Can I Cook The Aromatic Lamb Shank Stew In A Slow Cooker?

Our answer

Nigella's Aromatic Lamb Shank Stew (from NIGELLA BITES) slowly cooks lamb shanks in a spice-laced stock until tender. As the stew is cooked on the top of the stove, it should adapt well to a slow cooker. The time the shanks take to cook will depend on the model of slow cooker that you are using and the settings, so it would be best to check the handbook to see the time and setting recommended for larger pieces of meat.

Also, whilst for some slow cooker recipes you can just put everything in the pot, we suggest that you brown the lamb shanks and cook the onions, garlic and spices in the conventional way (as described in steps 1-3 of the method) before adding them to the slow cooker, as these steps add a lot of flavour to the stew. When adding the lentils at the end, you may need to allow for a longer cooking time as they need to be cooked at a good simmer to soften. Again, your slow cooker handbook may have guidelines for this. Otherwise, transfer the stew to the hob (stove top), in a suitable pot, and bring to a brisk simmer before adding the lentils and simmering for 20 minutes.