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Osso Buco of Lamb Shanks with Zucchini and Avgolemono

4.3

(9)

For this osso buco we've substituted lamb shanks for the more traditional veal. We've also borrowed from the Greeks, adding avgolemono, a bright-tasting sauce of eggs, lemon juice, and broth.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

4 lamb shanks (about 4 pounds total), cut crosswise into 1 1/2-inch -thick pieces by butcher
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup water
3 zucchini (about 1 1/2 pounds total), cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 large egg
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
Accompaniment: cooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 275°F.

    Step 2

    In a heavy casserole large enough to hold lamb shanks in one layer without crowding arrange shanks and season with salt and pepper. Roast shanks in middle of oven, covered tightly, 3 hours, or until tender. (Meat will give off juices as it cooks.) Pour off pan juices, reserving about 1 cup, and skim fat. Keep shanks warm, covered.

    Step 3

    In a small saucepan combine broth, reserved pan juices, water, and one-third zucchini and simmer 5 minutes, or until zucchini is tender but still bright green. In a blender purée broth mixture until smooth.

    Step 4

    In a bowl whisk together egg and lemon juice and whisk in puréed; broth mixture. Return mixture to pan and heat over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until 170°F. on a candy thermometer and thickened slightly (do not boil). Season avgolemono with salt and pepper and keep warm.

    Step 5

    In a large non-stick skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté remaining zucchini until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in dill and salt and pepper to taste.

  2. Step 6

    Arrange shanks on a deep platter and scatter with zucchini. Drizzle shanks with some avgolemono and serve remaining sauce separately. Serve shanks with orzo>/I>.

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