If you’re mad for lamb shanks and Massaman Curry, this incredibly easy Thai recipe will stop you in your tracks – shanks slow cooked in the oven until the meat is falling off the bone, braised in a rich, coconut Massaman Curry sauce.
It’s a popular Chef’s Special at upscale Thai restaurants that will set you back $30 for just one shank. 5 minutes prep, then just pop it in the oven. Yes, really!
Lamb Shanks in Massman Curry
Aussies are extremely fond of lamb shanks and Massaman Curry. So we never pass it up when we see them together on the menu of a Thai restaurant. Meltingly tender lamb shanks smothered in a rich coconut, spice infused Massaman curry sauce is a heavenly combination – just the thought makes me weak in the knees, and you’ll happily pay upwards of $30 for ONE lamb shank.
So will you choke with disbelief when I tell you the dish you see in these photos is a 5 minute prep, dump-and-bake job??
Close your eyes and imagine fall-apart-at-a-touch lamb shanks smothered in rich Massaman curry sauce….. UGH!!! It’s incredible!!!
What you need for Massaman lamb shank curry
We’re using a store bought curry paste in this recipe – in fact, this recipe does not work as written using homemade. This was an irritating discovery because homemade Massaman Curry paste is an effort to make! 😒 (Reason: Homemade is just too fresh, this recipe needs the concentrated flavour of store bought paste)
Here are the ingredients you need:
Lamb Shanks – Lamb shanks are the lower part of lamb legs. Front legs = foreshanks which are smaller (use 4 to 5), hind legs = hind shanks which are large (use 2 to 3) – recipe calls for 1.5 kg/3lb in total;
Massaman Curry paste – Maesri is my preferred brand. Not all curry pastes are made equal! More on this below;
Cinnamon and star anise – flavour boost of two dominant spices in the curry paste;
Coconut milk – as used in traditional Massaman Curry sauce;
Chicken stock/broth – to create volume to make a braising liquid to mostly submerge the shanks, as well as adding depth of flavour into the sauce. Traditional Massaman Curry is made by braising beef cubes in liquid to make a homemade stock; and
Potato and onion – traditionally included in Massaman Curry.
Other lamb cuts
The only other lamb cut I’d recommend is lamb shoulder, whole. Essentially it will be like a lamb pot roast – Thai style! Directions in recipe notes. (And if I try it, I will pop a photo in here. Likely I will because I know it will be amazing).
Beef alternatives
I haven’t tried, but I think this recipe will work extremely well with beef cheeks, beef Osso bucco (not veal, cooks too fast), beef ribs (any type). These have similar long cook times, similar meat fibres, and good beef flavour. Do not use: brisket, chuck beef, silverside or other slow cooking beef cuts (not enough flavour in meat to work for this dump-and-bake method of cooking).
Chicken?
Won’t withstand the required cook times to develop enough flavour I’m afraid. Not with this simple cook method!
Best Massaman Curry Paste – Maesri
Here is the undisputed king of all store bought Thai curry pastes – Maesri. Restaurants use it, chefs use it, and food obsessed people like myself are mad for it.
And it happens to be a bargain at ~$1.50 a can.
I use it for all my Thai curries when I don’t have time / ingredients to make the curry paste from scratch – Red, Green and traditional Massaman beef curry.
Where to find Maesri curry paste – at your local grocery store!
It’s sold at most metropolitan Coles and Woolworths grocery stores in Australia (Asian section), at Harris Farms, practically all Asian stores (it would be un-Asian not to carry it!) and here it is online in Australia, US, Canada* and UK.
* Obscenely expensive, please try to get to an Asian store!
Can’t find it?
Use any Massaman Curry paste you can find. Order of preference (Aussie brands) – Ayam, Five Tastes and bringing up the rear is Volcom (it’s always too sweet).
How to make it
Two simple steps:
Put everything in a baking dish; and
Bake covered, then uncovered, until meat is fall-apart tender and liquid reduces down to a rich curry sauce.
(I haven’t listed the likely extra step of fending off your neighbours when they smell it cooking and come running over for a taste. It’s a real risk.)
I NEVER cook curries OR lamb shanks like this!
Anyone who knows anything about cooking curries knows that a really great Thai curry calls for either homemade curry paste, or “pimping up” store bought curry paste with fresh aromatics like garlic, ginger, chilli and lemongrass.
And you always cook off the curry paste to toast it and and intensify flavour. Mandatory for Thai Red, Green and Massaman Beef Curry.
We bypass all of that for this recipe. We don’t even brown the lamb shanks beforehand!
