Lamb shank and bean soup
February 7, 2010 • Category: Soups
One of my pet peeves is this: I go out to eat at a “nice” restaurant, I order soup, I taste the soup, it tastes CANNED. AAAAh!!!! Am I nuts or do other people feel as annoyedas I do?
Soup is so important! I mean, anybody can throw a piece of meat on a grill and serve it with some veggies! Big deal! The other day, I was invited at a seafood place. O.K. I order lobster bisque and not only did it taste canned but it had so much cream in it, I could barely swallow it.
My point is this: A good soup takes times. The broth needs to be homemade. That’s why when I take the time to make this homey Lebanese soup, it is consumed within the hour; yet it takes me 2 days to make it.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 nice lamb shanks
- 4 onions
- 1 large can of Italian tomatoes or Pomi or 1 1/2 pounds of tomatoes
- 3 or 4 large carrots, peeled and sliced thick
- 3 or 4 garlic cloves
- spices for the broth: thyme, sprig of parsley, a few cloves of garlic, some cloves, some peppercorns, a bay leaf.
- 1 1/2 cups of white beans or any type of bean that you like.
METHOD:
- Make the lamb stock: Brown the shanks in a little oil on all sides. Add at least 6 cups of water to the pot and one onion and all the spices.
- Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for at least one hour. Cook until the lamb falls off the bone. Cool and when it has been refrigerated for a while, take off any fat that has congealed on the surface.
- Chop the onions; in a skillet, heat a few tablespoons of olive oil; add the onions, fry till golden; add the tomatoes and cook for 20 minutes. Cool and puree in a blender. Set aside.
- Reheat the lamb stock, remove the shanks and set aside. Add the beans to the stock and simmer, adding more water; add the carrots and garlic cloves, simmer till the beans are cooked. Add the tomato sauce, cook 20 minutes longer.
- Remove all the fat and membranes from the shanks, keeping the meat pieces which will fall off the bone easily. Add to the soup.
- Serve hot, garnish with some parsley.
Comments
19 Comments • Comments Feed
Joanne says:
This is why I don’t order soups at restaurants. I’ve just never had any that I’ve really been WOWed by. I could see myself being wowed by yours though. Love lamb…serious love.
On February 7, 2010 at 8:39 am
peter says:
Joumana, there are some canned beans that are rather good but I surely wouldn’t never expect a restaurant to serve me up canned beans. My pet peeve is processed dips that could/can be made daily from scratch.
We call beans Fassolia…small world!
On February 7, 2010 at 9:32 am
TastyTrix says:
Canned soup at a restaurant is a sin! It shows no pride in one’s work, a real shame.
On February 7, 2010 at 10:19 am
Angie@Angie's Recipe says:
I usually don’t eat soups….esp. not in the restaurants.
Yours bean soup looks absolutely classic.
On February 7, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Rosa says:
that looks so flavorful and delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
On February 7, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Cherine says:
I love this soup!!
On February 7, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Azita says:
there’s nothing more satisfying than a hot and delicious bowl of homemade soup with fresh ingredients! this lamb shank and bean soup looks so amazing.
On February 7, 2010 at 8:09 pm
rebecca says:
oh wow great soup nothing beats homemade soup
On February 7, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Sushma Mallya says:
loved the colour of the dish,looks superb….
On February 7, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Priya says:
Omg wat a fantastic soup, first time here and u have beautiful space…love browsing through urs..
On February 8, 2010 at 2:16 am
Michelle says:
Your soup looks so rich and luscious and the only way you can get that is to make it and let it simmer for hours.
On February 8, 2010 at 3:19 am
shayma says:
mmm soup. homemade soup. and that too, with a meaty, fatty lamb shank. beans and meat were just meant to go together, Joumana, werent they? x shayma
On February 8, 2010 at 6:14 am
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:
Absolutely! Soup should not taste canned at all when you’re in a restaurant! I coudlnt’ helpbut think that a restaurant that would serve canned soup would make shortcuts everywhere else too! This soup however looks heavenly! 😀
On February 8, 2010 at 7:20 am
Simply Life says:
wow what a great soup! Perfect for these cold days!
Yes, I found whole wheat couscous at Trader Joe’s!
On February 8, 2010 at 7:34 am
peachkins says:
I love soups…So I, too, always order soup when we go out. Your looks like comfort food!
On February 8, 2010 at 7:45 am
amal says:
voilà qui me rend nostalgique!! j’adore ce genre de plats et c’est parfait pour le climat du moment..
bisous
On February 8, 2010 at 12:49 pm
spice says:
My dear hubby never let me order salads & soups in the restaurants…..I should say thanks to him….Iove the lamb soup….
On February 12, 2010 at 1:20 am
Mona says:
Perfect for winters!
On February 12, 2010 at 10:01 am
domi says:
Moi une soupe comme celle là je veux en manger tous les jours . C’ est beaucoup plus qu’ une soupe, c’ est un ragoût…que dis je c’est un régal, une merveille. Et toujours ces photos magnifiques….
On March 23, 2011 at 10:12 pm