[cookinmaven]

Do you like feta cheese? Our family likes this one. (You can leave out the Orzo pasta or substitute brown rice to reduce the carb count or make it more complex carbs).

Braised Lamb Shanks with Pasta and Feta Cheese

This easy, but delicious, one-dish supper would make even economical company fare. You can substitute stock for the vermouth, but vermouth adds a lovely herbal flavour to these sweet shanks. Avoid stock that's overly salty.

4 New Zealand Lamb shanks
Salt & pepper to taste
2 large Onions, sliced
4 Large Cloves of garlic, minced
2-1/2 cups (750 ml) Chicken stock
1-1/4 cups (325 ml) Dry vermouth or additional stock
1/2 tsp (2ml) each Dried oregano, rosemary, thyme and Lemon rind
1-1/2 cups (360 ml) Orzo or other small pasta
1-1/3 cups (325 ml Crumbled rinsed feta cheese
2-1/2 tbsp (30 ml) Chopped parsley, preferably flat leaf
In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown shanks all over, sprinkling lightly with salt and pepper. Remove to warm plate. Cook onions over medium heat for 3 minutes or until soft. Stir in garlic, stock, vermouth, oregano, rosemary, thyme and lemon rind. Add back lamb; bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 2 hours or until meat is very tender.
Raise heat to medium; add orzo and cook, uncovered, for about 15 minutes or until tender. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley to serve.
Makes 4 servings.