Braised Pork Shanks With Spinach Dumplings

Ingredients

• 4 (1 to 1 1/2 pound) Pork Shanks
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 4 onions
• 3 green apples
• 12 garlic cloves
• 1/4 pound ginger
• 4 (16 ounce) bottles of winter lager beer
• 10 cups chicken stock
• 4 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 pound fresh ricotta
• 1 pound spinach
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1/2 cup flour
• 20 garlic cloves
• 3 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups canola oil