I always believe that it’s not winter until you have felt the need to cook lamb shanks in a hearty casserole-style way. This recipe laden with Spanish flavours makes a lovely meal.

Ingredients

• 6 lamb shanks
• 2 red onions, peeled and cut into wedges
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
• 3 chorizo sausages, sliced
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• 400 gram can tomatoes in juice
• 1½ cups beef stock
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 tblsp chopped fresh thyme
• 16-18 stuffed olives, cut in half horizontally

Method

1. Dust the lamb shanks with seasoned flour and brown in a little oil in a hot frying pan until golden all over. Transfer to a large casserole.
2. Add the onions, garlic and chorizo sausages until fragrant and tender. Increase the heat, add the smoked paprika and tomato paste and stir continuously for 1-2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and juice, beef stock, red wine, thyme and season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, lifting any sediment from the base of the frying pan and then pour over lamb shanks and cover.
3. Bake at 160°C for 1 hour 45 minutes. In the final 45 minutes of cooking time add the sliced olives. Garnish with thyme if wished when serving.