And here’s why this recipe still delivers knock-your-socks-off flavour with such little effort:
Lamb – because it’s probably the strongest flavoured meat around, and the juices from the lamb add a stack of flavour into the curry sauce;
Slow cooking – because anything slow cooked leads to more flavour;
Roasting uncovered for a good hour at the end – required to reduce the braising liquid down to a thick curry sauce and to brown the shanks and toast the curry sauce; and
Using a great store bought curry paste.
What to serve with Massaman Curry Lamb Shanks
Rice is essential for soaking up that incredible sauce. Specifically, Jasmine rice – but really, any rice will do. Nobody will notice what rice you use once it’s smothered in the Massaman Curry!
To complete your meal, add a side of fresh greens. In Thailand, it’s common to just have a side of tomato wedges and cucumbers – no dressing. Welcome freshness for a rich dish like this!
Otherwise, try one of these side salads:
Side Salads suggestions
If you’re feeling inspired to do a full blown Thai feast at home, you can’t go wrong with an authentic Green Papaya Salad. Else try some of these on the side – or browse my full menu of Thai recipes (note to self: share some Asian desserts!!)
Thai Sides and Starters
And just one last quick thing – as with stews, this is the sort of dish that gets even better with time which lets the flavour develop even more. So if you really wanting to impress someone, make it the day before! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Note: video says covered bake time is 2.5 hrs, this is incorrect, it should be 2 hours. Typo!
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Lamb Shanks Massaman Curry
Ingredients
- 1.5kg/ 3 lb lamb shanks (5 small, 4 medium, 2 – 3 large) (Note 1)
- 114g/ 4oz Maesri Massaman curry paste (1 can) , or other brand (Note 2)
- 400ml/ 14oz coconut milk , full fat (Ayam brand is best, Note 3)
- 2 cups chicken stock/broth , low sodium (Note 4)
- 1 onion , halved then sliced 1cm / 1/3″ thick (brown, white, yellow)
- 400g/ 14oz small potatoes (2.5cm/1" wide, halve if bigger)
- 1 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
Garnishes:
- Red chilli , finely sliced (small = spicy, large = less spicy)
- Coriander/cilantro
- Steamed jasmine rice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan).
- Mix curry paste, coconut milk and stock in a 22 x 33cm / 9 x 13" baking dish, preferably glass or ceramic (Note 5). Add onion, potato, star anise, cinnamon and lamb.
- Turn shanks to coat in sauce, then cover with foil.
- Bake in oven for 2 hours. Remove foil, bake for a further 1 hour (small shanks) or 1.5 hrs (medium to large shanks), turning lamb twice to brown evenly, until meat is so tender it can easily be teased apart with 2 forks.
- Remove lamb onto plate. Carefully skim off excess fat off the surface (tilt dish, it's easier) – I get about 1/3 cup. Mix sauce in baking dish – it should be reduced down to a syrupy thickness (Note 6).
- Serve lamb with sauce over jasmine rice, garnished with chilli and coriander. For a larger banquet, put the curry out on a platter to share!
Recipe Notes:
- Small shanks 300g/10oz each x 5 = 2 hr covered, 1 hr uncovered
- Medium shanks 350 – 400g/12 – 14 oz each x 4 = 2 hrs covered, 1.5 hrs uncovered
- Large hind shanks 600 – 750g / 1.2 – 1.5 lb each x 2 = 2 hrs covered, 1.5 hrs uncovered, USE SMALLER BAKING DISH so liquid covers ~ 1/2 to 2/3 of meat
Nutrition Information:
Favourite Thai Restaurants in Sydney
And I think it would be remiss of me not to mention my favourite Thai restaurants here in Sydney! Our rich, cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and with that comes an abundance of great food from around the world. So really good Thai food is widely available all across Australia – here are the ones I regularly frequent:
Khao Pla (Chatswood) – Top notch modern Thai, I frequent this regularly because it’s my closest really good Thai restaurant (30 minutes away!!). I also like that while it stays 100% true to Thai flavours, it has some wonderfully unique dishes (try the Tamarind Ribs, they are my favourite!)
Spice I Am (Surry Hills) – Some of the most authentic Thai you will get in Sydney. Big flavours, very spicy, fresh, award winning high regarded restaurant;
Long Chim (Sydney CBD) – By lauded Australian chef and Thai food expert David Thompson. Top end prices, trendy, very authentic and unapologetically spicy!
Chat Thai – It’s grown to quite a large chain today, but don’t let that deter you. It is very, very good – slightly modern, but very authentic. In Chatswood, Manly, Randwick and multiple locations in Sydney city.
