Bruce Aidells' Stinco (Braised and Roasted Pork Shanks)

By
Kate Williams
Kate Itrich-Williams is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Kate Williams
Kate Itrich-Williams is a food writer, editor, and recipe developer who wrote the "Cook the Book" column for Serious Eats.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Mar. 15, 2019
Photograph: Luca Trovato

Shanks are often overlooked when it comes to choosing a meat for braising, especially in the home kitchen. Sure, intrepid cooks may simmer osso bucco once in a lifetime, but it's rare to see a shank or two appear on the table. InThe Great Meat Cookbook,Bruce Aidellspresents a great case for bringing pork shanks to the holiday table with his recipe forStinco. For this Italian-style pot roast, Aidells braises a couple of meaty shanks in a sumptuous sauce of white wine, porcinis, and prosciutto until quiveringly tender. The shanks then get a quick blast in a hot oven to brown and are then served on a soft bed of mashed potatoes, perfect for sopping up all of the potent sauce. The shanks make for an unconventional, yet dignified centerpiece for just about any holiday table.

Why I picked this recipe:"Stinco" was just too-humorous of a name to pass up. Also, pork shanks have all of the fat, gelatin, and marrow-y goodness that make for a fabulous braise.

What worked:Another elegant and easy recipe from Aidells; just about everything was on point.

What didn't:It took me about 30 minutes longer than written to fully tenderize the shanks. Also, when reducing the braising liquid after removing the shanks, be sure to scrape down any browned bits from the sides of the pan (I had lots, and those bits added tons of flavor to the sauce).

Suggested tweaks:If you've got extra bacon lying around the house, you could certainly swap that in for the prosciutto. Aidells also suggests veal or lamb shanks as a substitute for pork.

Reprinted with permission from The Great Meat Cookbook by Bruce Aidells, copyright 2012. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. Available wherever books are sold.

Recipe Facts

Active:45 mins
Total:3 hrs
Serves:4 to 6 servings

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  • 1ouncedried porcini mushrooms

  • 1 1/2cupsboilingwater

  • 2 large or 4 smallpork shanks(4 to 5poundstotal), trimmed of any skin or hair

  • Saltand freshly ground black pepper

  • 3tablespoonsolive oil

  • 2ouncesprosciuttoor dried coppa, chopped

  • 2cupschoppedonions

  • 1cupfinely chopped peeledcarrots

  • 1/2cupchopped celery

  • 1cup choppedleeks(white and pale green parts)

  • 2tablespoonschopped garlic

  • 1cupdry white wine

  • 1cuphomemade pork stock or cannedlow-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed

  • 1tablespoon choppedfresh sage

  • 2teaspoons choppedfresh rosemary

Directions

  1. Place the mushrooms in a small bowl and cover with the boiling water. Soak for at least 45 minutes, or up to several hours. Remove the mushrooms from the liquid with a slotted spoon. Chop and set aside. Strain the soaking liquid, leaving behind any grit in the bottom of the bowl, and set aside.

  2. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Tie each shank with 3 loops of butcher’s twine. Generously season the shanks with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the shanks (you may have to brown them in batches) and sear until nicely browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Set aside the shanks and pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat.

  3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the prosciutto, onions, carrots, celery, and leeks. Cover and cook until soft, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the garlic, reserved mushrooms, and white wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any remaining browned bits from the bottom. Add the reserved mushroom liquid, the stock, 1 teaspoon of the sage, 1 teaspoon of the rosemary, and the shanks. Bring to a boil.

  4. Cover and bake for 30 minutes, then turn the shanks, re-cover the pot, and bake for another 30 minutes. Remove the lid and, after another 30 minutes, begin checking the shanks, adding more stock or water if the liquid evaporates. The shanks are done when the meat is almost falling off the bone and is quite tender.

  5. 把锅to the top of the stove and transfer the shanks to a shallow roasting pan. Increase the oven temperature to 425oF. Brush the shanks with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with some pepper and the remaining 2 teaspoons sage and 1 teaspoon rosemary. Roast the shanks in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until slightly browned.

  6. Meanwhile, degrease the braising liquid in the pot and, if necessary, boil it down until it just turns syrupy. Season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, remove and discard the twine, cut chunks of meat from the shanks, transfer to plates, and ladle on some of the sauce. Pass the extra sauce at the table.

Nutrition Facts(per serving)
466 Calories
31g Fat
11g Carbs
37g Protein
Show Full Nutrition LabelHide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 466
% Daily Value*
Total Fat31g 39%
Saturated Fat 9g 47%
Cholesterol125mg 42%
Sodium1352mg 59%
Total Carbohydrate11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein37g
Vitamin C 6mg 30%
Calcium 56mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 845mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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