Slow cooked beef shank with gravy served on a plate

Tender Slow Cooked Beef Shank with Rich Gravy

Name: Tender Slow Cooked Beef Shank with Rich Gravy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 6 h 15 min
Total time: 6 h 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.5 kg Beef shank, bone-in (choose fresh, bright red meat with firm texture); 2 tsp Salt; 1 tsp Black pepper, freshly ground; 2 tbsp Olive oil; 1 piece Onion, chopped (medium-sized, choose firm ones without spots); 2 pieces Carrots, chopped; 2 pieces Celery stalks, chopped; 3 cloves Garlic cloves, minced (fresh garlic for best flavor); 500 ml Beef stock or broth (low sodium preferred); 125 ml Red wine (optional, good quality for cooking); 2 tbsp Tomato paste (for depth of flavor); 1 tbsp Fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme; 2 pieces Bay leaves; 1 tbsp Cornstarch (optional, for thickening gravy); 2 tbsp Cold water (to mix with cornstarch)

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easy

6 hour 15 min

Nutritional value per serving

Calories550kcal

Carbs15gram

Fat25gram

Protein45gram

Ingredients

Quantity

Beef shank, bone-in (choose fresh, bright red meat with firm texture)1.5 kg
Salt2 tsp
Black pepper, freshly ground1 tsp
Olive oil2 tbsp
Onion, chopped (medium-sized, choose firm ones without spots)1 piece
Carrots, chopped2 pieces
Celery stalks, chopped2 pieces
Garlic cloves, minced (fresh garlic for best flavor)3 cloves
Beef stock or broth (low sodium preferred)500 ml
Red wine (optional, good quality for cooking)125 ml
Tomato paste (for depth of flavor)2 tbsp
Fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme1 tbsp
Bay leaves2 pieces
Cornstarch (optional, for thickening gravy)1 tbsp
Cold water (to mix with cornstarch)2 tbsp

This recipe guides you through slow cooking beef shank until it is tender and flavorful, accompanied by a rich and savory gravy. The slow cooking process breaks down the connective tissue in the beef, making it wonderfully soft and perfect for a comforting meal. Safety is emphasized with cooking temperatures to ensure the beef is fully cooked and safe to eat. The cost of ingredients is approximately $15 USD, €14, £12, and ₹1200. This dish provides about 550 calories per serving and is suitable for a hearty, protein-rich diet. Complexity is easy, and total time is about 6 hours, mainly due to slow cooking. It's perfect for a relaxed weekend meal or when you have time to let the slow cooker do the work for you.

Preparation instructions

Prepare and season the beef shank

1Pat the beef shanks dry with paper towels to ensure a good sear. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper all over. This helps to build flavor in the meat.

Brown the beef shank

2Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the beef shanks and sear on all sides until deeply browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Browning adds flavor to your slow-cooked beef.

Prepare vegetables

3While browning the beef, chop onion, carrots, and celery into medium pieces. Mince the garlic cloves. These vegetables add aroma and enhance the gravy.

Sauté vegetables

4In the same skillet, remove beef shanks temporarily. Add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened. This step helps develop flavor in the gravy.

Deglaze the pan

5Add red wine into the skillet to deglaze, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly reduced. These bits carry a lot of flavor.

Transfer to slow cooker

6Place browned beef shanks into the slow cooker. Pour in sautéed vegetables and wine mixture. Add beef stock, tomato paste, thyme, and bay leaves. This mixture will become your gravy as the meat cooks.

Slow cook the beef shank

7Cover and set the slow cooker on low heat. Cook for 6 to 7 hours, or until the beef is tender and falling off the bone. Internal temperature should reach at least 77°C (170°F) to ensure safety and tenderness.

Check doneness and make gravy

8Once cooked, carefully remove beef shanks and cover to keep warm. Remove bay leaves from the liquid. To thicken gravy, mix cornstarch with cold water and stir into the liquid. Cook on high for 10-15 minutes until gravy thickens.

Serve and enjoy

9Serve the beef shank with the rich gravy spooned over it. Pair with mashed potatoes or your favorite sides. Enjoy your flavorful, tender slow-cooked meal!

Cooking Tips

1For even better flavor, marinate the beef shank overnight with garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper.

2Ensure your slow cooker is working properly and maintains a steady low temperature around 80-90°C.

3Avoid cross-contamination by using separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat and vegetables.

4If you don't have a slow cooker, you can cook this in a covered heavy pot in the oven at 150°C for 3-4 hours.

Equipment Needed

Slow cooker
Large skillet or frying pan
Cutting board
Sharp knife
Measuring spoons
Wooden spoon or spatula
Small bowl (for cornstarch slurry)

Shopping List

[ ] 1.5 kg beef shank bone-in (~$10): Look for fresh, bright red meat with firm texture and good marbling.
[ ] 1 onion (~$0.50): Choose firm onions without soft spots.
[ ] 2 carrots (~$0.80): Pick firm, vibrant orange carrots.
[ ] 2 celery stalks (~$0.75): Crisp and fresh stalks are best.
[ ] 3 garlic cloves (~$0.30): Fresh garlic bulbs should feel heavy and firm.
[ ] 500 ml beef stock (~$2): Low sodium for better control of salt.
[ ] 125 ml red wine (optional) (~$2): Choose a good quality cooking wine.
[ ] Tomato paste (~$0.50): Rich and thick paste is best.
[ ] Fresh thyme or dried thyme (~$1): Fresh herbs often have brighter flavor.
[ ] Cornstarch (~$0.50): For thickening gravy.
[ ] Olive oil, salt, black pepper (already in pantry)