Shins/Shanks are excellent and indispensable when it comes to making delicious stocks and broths for soups, sauces, and other umami-rich dishes. 

The collagen and fat are wrapped around a bone and the entire section can be thrown in whole. What makes shanks so great is that they can be used in many ways. 

For example, in Chinese cuisine, shins/shanks can be marinated in soy sauce, garlic, and other herbs and then deep-fried in a large wok to caramelize and release the flavour of the meat. 

The meat is then further processed by marinating it again in the sauce overnight to break down the collagen and then the entire piece is finally steamed. The result is a ham shank that is completely tender, juicy, and deliciously seasoned. 

Shins/Shanks also make for great additions to stocks. As they are usually pre-smoked, they add quite a lot of complex flavours and a bit of salt to the mixture. You can find unsmoked variants in the market too!