Lamb Shanks Braised with Prunes and Brandy

Pity the prune. Bloated and wrinkly as a dishwasher’s hands, and better known as a digestive than as a food to savor, the prune appears more often as the butt of a joke than an ingredient in a recipe. What a shame, for the fruitiness of prune is all-purpose, moving elegantly from compote to stew and lending its deep, dark sweetness without seeking credit or attention in return. In this recipe it blends elegantly with the slight gaminess of lamb, taming its rough edges and underscoring its v