Lamb Shanks with Skyr

Are you looking for a truly delicious and mouthwatering way to cook your lamb shanks? Then you needn’t look further than this lamb shank with Skyr recipe. Shared down the generations in my family, this lamb shank recipe uses traditional Turkish spices and ingredients that will transform your lamb shank into something truly special. 

Today’s mouthwatering dinner recipe is in partnership with the American Lamb Board – your one stop destination for all the info you need on American Lamb. Also partnering with Icelandic Provisions – makers of thick and creamy Icelandic skyr. 

Some recipes are so close to my heart, and especially those that remind me of my Turkish grandma 🙂 She was a loving, strong, funny and super smart woman who loved her kitchen too much! 

Today’s lamb shanks recipe is hers, and she served it over a creamy garlicky yogurt sauce. The sauce is brightened with a touch of lemon and lots of fresh herbs. 

While it was so delicious, I can say that using skyr instead of regular yogurt has taken this recipe to a whole other level! This plate would make a perfect Holiday table meal, it’s heartwarming and delicious! 

Lamb Shank Recipe

Once you try this lamb shank recipe, I’m certain you’ll add it to your list of special recipes. It certainly is for me. 

You’ll start by buying American lamb for this one (and always!) I always ask my butcher or local grocery store for American lamb to double check. And that’s because it makes a huge difference!

American lamb is fresh, locally grown with so much love and much tastier than any other! Believe me, I know lamb too well 🙂

So you’re guaranteed quality lamb when you buy American and you’ll also be supporting local ranchers that work so hard day in and day out! 

Since local lamb is so fresh and buttery in taste, it really needs no marinades or waiting around. However, you can absolutely let the lamb shanks sit in the flavoring mixture for a few hours or even overnight (if you’re preping in advance) but it’s not required.

Flavor the Lamb Shanks 

A mixture of these ingredients adds the perfect balance of flavor to the shanks:

• Ketchup (as unusual as it is, it adds sweetness) 
• Balsamic vinegar (boosts the flavor and more sweetness) 
• Soy sauce (brings out the flavor of lamb beautifully) 
• Salt, pepper and a touch of nutmeg 
• Onion water (my grandma’s trick! Squeeze the water out of freshly grated onion) 
• Olive oil 

You can have the lamb shanks marinate in this mixture or you can proceeding with cooking them right away as I did.

Note on the onion water:

The onion water is made by salting grated onion. In about 2 minutes , place the onion on a paper towel and squeeze the water out of the grated onion. Discard the onions for this recipe (you can sautee them to make another dish) but keep ALL the onion water for use in your lamb shank recipe. 

How to cook lamb shanks

Take the flavored lamb shanks and place them in an oven safe dish. 

You then need to add whole spices including bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cardamon and whole peppercorns to your lamb shanks.

 Now take your whole onions, chop them in half and add these to your dish, spread evenly along with the whole garlic bulbs. 

The last part to prepare your lamb shanks is to add your stock. After this you are ready to cook your lamb shanks. 

Cover the dish with foil and slow roast them until they fall off the bone tender! Your lamb shanks will be deliciously tender, well browned on all sides,  ready to serve! 

You can go for slow cooking this recipe as well:

Slow cooker Lamb shanks 

While I’ve chosen to roast my lamb shanks, they also come out beautifully in the slow cooker or even the pressure cooker. It’s really a matter of choice which method you use to cook your lamb shanks. 

What’s great about this recipe is that if you choose to cook your lamb in the slow cooker or pressure cooker there’s very little prep you need to do. 

You need to simply place everything as it is in your slow cooker (or pressure cooker/instant pot) and start cooking and it will come out perfectly when done. 

 However, there is a huge difference in cooking time with both pressure cooking and slow cooking your lamb shanks compared to roasting your lamb shanks. 

To slow cook your lamb shanks, you can choose between slow and really slow depending on the temperature you want to cook them on. 

If you want to cook it on high, you should slow cook your lamb shanks for 4-5  hours. 

If you want ‘fall of the bone’ lamb shanks, you can cook them on low for 7-8 hours. (You will need to plan ahead more for this option and make sure you put them in the slow cooker on time to be done in time for dinner). 

