Dayrecipe Food Community

for four-day preserved lemon zest

DIRECTIONS

Make four-day preserved lemon zest:
Scrub lemons and with a vegetable peeler remove zest in strips. In a saucepan of boiling water blanch zest 1 minute and drain in a sieve. Transfer zest to a glass jar (about 1-cup capacity). Add salt and juice, pressing zest down to keep it covered by lemon juice, and cover jar with a tight-fitting glass lid or plastic-coated lid. Let zest stand at room temperature 4 days, shaking jar each day. Preserved lemon zest keeps, covered and chilled, 6 months. Makes about 1/2 cup.

Make the veal:
Preheat oven to 275°F.

In a heavy kettle large enough to hold veal shanks in one layer without crowding arrange shanks and season with salt and pepper. Roast shanks in middle of oven, covered tightly, 3 hours, or until tender. (Meat will give off juices as it cooks.)

While shanks are roasting, in a large saucepan combine chick-peas with enough water to cover by 4 inches and simmer, covered partially, 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until tender but not falling apart. Drain chick-peas in a colander. Chick-peas may be cooked 2 days ahead, cooled, uncovered, and chilled, covered.

Transfer shanks to a deep platter and keep warm, reserving pan juices.

In a large heavy skillet heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook onion, stirring, until softened. Add artichoke hearts, chick-peas, and reserved pan juices and simmer, covered, until artichoke hearts are just tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer about 1/2 cup chick-peas with a slotted spoon and about 1 cup pan juices from skillet to a blender and purée. Stir purée into artichoke and chick-pea mixture to thicken and stir in coriander and salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon artichoke and chick-pea mixture over shanks and sprinkle with preserved lemon.

accompaniment: cooked couscous

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 275°F.

In a heavy ovenproof kettle large enough to hold veal shanks in one layer heat 1 tablespoon each of oil and butter over moderately high heat until foam begins to subside and sauté onion and celery until beginning to turn golden.

Pat shanks dry between paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Arrange shanks on onion mixture and roast, covered tightly, in middle of oven 3 hours. (Meat will give off juices as it cooks.) Shanks may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and cooled, uncovered, before chilling, covered. Reheat shanks before proceeding.)

Cut mushrooms into 1/4-inch-thick slices. in a large skillet heat remaining 2 tablespoons each of oil and butter over moderately high heat until foam begins to subside and sauté mushrooms with thyme and salt and pepper to taste, stirring, until mushrooms begin to give off their liquid. Stir in vermouth or wine and lemon juice and cook, stirring, until all but about 1/3 cup liquid is evaporated. Mushrooms may be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely before chilling, covered.

Transfer shanks to a platter and keep warm. Transfer onions, celery, and pan juices to a blender with 1/2 cup water and purée until smooth, adding more water if necessary to thin sauce to desired consistency. Pour sauce into a saucepan and stir in mushroom mixture, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat sauce over moderate heat until heated through and stir in parsley.

Arrange shanks on couscous and spoon sauce over them.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a 9-quart heavy ovenproof kettle cook sugar on top of stove over moderate heat, without stirring, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook sugar, stirring with a fork until melted and cook without stirring, swirling kettle, until a deep golden caramel. Add vinegar and stir until caramel is dissolved. Stir in tomatoes with juice, wine, rosemary, cinnamon, and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Add lamb shanks and braise, covered, in middle of oven until tender, about 2 hours. Braised lamb shanks improve in flavor if made 1 day ahead. Cool mixture, uncovered, and chill, covered. Skim and discard fat from mixture and reheat on top of stove before proceeding.

In a saucepan of boiling water blanch onions 10 minutes, or until just tender, and drain. Cool onions and peel.

Quarter potatoes and in a steamer set over simmering water steam potatoes, covered, 8 to 10 minutes, or until just tender. In a large non-stick skillet cook garlic in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until pale golden. Add potatoes with salt and pepper to taste and sauté mixture over moderately high heat 5 minutes, or until potatoes are golden.

Transfer meat with a slotted spoon to a platter. Discard cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Add onions to sauce and boil until sauce is thickened slightly. Spoon sauce and onions over meat and surround with potatoes.

accompaniment: cooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 275°F.

In a heavy casserole large enough to hold lamb shanks in one layer without crowding arrange shanks and season with salt and pepper. Roast shanks in middle of oven, covered tightly, 3 hours, or until tender. (Meat will give off juices as it cooks.) Pour off pan juices, reserving about 1 cup, and skim fat. Keep shanks warm, covered.

In a small saucepan combine broth, reserved pan juices, water, and one-third zucchini and simmer 5 minutes, or until zucchini is tender but still bright green. In a blender purée broth mixture until smooth.

In a bowl whisk together egg and lemon juice and whisk in puréed; broth mixture. Return mixture to pan and heat over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until 170°F. on a candy thermometer and thickened slightly (do not boil). Season avgolemono with salt and pepper and keep warm.

In a large non-stick skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté remaining zucchini until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in dill and salt and pepper to taste.

Arrange shanks on a deep platter and scatter with zucchini. Drizzle shanks with some avgolemono and serve remaining sauce separately. Serve shanks with orzo>/I>.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 275°F.

In a heavy ovenproof kettle large enough to hold beef shanks in one layer arrange shanks and season with salt and pepper. Roast meat, covered tightly, in middle of oven 2 1/2 hours, or until tender. (Meat will give off juices as it cooks.)

Stir Worcestershire sauce into pan juices and cool meat, covered partially, basting it as it cools. Transfer meat with a slotted spoon to a platter and discard bones and gristle. Skim fat from pan juices. Return meat to pan juices and heat, covered partially, over moderate heat until just heated through.

In a steamer set over simmering water steam carrots, covered, 3 minutes, or until crisp-tender, and transfer to a bowl. Toss carrots with butter, horseradish, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.

Divide carrots among 4 plates, mounding slightly, and arrange meat over them. Drizzle meat with pan juices.