South African Culinary Heritage Collection
SA Recipes
Ref: SAR-0047
Printed 03 November 2026
Dinner
Kid-Friendly
Lamb
Lunch
Skaapskenkels (Lamb Shanks)
Recipe by
Christo Lochenberg
Published 14 November 2025
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Ingredients
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- 2-4 Lamb shanks (depending on size and serving)
- 30ml (2 tbsp) Olive oil
- 2 large onions, roughly chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 500ml (2 cups) Beef or lamb stock
- 250ml (1 cup) Red wine (optional, enhances flavour)
- 1 can (410g) Chopped tomatoes
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
About This Recipe
Slow-cooked lamb shanks, a deeply satisfying and flavourful dish where the meat becomes incredibly tender and falls off the bone. Often braised with vegetables and herbs in a rich sauce.
Preparation Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160°C. Season lamb shanks generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large, ovenproof pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the lamb shanks well on all sides. Remove and set aside.
- Add chopped onions, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 8-10 minutes until softened and slightly caramelised. Add crushed garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- If using, pour in the red wine and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Return the browned lamb shanks to the pot. Add beef/lamb stock, chopped tomatoes, fresh rosemary, and bay leaves. Ensure the shanks are mostly submerged in liquid.
- Bring to a gentle simmer on the stovetop, then cover the pot tightly with a lid.
- Transfer the pot to the preheated oven and braise for 2.5 - 3.5 hours, or until the lamb shanks are fork-tender and falling off the bone.
- Carefully remove the shanks from the pot. If the sauce is too thin, you can reduce it on the stovetop over high heat until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley, with mashed potatoes, creamy polenta, or rice.
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© 2026 SA Recipes · Recipe by Christo Lochenberg
Source: https://sarecipes.co.za/browse/recipe/skaapskenkels-lamb-shanks · Developed by Christo Lochenberg