On the other hand, to make braised lamb shanks in the pressure cooker you will need to cook your lamb shanks for a much shorter time. You will need to pressure cook your lamb shanks for 60-80 minutes and then leave them in the pressure cooker until the pressure naturally releases. 

Icelandic Provisions Skyr Sauce

Skyr is a traditional Icelandic cultured dairy product that goes really well with savory flavors and dishes. We use Icelandic Provisions Skyr, combined with herbs and spices as a bed to serve the lamb shanks on. 

The combination of the two is truly beautiful. 

To make the Skyr sauce, simply combine the skyr with herbs, garlic sauce, lemon juice, and chilli flakes. Make sure it is all well mixed and then spread the bottom of the serving plate with your skyr before piling on the lamb.

I usually prepare the skyr sauce while the lamb shanks are roasting, or I make it a day in advance. 

Dill is a prominent herb that I use here–again because that’s how my grandma made it:) And it’s such a refreshing herb to combine with lamb, however if dill is not to your taste, feel free to substitute it with mint or parsley. 

Serving lamb shanks with Skyr

Once you have prepared your Skyr sauce, place your lamb shank on top of it. You will then want to garnish your lamb with fresh pomegranate, parsley, dill, and toasted pine nuts. 

This dish is also great served with mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes. Also great with rice or a simple salad on the side 🙂

Icelandic Skyr

As we are specifically using Skyr instead of any yogurt in this recipe, it’s a good idea to know about it. 

It is a traditional Icelandic cultured dairy product that differs from yogurt. It is made with skimmed milk with the addition of rennet and Icelandic cultures. This makes Skyr high in protein, lower in fat with a unique texture that is quite thick and creamy.

Icelanders have eaten skyr as part of their traditional diet for over 1000 years. 

Lamb Shanks with Skyr Tips &  FAQ’s  

• Choose American Lamb for best tasting and freshest lamb. 
• Use a large bowl to toss the lamb shanks in the flavoring ingredients well.  
• The onion water adds so much flavor without the risk of burning bits of onions in your recipe (which can offer a bitter taste to the lamb). 
• Salting the grated onion and letting it sit down for a few minutes before squeezing out the water is optimal. 
• The lamb shanks don’t need to marinade, they’re flavorful enough, however you can let them marinade for 2 hours and upto 12. 
• Adding whole spice and halved onion and garlic is key to infusing the cooking liquid.  
• Skyr sauce can be made ahead of time. 
• You can serve this recipe with rice or mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes, or a simple salad.  
• This plate makes a great holiday dinner option!  

Do you need to sear your lamb shanks before cooking? 

You can choose to sear the lamb shanks or not in this recipe. Browning on all sides is optional but it can help keep your lamb shanks looking neater and more uniform once cooked if this is important.

If you want less fuss in cooking your lamb shanks then you can leave searing your lamb shanks. 

What is skyr

Skyr is a cultured dairy product similar to yogurt but it is not the same. It’s made with lower fat milk, such as skimmed milk. Rennet is also added and the milk curd is reduced down. One cup of skyr uses 4 cups of milk to make. 

What is the difference between Skyr and Greek Yogurt?

Skyr and Greek Yogurt may seem as if they are almost the same but there is are key differences between the two. 

Greek yogurt is made from fermented, strained yogurt which is what gives it its thickness. It usually takes 3 cups of milk to make 1 cup of Greek yogurt. On the other hand, Skyr is made with specific Skyr cultures and is even more strained than Greek yogurt. It takes 4 cups of milk to make 1 cup of Skyr, making it a thicker, creamier and nutrient dense than Greek yogurt.

More Lamb Recipes 

Boneless Leg of Lamb

Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Poblano Sauce

How to Cook Lamb With Moroccan Spice

Roast Lamb Shoulder Recipe

Leg of Lamb with Mashed Potatoes

Roast Lamb And Chickpeas

Cheese Fondue with Lamb Dippers

Easy Stir Fry Recipe with Lamb and Veggies

4.75 from 12 votes

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Lamb Shanks with Skyr

Lamb shank with Skyr is a lamb shanks recipe shared down the generations in my family! Video and Tips for cooking lamb shanks with skyr.

