Lamb Shanks With Merlot And Garlic - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 lbs meaty lamb shanks (four, 3/4 to 1 lb. each)
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 large walla walla onions or 1 large other sweet onion, chopped
1 lb yukon gold potatoes or 1 lb yellow fin potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
1 lb carrot, peeled, split lengthwise, and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 garlic, bulbs cloves separated and peeled
2 bay leaves
1 bunch fresh thyme, tied in a bundle
1 cup merlot
1 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (Italian)
1 tablespoon chopped of fresh mint

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350\u00b0F (180\u00b0C).
Trim off any excess fat from the lamb shanks.
Sprinkle the shanks with the salt and pepper.
Spread the flour on a plate and turn the shanks in the flour, shaking off any excess.
In a large, heavy ovenproof pot over high heat, warm 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
Add the shanks (in batches, if necessary) and brown well on all sides, about 5 minutes.
Transfer the shanks to a plate.
Wipe out the pot.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the pot over medium-high heat.
Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, 3-4 minutes.
Return the shanks to the pot along with the potatoes, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, wine, and stock.
Bring to a boil, cover, and transfer to the oven.
Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Uncover and continue to bake until the Iamb is very tender, about 30 minutes longer.
Transfer the shanks to a platter.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the potatoes and carrots to the platter.
Cover and keep warm.
Using a large spoon, skim off any fat from the surface of the sauce remaining in the pot.
Lift out and discard the bay leaves and the thyme.
Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil.
Cook the sauce until it reduces and is lightly thickened, 3-5 minutes.
Pour the sauce around the meat.
Sprinkle the meat and vegetables with the parsley and mint.