What Starter Goes With Lamb Shanks? 6 BEST Choices!
If you’re planning a special multi-course meal, you may well be looking for inspiration for what starter goes with lamb shanks.
This elegant cut of meat is fall-off-the-bone tender and juicy when you get the cooking process just right, and it deserves a starter that tantalise the tastebuds of your friends and family.
A key consideration to make is which side dishes you’ll be serving with your main course, so you can ensure that nothing clashes or becomes too heavy.
In the simplest of example, you wouldn’t want to choose risotto as a starter if you were serving mashed potatoes with your main, as you would end up with a meal that was just too filling and carb heavy.
Equally, you’ll want to think about the sauce or flavours that you’re incorporating into your lamb shanks main recipe. If you’re using an infusion of Indian spices, you’ll want to avoid using bold Chinese flavours in your starter.
But if you’re going for a traditional recipe, such as shanks in a rich red wine sauce, we’re going to take a look at your very best choices.
What starter goes with lamb shanks?
The best starters to go with lamb shanks include asparagus and mint salad, Greek lemon chicken soup, smoked salmon blinis, homemade humous with pitta bread and crudités, stuffed peppers, and avocado and grapefruit salad.
Let’s jump into more details about recommended recipes and essential hints and tips…
1. Asparagus and mint salad
The partnering of lamb and mint is said to originate in Middle Eastern cuisine. It’s widely known that the fresh herb perfectly complements lamb, and I always think it’s a nice touch to incorporate it into your starter to get those tastebuds warmed up.
This asparagus and mint salad is spring on a plate, and brings the delicious flavours of ricotta, red onion, and honey to the table.
It’s nice and light ahead of a hearty main course, and you can do most of your prep in advance.
2. Greek lemon chicken soup
Avgolemono is an authentic Greek soup that’s rich, silky, refreshing, and absolutely beautiful! The bright notes of lemon make for a refreshing starter that isn’t too filling but brings a wonderful vibrancy to the table.
It starts life as your fairly average chicken soup, with onion, carrots, broth, celery, and chicken, but it’s transformed into something truly unforgettable with the addition of an egg and lemon sauce.
Traditionally, making this soup would be a real labour of love, and you’d be starting from scratch with making a stock by roasting a whole chicken.
We all lead busy lives though, so a couple of shortcuts will make this into something you can have on the table within half an hour.
Ready made stock or broth, and a supermarket rotisserie chicken are your secret shortcuts here!
3. Smoked salmon blinis
If you want a super easy starter for lamb that requires no cooking and hardly any preparation, why not try some smoked salmon blinis?
I serve these as my guests are arriving with a selection of drinks, and they’re an elegant but informal way to kick off the meal.
A dollop of cream cheese for luxurious creaminess, and a few fresh sprigs of dill for presentation.
4. Homemade humous with pitta bread and crudités
Lamb is popular in Middle Eastern cuisine, this starter option is a nod to that.
Make a big bowl of homemade humous by whizzing chickpeas with olive oil, lemon juice, and tahini. Once you realise how easy it is to make your own, you’ll rarely buy the shop bought variety ever again!
Serve simply with some toasted pitta breads and carrot, cucumber, and celery crudités.
It’s a lovely way to share some nibbles before your meal without any fuss or prolonged time in the kitchen.
5. Stuffed peppers
Stuffed peppers always look fabulous on a plate, and you can tailor the filling depending on your personal tastes.
I like to keep my peppers veggie based when they’re being served as a starter for lamb, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring or uninspiring.
Some ideas for fillings include a medley of different types of cheeses such as mozzarella and parmesan, lots of seasonal chopped vegetables, risotto rice, a variety of mushrooms, and plenty of seasoning and fresh herbs.
An interesting fact here is that red bell peppers are often considered to be the most nutritious and also the most delicious, as they’ve been on the vine longest.
They’re the sweetest and fruitiest variety that you’ll find, making them a good choice for stuffing and baking in the oven.
6. Avocado and grapefruit salad
A salad is a safe but appetising choice for what starter goes with lamb shanks, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to make it a bit more exciting than your usual lettuce and cucumber combo.
I highly recommend trying this avocado and grapefruit salad. It’s creamy, zesty, and really refreshes the palate ahead of a rich and substantial main course.
It’s best when grapefruits are in season in your area, and they’re at their juicy best.
It’s often tricky to get avocados when they’re just ripe, so here’s a tip for speeding up the ripening process of a hard avocado at home… Take your fruit, and place it in a paper bag with a banana, apple, or kiwi. Leave it for a couple of days, and you should have perfectly ripened fruit every time.
The best starters for a lamb shanks main course
Tender, succulent lamb shanks deserve a delicious starter! The best choices are:
- Asparagus and mint salad
- Greek lemon chicken soup
- Smoked salmon blinis
- Homemade humous with pitta bread and crudités
- Stuffed peppers
- Avocado and grapefruit salad
Which of these will you be serving at your next get together? Leave a comment and let us know!