Course Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Turkish

Keyword Lamb Recipe, Lamb recipes, lamb shanks, lamb shanks recipe, lamb shanks video, skyr, skyr recipe, what is skyr

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 497 kcal

Author Mahy

Ingredients

Lamb:

• 6 lamb shanks - American Lamb
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh black pepper ground
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 grated onions water only--see notes
• ½ cup olive oil
• 2 onions cut in half
• 2 heads of garlic
• 3 whole cardamoms
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tablespoons whole peppercorns
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 cups stock

Skyr Sauce

• 2 cups Icelandic Provisions Traditional Plain Skyr
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• ¼ cup fresh dill minced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ teaspoon chili flakes optional

Garnish

• Fresh parsley and dill
• Pomegranate arils
• Toasted pine nuts
• Cracked Black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl add the lamb shanks and flavoring ingredients (from the top until the olive oil only) and toss well.
3. Spread the lamb in an oven safe baking dish.
4. Add in the whole spices, cut up onions and garlic. Try to squeeze them in the dish and divide them evenly so the flavor spreads evenly as well.
5. Pour the stock over the lamb dish and cover the plate with foil.
6. Roast the shanks until tender--this should take between 100-120 minutes (depending on the size of your lamb shanks).
7. Once ready, remove the foil and if the lamb requires more browning, leave it in the oven for an extra 10 minutes. Note: USDA recommends cooking lamb to a minimum 145 degree internal temperature with a 3 minute rest.
8. In the meantime, make the skyr sauce.
9. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until blended.
10. On a serving plate, spread the skyr.
11. Add the lamb shanks on top and garnish with your choice of garnishes.
12. Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Lamb Shanks with Skyr Tips & FAQ’s

• Choose American Lamb for best tasting and freshest lamb.
• Use a large bowl to toss the lamb shanks in the flavoring ingredients well.
• The onion water adds so much flavor without the risk of burning bits of onions in your recipe (which can offer a bitter taste to the lamb).
• Salting the grated onion and letting it sit down for a few minutes before squeezing out the water is optimal.
• The lamb shanks don’t need to marinade, they’re flavorful enough, however you can let them marinade for 2 hours and upto 12.
• Adding whole spice and halved onion and garlic is key to infusing the cooking liquid.
• Skyr sauce can be made ahead of time.
• You can serve this recipe with rice or mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes, or a simple salad.
• This plate makes a great holiday dinner option!

Do you need to sear your lamb shanks before cooking?

You can choose to sear the lamb shanks or not in this recipe. Browning on all sides is optional but it can help keep your lamb shanks looking neater and more uniform once cooked if this is important.

If you want less fuss in cooking your lamb shanks then you can leave searing your lamb shanks.

What is skyr

Skyr is a cultured dairy product similar to yogurt but it is not the same. It’s made with lower fat milk, such as skimmed milk. Rennet is also added and the milk curd is reduced down. One cup of skyr uses 4 cups of milk to make.

What is the difference between Skyr and Greek Yogurt?

Skyr and Greek Yogurt may seem as if they are almost the same but there is are key differences between the two.
Greek yogurt is made from fermented, strained yogurt which is what gives it its thickness. It usually takes 3 cups of milk to make 1 cup of Greek yogurt. On the other hand, Skyr is made with specific Skyr cultures and is even more strained than Greek yogurt. It takes 4 cups of milk to make 1 cup of Skyr, making it a thicker, creamier and nutrient dense than Greek yogurt.

Nutrition Facts

Lamb Shanks with Skyr

Amount Per Serving

Calories 497 Calories from Fat 225

% Daily Value*

Fat 25g38%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Monounsaturated Fat 16g

Cholesterol 131mg44%

Sodium 1695mg74%

Potassium 794mg23%

Carbohydrates 20g7%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 10g11%

Protein 48g96%

Vitamin A 454IU9%

Vitamin C 9mg11%

Calcium 156mg16%

Iron 5mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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