Red Wine Braised Shanks

Here is an easy recipe for braised beef that I came up with one weekend.  I chose shanks because I was in the mood to experiment and they were dirt cheap (great collegiate triathlete meal). I served it with baked acorn squash and threw some other vegetables into the dutch oven as well. It takes about 5 minutes to prepare but does require some waiting, probably best to start it in the crock pot before heading to work, class or your morning workout, and enjoying that evening. The longer it cooks the better it tastes because it allows the fats and collagen in this usually tough piece of meat to melt away in the sauce. Bone marrow from the shank is easily the best part.

Ingredients:

·      Beef Shanks

·      Large Spanish onion

·      Red wine

·      Canned Tomatoes

·      Garlic

·      Salt and pepper

·      Favorite Fat

Directions:

1.    Caramelize onions in fat

2.    Add shanks and sear  

3.    If using a crock pot add all ingredients in and cook for more than 6 hours, if using a Dutch oven add remaining ingredients and cook for more than 3 hours at 350F