Lamb Shank Sandwich

By
Anita Schecter
Anita Schecter_BW
Anita Schecter
Professional recipe developer, food photographer, and blogger with more than a decade of experience creating Middle Eastern recipes.
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Updated on 06/13/21
Lamb sandwich recipe

The Spruce / Nita West

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
642 Calories
16g Fat
88g Carbs
38g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 642
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 49mg 16%
Sodium 1316mg 57%
Total Carbohydrate 88g 32%
Dietary Fiber 8g 29%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 38g
Vitamin C 56mg 280%
Calcium 285mg 22%
Iron 6mg 36%
Potassium 1326mg 28%
*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.)

Have you tried grilling or roasting lamb shank, otherwise known as the shins of a leg of lamb? Although it can be a little tough, the shank is actually very flavorful and can be melting-off-the-bone delicious if prepared correctly.

The ideal way to cook a lamb shank is to braise it which will break down all the connective tissue. Simply season the meat with salt and pepper, sear it on all sides in a Dutch oven pot on the stove, add a couple of onions, a few cloves of garlic, fresh herbs, beef stock, and maybe a touch of red wine. Then place it in the oven for a couple of hours until the lamb is tender.

When first cooked, definitely serve it with creamy mashed potatoes or polenta but store the leftover lamb in the fridge for some delicious sandwiches the next day.

You'll want to slice the meat very thinly which will be easier to do when it's cold out of the fridge. Once sliced, you can heat it or just eat at room temperature. Pile the slices of lamb onto a soft round of pita, naan, or your favorite flatbread along with chopped vegetables, fresh parsley or even mint, and a great sauce. Tzatziki would be traditional with lamb, but this recipe for a creamy yogurt-based tahini sauce makes a delicious change. Wrap these sandwiches up for lunch on the go or a picnic in the park.

Ingredients

For the Yogurt Tahini Sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons tahini (sesame paste)

  • 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced

  • Salt, to taste

  • Ground black pepper, to taste

  • 2 teaspoons water

For the Sandwich:

  • 3 ounces cooked lamb shank

  • 1 cup lettuce, or baby spinach

  • 2 large pita

  • 1 medium tomato, diced

  • 1/4 medium English cucumber, diced

  • 1/4 cup parsley, chopped

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for lamb sandwich
    The Spruce / Nita West

  2. Add the sesame paste, Greek-style yogurt, water, lemon juice, and finely minced garlic clove to a bowl. Whisk together until smooth and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add another teaspoon or two of water if you want the mixture thinner.

    Add sesame paste
    The Spruce / Nita West

  3. Slice the leftover lamb shank as thinly as possible.

    Slice lambshank
    The Spruce / Nita West

  4. If you prefer the lamb warm, fry it for a few minutes in a cast iron pan or skillet and a tablespoon of olive oil. You can also place the lamb in an aluminum foil packet, drizzle on the olive oil, seal and warm in a 350 F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

    Warm lamb
    The Spruce / Nita West

  5. Place the lettuce or baby spinach leaves on the two pita or naan bread rounds. Top with the thinly sliced lamb.

    Place meat on lettuce
    The Spruce / Nita West

  6. Add a sprinkling of the diced tomatoes, diced cucumbers, and chopped parsley to each.

    Add cucumber and tomatoes
    The Spruce / Nita West

  7. Drizzle with the yogurt tahini sauce and serve.

    Drizzle
    The Spruce / Nita West