I adore Thai curries
Proof:
Life of Dozer
Dozer in usual form – begging for the very food I just gave Geoff, our friendly local who lives at the dog park and looks after it like its his own backyard! That day, it was this broccoli pasta (with extra cheese – Geoff loves his gooey cheese 😂)
Kim Focas says
Hi Nagi,
Love all your recipes. Could I make the curry from scratch? I know you have a stove top version of this curry (that you mention for other cooking methods) could I use that curry paste with this recipe? If so what would be the best way to do it?
Will says
Would you ever do this in a dutch oven?
Lid off for the last hour?
Nahla says
Dutch oven on the stove or in the oven?
Nagi says
Sure can Will! N x
Irene says
I’ve made this a few times now and it is absolutely incredible- so tasty and so easy to make. Like a big old weekend hug in our house! Thanks for the wonderful recipes Nagi- they all work so well! We love your site
Alana says
Thanks for the recipe, Nagi! I’ve made it many times and it’s incredible – my fave easy entertaining recipe by far! Do you think it’d work as written, but with duck Marylands?
Megan says
Cooked this tonight and omg it was absolutely delicious thank you for this recipe and so easy to make
Maree says
Hands down best massaman curry ever!!!! So so easy, one pot and so delicious 😋
Lamb shanks are just beautiful in this curry! My partner is a chef and a good one and he adores this dish along with lots of other recipes of yours. Thanks Nagi
Maree says
Hands down best massaman curry ever!!!! So so easy, one pot and so delicious 😋
Lamb shanks are just beautiful in this curry! My partner is a chef and a good one and he adores this dish along with lots of other recipes of yours. Thanks Nagi
Nagi says
That’s wonderful to hear Maree, thanks so much!! N x
Sandra Bryden says
Very disappointing. I slow cooked it, 6 hrs on high, added extra water & curry . Lacked depth .
1st recipe on this site I’ve been disappointed with.
🤩
Nagi says
Sandra, I’m sorry to say that my very first point in the notes section says this is NOT suitable for a slow cooker! It must must MUST be made in the oven. Yes it will be bland if made in a slow cooker. The caramelisation step baking uncovered is 100% essential. 🙂
Amanda Whitney says
So delicious! Was hesitant about not browning Shanks first, but the flavour was superb. Perfect meal for a cold winter’s evening in Sydney Lockdown.
Denise Brady says
Nagi when I google recipes the moment your name is there that is the recipe I cook without a doubt. Thankyou for being an amazing Cook & Teacher for me. Cheers Denise Brady
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Denise, I’m so glad you’re loving the recipes!!! N x
Yolande says
This dish is so delicious and full of flavour. And easy to make! I served it for a dinner party recently and everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. Perfect for a cold winter night. Thank you
Zoe says
This recipe is delicious! I’ve made it several times now as it’s the easiest recipe but insanely full of so much flavour, plus makes the house smell divine 😂 Thanks Nagi, you never let us down!
Brigette says
Star anise is not available in any supermarkets at the moment..is there a substitute?
Karen says
Lovely easy recipe, so different from any Massaman we’ve had before. Star anise is hard to find in our rural area so I substituted a tablespoon of Pernod liquor. Will definitely make this again, thanks Nagi!
Sam says
oppps… forgot to rate your recipe… 10 stars!
Sam says
Absolutely loved the recipe. thanks so much.
I actually cooked in the slow cooker and still came out perfect.
Next on my list is to try your full snapper recipe.
Karen Biden says
My husband’s favourite meat is lamb. His favourite curry is massaman. After 20 years of marriage I finally made him his favourites at home using this recipe (and some very fine lamb shanks). He reckons it’s the best massaman curry he’s ever had. Thank you Nagi!
Sam says
Can you cook the same way as you did in a actual slow cooker?
Nagi says
Hi Sam, unfortunately no – I mention this in the notes. N x
Ellen says
I just made this tonight with beef cheeks. Left them for another 30mins in the oven so that the meat fell apart. Absolutely delicious
Nagi says
Perfect Ellen, beef cheeks are an amazing cut to slow cook 👏 N x
Carina says
This looks so tasty! I prefer to use pastes over powders, but I have some Massaman spice mix I was gifted and I need to use up as it’s starting to get some age (!). I don’t have any star anise either, so I’ll probably add a little 5 spice. I’ll make sure to fry them off with the onion in plenty of ghee to release the flavour. I hope the 6yo and 20mo enjoy this as much as I think I’m going to 🙂