British Bites
237171-20130123-british-bites-scotch-broth.jpg

[Photograph: Sydney Oland]

About the author: Sydney Oland lives in Somerville, Mass. Find more information at sydneyoland.com (or read eatingnosetotail.com)

Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!

About This Recipe

Yield: Serves 4 as a main course
Active time: 25 minutes
Total time: 3 hours, or up to overnight
Special equipment: large stock pot with lid

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lamb shanks (about 2 medium shanks)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 medium cloves garlic
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 8 cups homemade or store-bought low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 medium carrots, finely diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 medium parsnip, finely diced (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1 medium russet potato, finely diced (about 1 1/4 cups)
  • 1/3 cup pearl barley
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

Procedures

  1. Season lamb shank with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over high heat until lightly smoking. Add lamb shanks and cook, turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes total. Remove shanks and set aside. Add onions and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and bay leaves and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broth and return shanks to pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to a bare simmer, cover, and cook until lamb shanks are tender and meat is pulling away from the bone, about 2 hours. For best results, let broth cool completely overnight in refrigerator, scrape off fat, and return to heat the next day. Otherwise, skim fat with a ladle or large spoon and continue to step 2.

  2. Remove the shanks from the stock, and once cool enough to handle gently remove the meat from the bones and tear into bite-sized pieces. Reserve. Bring stock back to a simmer and add carrot, parsnip, potato, and pearl barley. Cook until barley is tender, about 25 minutes then return shredded meat to the pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper, stir in parlsey, and serve.