Braised Beef Shanks with Coconut Milk, Ginger and Cumin
I purchased some beef shanks that were about 1½ inches thick from my friends at the Farmers Market in Ardmore, PA. I have braised lamb shank, veal shank and pork shank so I was excited to see how beef shanks would compare.
The recipe was adapted from The Complete Meat Cookbook, one of the best cookbooks in my collection. If you want to learn about beef, pork or lamb, this book is a must. Not only does it have loads of great recipes, it has tons of information about meat cuts and how to cook them.
One thing I noticed when the shanks started cooking was a peculiar smell in the kitchen. To be honest, it wasn't that appetizing but after about 45 minutes, the "peculiar" smell changed into an appealing one. So don't be alarmed if you start off with a funky aroma.
The original recipe calls for coating each shank with a flour, salt & pepper combination. I skipped this step and it didn't seem to upset the finally outcome.
I was concerned the spices might be more than my kids could handle but was pleasantly surprised when both of them told me they enjoyed both the meat and the sauce. Like other braised shank meat dishes, even if the meat is over cooked and a little dry, the sauce makes up for it.
And the marrow from the shank bones was incredible.
📖 Recipe
Braised Beef Shanks
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil I used extra virgin olive oil because that's all I had
- 2½ cups onions chopped
- 2 carrots cut into ¼ inch dice
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced
- salt & pepper to taste
- 4 pounds beef shanks cut 1½ to 2 inches thick
- 2½ teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1¾ cups brown stock or beef stock
- 1½ cups coconut milk unsweetened
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cardamon pods lightly smashed
- 2 bay leaves wrapped in some cheesecloth
- cilantro freshly chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Start by preheating the oven to 325° F.
- Heat a large enough Dutch oven or roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter with 1 tablespoon of the oil. When the butter melts, add the onion, carrots, garlic and ginger.
- Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the vegetables begin to soften. This should take about 10 minutes. Be sure to stir every once in a while so the vegetables don't burn. Remove the vegetables from the pan and reserve.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan along with 1 tablespoon of oil and turn up the heat to medium high. When the butter melts, start browning the beef shanks on all sides. Don't overcrowd the pan. If you can't fit them all into the pan without touching each other, brown some separately. When all the shanks are brown, remove them and reserve them on a large plate.
- Reduce the heat once again to medium and add the coriander, cumin, turmeric and red pepper flakes. All you want to do is have the spices release the oils from them. This should take about 1 minute.
- Add ½ cup of the brown stock and stir while trying to scrape up and brown "stuff" from the bottom of the pan.
- Add the remaining 1-¼ cups of brown stock and the coconut milk, stir and bring to a boil.
- Add the shanks back to the pan and then the vegetables.
- Next add the cheesecloth filled with spices. Cover and place the Dutch oven or pan into the preheated oven and cook (braise) for 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours until the meat is tender and shrinks away from the bone.
- When the shanks are tender, carefully remove them from the pan to a large platter and cover with foil. If the braising liquid is overly greasy, use a spoon to remove some of the fat.
- On top of the stove, reduce the braising liquid over medium-high heat until it starts to thicken. Remove the cheesecloth with spices, taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
carol
Oh my, I was excited when I read you bought your shanks at the market in Ardmore. I was born and raised there, after I married, we moved far away LOL to Havertown, PA. About 8 years ago we moved to FL. I used to go to that farmers market every weekend, I just loved everything about it. Also, it was lots of fun. Carol
carol
Hehehehe, I meant I was born and raised in Ardmore, certainly not the farmers market. Carol
Paul
trying the recipe tonight. It's almost complete. Just making some mashed potatoes while it finishes up.
Paul
Thank You. This was incredible. I wouldn't change a thing. Would be interested in trying a veal version sometime.
Hey Paul, you are welcome. Thanks for posting. The veal version is even better. Check out Osso Buco - RG
Jordan
I made this for the first time last night with my new dutch oven. It was my first time braising and it was AMAZING! I too am a reluctant (cook). Thanks for your great recipes.
Hi Jordan, you are very welcome and congratulations on your first time braising. Isn't it amazing how you can take an inexpensive cut of meat and make something so delicious? - RG
Midge
Hi, I don't have a dutch oven, how do I convert this to a crock pot? Let me clarify, low or high on the crock-pot and for how long? Just eyeball the meat and bone?
Thank you!
Hi Midge, I posted an article for Substituting a Dutch Oven for a Crock-Pot but it will show you how you can substitute a Crock-Pot for a Dutch Oven too. - RG