Country Lamb Casserole

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 12 french-trimmed lamb shanks
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 medium onions, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 bunch baby carrots, trimmed
• 3 medium swede, chopped
• 12 baby potatoes
• 1 (400 g) can diced tomatoes or 1 (400 g) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1/2 cup red
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 1/4 liters vegetable stock (5 cups)
• 1 (400 g) can brown lentils, rinsed,drained
• mashed potatoes, to serve
• extra fresh rosemary, to garnish (optional)

Recipe

• 1 heat oil in a large pan.
• 2 add shanks, in batches, cook until browned all over.
• 3 remove from pan.
• 4 add bacon, onions and garlic to same pan, cook, stirring, until onions are soft and lightly browned.
• 5 return shanks to pan with whole carrots, swedes, potatoes, undrained crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, , rosemary and stock.
• 6 bring to boil, simmer, covered, for about 1 1/4 hours, or until lamb is tender.
• 7 stir in lentils.
• 8 simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, or until sauce is thickened.
• 9 serve casserole over mashed potatoes; garnish with extra fresh rosemary.