Moussaka-Lamb Shanks Casserole - cooking recipe

Ingredients

6 lamb shanks
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups chopped onions
2 garlic cloves (chopped)
1 (33 ounce) can italian-style tomatoes with basil
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon .black pepper
1 (1 lb) eggplant, 1/4 inch slices
4 potatoes, peeled and in 1/4 inch slices (about 1 3/4 lbs.)

Preparation

For quicker cooking, less shrinkage and easier serving, crack bone in lamb shanks. Hit shank bone once with a heavy mallet. Take care only to crack, not splinter the bone.( It is not essential to do this, but it means more meat for your money.).
In deep casserole, in olive oil brown lamb shanks. 2 or 3 at a time. Remove. Set aside. Add onion and garlic. Saute until brown. Pour off surplus oil.
Stir in undrained tomatoes, parsley, oregano,salt and pepper.Heat 5 minutes. Remove from casserole.
Place half eggplant and potato slices in bottom of casserole. Add lamb shanks and tomato mixture. Top with remaining eggplant and tomato slices.
Cover and bake at 375\u00b0F for 45 minutes. Remove cover. Bake 15 minutes longer or until meat and vegetables are tender.