Lamb Shank with Polenta
Lamb Shank with Polenta is a hearty, slow-cooked dish featuring a braised lamb shank served over creamy, soft polenta. The lamb is typically braised with aromatics like onions, carrots, celery, garlic, tomatoes, and red wine until fall-off-the-bone tender. It is a classic comfort food with roots in Italian cuisine, particularly from the northern regions where polenta is a staple.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is high in protein and fat, with a moderate amount of carbohydrates from the polenta. It provides key nutrients like iron, zinc, B vitamins, and potassium, with a rough calorie ballpark of 600-800 kcal per serving.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 720 kcal |
| Protein | 52 g |
| Carbs | 38 g |
| Fat | 38 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
| Iron | 5.2 mg |
| Zinc | 9.8 mg |
| Potassium | 920 mg |
| Phosphorus | 480 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 3.1 mcg |
| Niacin (B3) | 12 mg |
| Selenium | 38 mcg |
| Vitamin A | 180 mcg RAE |
Per 1 lamb shank (about 250g meat/bone) with 1 cup (240g) creamy polenta · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, polenta was historically a peasant food in Northern Italy, making this a dish of humble origins elevated by slow cooking. Nutritionally, the slow braising process helps break down the tough connective tissue in the shank, making its minerals more bioavailable.
