Lamb Brine Recipes

LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• For the brine:
• Place the water, sugar, and salt into a large container. Carefully add the lamb shanks and soak for 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove shanks from the brine and pat dry. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic, to taste.
• Coat shanks with flour and saute in 2 to 3-ounces of virgin olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes each side.
• Place the shanks in a roasting pan with the crushed tomatoes.
• In same saute pan that the shanks were seared in, saute the carrots, celery stalks, onion, fresh fennel and garlic until tender, about 5 minutes over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and add to the roasting pan.
• Deglaze saute pan with 1 cup each red wine and orange juice. Reduce by half and add to roasting pan.
• Add 1/2 cup each fresh Italian parsley and fresh oregano to roasting pan. Cover and roast in oven for 2 hours or until tender. After 1 hour, turn shanks and cover for remaining time, making sure shanks are covered in the gravy.
• Garnish with fresh oregano sprigs and parsley and your favorite Italian cheese. Best served with polenta!

GRILLED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Make brine using the brining ingredients.
• Add lamb and make sure it is completely covered.
• Let sit at least 8 hours in th refrigerator or if using Food Saver marinate 2 hours.Meanwhile make a mixure of the second part of Rosemary, Thyme, garlic and oil.
• Remove the racks of lamb from the brine solution and pat dry with a tea towel. Smear with herb mixture.
• Brush grill with canola oil. Light the burners under the grill plate and allow them to get quite.hot. Place the racks of lamb on the hot barbecue grill and brown each side. Once the racks of lamb have been browned, slide the rack to the other side of the barbecue and adjust the flames so they are at a medium Low heat.
• Throw the rosemary sticks from the brine mixture onto one of the burners and close the barbecue lid. The idea is that the rosemary sticks will smoke and burn providing a smoky rosemary flavoured atmosphere and the racks of lamb will bake inside the oven cavity of the barbecue.
• Cook until temperature reaches 65° for medium rare, approx 20 minutes.
• Place on plate; cover with foil and towel and let sit 10 minutes.
• Very nice served with Knorr demi-glace sauce, mint jelly if that is your choice. Enjoy!