Slow Roast Lamb Shank Shawarma
Lamb is synonymous with Easter. It’s also the perfect time to invite friends and family to gather around the table. What better than celebrating with a roast? Marinated overnight in garlic and earthy spices, this slow roast lamb shank shawarma is worth getting excited about. The meat is meltingly tender with a jammy onion gravy. This year, rather than a roast leg of lamb, I’ve decided on shanks but, the recipe is adaptable for either cut. Lamb is especially good paired with warming spices redolent of the Middle East.
Lamb shawarma’s iconic status reaches well beyond the borders of the Middle East. Come to think of it, what better way to eat a roast than in a casual pita-pocket. I’ve deviated slightly from tradition by including a splash of red wine and a little stock for the gravy. The result is a chestnut-coloured pan sauce that’ll have everyone breaking bread to mop up the sticky sauce.
What to serve with Slow Roast Lamb Shank Shawarma
As Middle Eastern food guru, Ottolenghi, explains in his book, Jerusalem – The best way to eat a shawarma is stuffed into warm pita pockets with chopped onion, parsley and a sprinkling of sumac. Finish with the quintessential tomato and cucumber salad. If your Easter celebration leads you in this direction, I’d include hummus and perhaps a tabbouleh salad too.
The FeedFeed, features this recipe and a host of other delicious ways with lamb. You can hop over there by clicking on the link. And for dessert? Chocolate, of course. My Nutella chocolate mousse cake is a huge favourite. Happy Easter friends!
Slow Roast Lamb Shank Shawarma
60 ml (1/4 cup) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for roasting
5 ml (1 teaspoon) fennel seeds, crushed
10 ml (2 teaspoons) smoked paprika
7.5 ml (1 1/2 teaspoons) ground cumin
2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoon) ground mixed spice
5 ml (1 teaspoon) fine salt
2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoon )dried red chilli flakes
125 ml (1/2 cup) red wine
180 ml (3/4 cup) weak meat stock
6 free-range lamb shanks, excess fat trimmed
2-3 red onions, peeled and cut into wedges
juice of half a lemon
How to roast the lamb
For the marinade, place the garlic, olive oil and all the aromatics in a small mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Pour the marinade over the meat, coating it completely. Place the shanks in a non-metallic dish, cover and marinate overnight in the fridge.
Preheat the oven to 170º C. Bring the lamb up to room temperature before roasting.
Transfer the lamb to a roasting tin. Season with salt on both sides and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Cover with foil and roast for 2 hours. Turn the shanks over. Add the onions to the roasting tin and pour the red wine and stock in around the sides.
Cover with the foil and roast for a further 90 minutes. If the liquid reduces too rapidly, just add a little extra water. Remove the foil and baste the meat with the pan juices. Turn the oven temperature up to 200ºC and roast for 20-30 minutes or until the fat is rendered and slightly charred.
Add a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice, cover with foil and allow to rest for about 15 – 20 minutes before serving.
Sides to serve with Slow roast lamb shank shawarma:
Roast Aubergines with miso and pomelo
13 Comments. Leave new
This looks amazing. I am going to try this recipe for Easter.
Di, you have done it again !! slow roast lamb shawarma sounds fabulous a must for this Passover, love your ideas and recipes, GREAT inspiration, keep the creative juices flowing,
Glad to hear you’re doing the lunch! It couldn’t be easier, especially to feed a crowd.
Thanks Amanda. Glad you found your way to the blog! Lamb is always good for special occasions and a firm favourite with us meat-loving South Africans.
Just found my Easter menu. Merci. I can’t wait to try it although I will downsize it for the 2 of us.
Hi Nadia. That’s one of the advantages of lamb shanks – just the right amount of meat per portion. Wishing you a very happy Easter with a tableful of delicious food. Thanks for stopping by.
This was amazing! Used a leg of lamb instead to feed the whole family for Easter and everyone loved it. There were no leftovers 🙂 always a good sign. Thanks for the recipe!
Oh dear! You’ll possibly have to make it again soon…. The Shepherd’s pie is going to need leftovers.
Please explain ‘ground mixed spices’ . It’s my first time to your site. Recipe looks delicious
All spice is a single whole spice while mixed spice is a combination of some or all of the following: All spice, coriander, caraway, mace, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. It’s used mostly in baking but also works really well with Middle Eastern savoury dishes, like these lamb shanks. Hope that helps.