Instant Pot Lamb Shank

Our eyes would light up, our hearts would jump whenever we see “lamb” on the menu. hehe~

Since Easter is just around the corner, it’ll be fun to develop a tasty yet easy homemade recipe to share with you & your guests.

So we went around the town visiting local restaurants to get some tasty inspirations!

Lamb shank, shin of the legs, is one of the toughest cuts of the lamb because it’s full of tough connective tissue. Thus, it’s often best cooked long & slow in a braise or stew. To save time, it’s great to cook lamb shanks in the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker!

After some testings & tastings, here’s our Mediterranean-style pressure cooker lamb shanks recipe.

Meaty, full flavored, succulent, “fall-off-the-bone” tender lamb shanks with minimal prep and simple aromatics! 🙂

*Pro Tip: This recipe is best cooked the day before serving for optimal flavors.

Time to cook some delicious Instant Pot Lamb Shank!

Step-by-Step Instant Pot Lamb Shank Cooking Guide

Here are the ingredients for Instant Pot Lamb Shank Recipe.

Quarter the tomatoes, slice the garlic and onion 🙂

Brown Lamb Shank in Instant Pot

Heat up Instant Pot using Sauté More function.

*Tip: For older version, press “Saute” button, then “Adjust” button. For newer versions, press “Saute” button twice.

Wait until it says HOT (takes roughly 8 minutes).

*Pro Tip: You really want the Instant Pot to be as hot as it can be for the maillard reaction.

Pat dry the lamb shanks, then season one side with salt and black pepper.

Drizzle the inner pot with 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil. Then, place the seasoned side of lamb shanks in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.

Season the other side with more salt and black pepper.

*Pro Tip: You will want to brown each side for 5 minutes to develop some awesome deep flavors.

*Note: If you prefer a “Dump-it-all-in” Recipe, you can skip the browning and saute steps.

Saute Onion and Spices

Set browned lamb shanks aside.

Add in the sliced onions, then saute until softened. It takes roughly 2 – 3 minutes.

Add in sliced garlic, 2 tsp (5g) ground cumin, ½ tsp (1.5g) cinnamon powder, ½ tsp (1.5g) turmeric, and ½ tsp (1g) ground coriander seed.

Saute for another minute.

Deglaze Instant Pot

Pour 1 cup unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.

Pressure Cook Lamb Shanks

Place browned lamb shanks back in Instant Pot and partially submerge it into the liquid as best as you can.

Layer the quartered tomatoes on top.

With Venting Knob at Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position.

• Pressure Cooking Method: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 36 minutes + 15 minutes Natural Release.

After 15 minutes, release remaining pressure by turning Venting Knob to Venting Position. When Floating Valve drops, open the lid carefully.

Taste and Season Lamb Shank

Set aside pressure cooker lamb shanks. Use a fork to see if the lamb shanks are tendered enough.

Bring sauce back to a boil with the “Saute” function, then let it thicken a bit.

Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.

Serve Instant Pot Lamb Shank

*Pro Tip: This recipe is best made the day before serving! With proper seasoning, the flavors will really come together the next day.

Submerge the lamb shanks back in the sauce.

Chill the whole inner pot and place it in the fridge.

To serve, place the inner pot back in the Instant Pot, then reheat at High Pressure for 0 (zero) minute (set the cooking time to “0 (zero)” minute with the “-” button) and Natural Release for 15 minutes.

Then, the lamb shanks are ready to be served!

Garnish with fresh coriander.

Enjoy your Instant Pot Lamb Shank!~ 🙂

Tools for Instant Pot Lamb Shank

• Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
• Wooden Spoon

More Instant Pot Lamb Recipes You’ll Love

Instant Pot Chinese Lamb Stew (Chinese: 枝竹羊腩煲)

Instant Pot Goat Curry