It doesn't get more epic than Thor's Hammer AKA a Beef Shank. It's one of the most bad ass looking and tasting pieces of beef when cooked properly. My favorite way to prepare a beef shank is by smoking it and then braising it until it is fall apart tender and serving as a communal taco feast.
In this recipe & video we collaborated with our friends The Bearded Butchers to show you have a beef shank is butchered and cooked.
How to video for this recipe: https://youtu.be/_jnSa8ub6IQ
Ingredients:
- 1 beef shank
- Meat Church Holy Cow
- 1/2 C beef broth
- 1 T W Sauce binder (sub mustard, olive oil)
Tools
- 1/2 disposable steam pan
- Heavy duty aluminum foil
Prepare your cooker
Prepare your smoker or oven at a temperature of 250. In this video we used a Mill Scale offset smoker with post oak. Mesquite, hickory or pecan would also be good choices.
Prepare the beef shank
Trim any excess fat and silverskin from the beef shank.
Slather all over with W Sauce.
Season liberally with Holy Cow.
Allow to adhere for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight.
Smoke the beef shank
Place the beef shank in the smoker with the bone sticking up.
Wrap the bone in aluminum foil to assist with final presentation.
Smoke the shank until it has your desired bark. In this video, it took 4 hours for a 4 lb shank to hit 150 internal temperature.
Smoke the beef shank
Place the shank in a disposable steam pan.
Pour the broth in the pan.
Cover the shank completely with aluminum foil. Return the pan to the smoker and continue to cook at 250. If you are pressed for time, increase the temperature up to 350.
Cook the shank until it is probe tender which will be over 200 internal temperature. The collagen is tough to break down in a shank, so it is very important to make sure it is probe tender when you stick the shank with a thermometer or skewer.
Remove the pan from the smoker and remove the foil.
Spoon broth over the meat. Remove the shank from the pan and allow to rest 15 minutes.
Pull and shred the meat.
Serve with our smoked salsa and your desired accompaniments in tortillas for delicious tacos!
