with coriander.
8. Serve with broccolini.