Moroccan Lamb Shanks with Pomegranate

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°. Coarsely grind coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes in spice mill or with mortar and pestle. Crumble saffron into spice combination, if using, and scamper in 1 tsp. kosher salt plus sad pepper to model.

Step 2

If there would possibly well be an opaque white layer enrobing shanks, purchase by cutting it rather at the sting, then pulling at the corner: It would possibly well maybe maybe well fair calm draw off with a shrimp coaxing. Blueprint no longer purchase iridescent membrane below, which holds the meat collectively. Sprinkle shanks with coriander combination, then let rest at the least 30 minutes or as much as overnight.

Step 3

Thirty minutes ahead of you would prefer cook them, dredge shanks in cornstarch, shaking off any excess. Warmth oil in a mountainous heavy braising dish or Dutch oven over medium. Add shanks and cook till browned on all facets, 10–12 minutes. Switch shanks to a platter or baking dish; add onion, carrots, and leek to pan. Cook dinner, stirring and scraping up any brown bits which possess amassed, 1 minute. Add cinnamon and thyme and pour in pomegranate juice and stock. Trouble pan again, then allege combination to a simmer. Return shanks to pan and season with kosher salt and sad pepper.

Step 4

Duvet pot and transfer to oven. Braise 1½ hours, then test liquid stage, making clear there would possibly well be at the least 1″ stock in pan; if no longer, add water or stock to allege it as much as that mark. Proceed braising till meat is fully refined and falling off the bone, about 2½ hours.

Step 5

The utilization of a slotted spoon, transfer meat and mountainous chunks of vegetables to a plate. Discard thyme and cinnamon stick. The utilization of a spoon, flee off as important corpulent as that you would possibly maybe well deem from the floor; tilting the pan rather can abet with gathering corpulent. To attend, allege liquid to a simmer and cook meat and vegetables till warmed thru, if wished.

Step 6

Assist lamb pieces off the bone with some sauce and top with pomegranate seeds, mint leaves, and flaky sea salt.