Cinnamon spiced lamb soup with pearl couscous

Serves

Prep Time

Cook Time

145

Ingredients

4 Lamb Shanks, Trimmed

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1 Onion, Diced

2 Carrot, Diced

1 Stalk Celery, Diced

½ tsp Ground Allspice

1 tsp Ground Cinnamon

400g Tin Tomato Puree

1.5 Litres Chicken Stock

1 Cup Pearl Couscous

To serve; lemon juice and chopped parsley

Heat a large heavy based saucepan over a moderately high heat. Seal the lamb shanks in the oil for 8 minutes or until well coloured, then set them aside.
Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook for 3 minutes. Add the spices and stir for 30 seconds. Place the shanks back in and the add tomato puree and stock. Bring to the boil, cover and turn down to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2 hours or until the meat is very tender. Take the pan off the stove.
Remove the shanks and set aside until cool enough to handle. Pull the meat off the bone and shred it with forks, discarding any fat or sinew.
Set the soup over a moderate heat and add the shredded meat and couscous. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the couscous is cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Add lemon juice to taste, sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.