Apricot Cranberry Lamb Food

LAMB & CRANBERRY TAGINE

Steps:

• At least 3 hrs before (or preferably a day), toss the lamb with half the cumin, coriander, sweet and hot paprika in a large bowl. Cover and leave in the fridge to infuse.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish over a high heat and season the spiced lamb well. Working in batches, fry until completely brown, then set aside. Add more of the oil as you need it and get some deep colour on the meat - this will add to the flavour of the tagine.
• Once the lamb is browned, pour any remaining oil into the dish,reduce the heat to medium and add the onions, garlic and remaining ground spices. Cook for 5 mins until softened, then stir in the cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods. Return the lamb to the dish along with the tomatoes, plus 1 /2 a can of water and the honey. Bring to the boil, season, cover with a lid and put in the oven for 2 hrs 15 mins.
• Bring the tagine out of the oven, give it a good stir and tip in the cranberries. Return to the oven, with the lid off, for a further 15 mins until the lamb is completely tender.
• Taste the tagine for seasoning and remove the cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods. Scatter over the pistachios, yogurt and mint leaves, then serve out of the dish at the table with couscous.

LAMB & APRICOT STEW

Steps:

• In a medium-sized pan, heat 1 tbsp of the oil. Season the meat and fry briefly until browned. Remove from the pan and add the remaining oil. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, and fry with a little seasoning. Cook for 5 mins until soft, then add the spice mix, tomato purée, apricots and stock, and return the lamb to the pan. Simmer gently for 25 mins. Serve with warm couscous, mint or coriander leaves, and lemon wedges.

CRANBERRY-GLAZED LAMB SKEWERS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients, stirring to dissolve sugar; transfer 1-1/2 cups to a large shallow dish. Add lamb and turn to coat; cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Cover and refrigerate remaining cranberry mixture., Remove lamb from marinade; discard marinade. Thread lamb strips, weaving back and forth, onto 16 metal or soaked wooden skewers. Arrange in greased foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Broil 4 in. from the heat for 2-3 minutes on each side or until lamb reaches desired doneness., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring reserved cranberry mixture just to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Serve with lamb.

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE AND CRANBERRY-SERRANO CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, honey, 2 cups of cranberries and 1 cup of water in a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until the cranberries pop and become soft and the mixture thickens slightly. Stir in the onion, ginger, chile, garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook until thick about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining cranberries and cilantro. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• For the cranberry Sauce:
• Bring cranberry juice, vinegar and wine to a boil in a large saucepan, stir in the sugar and cook until the mixture is reduced by half. Add the chicken stock and peppercorns and cook until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups (or sauce consistency). Strain the sauce and season with salt. Keep warm.
• For the Grilled Lamb Chops:
• Heat the grill to high or a grill pan over high heat. Brush chops on both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown on both sides and cooked to medium doneness, about 6 minutes total. Remove lamb from the grill, loosely tent and let rest 5 minutes before serving. Serve on a plater with cranberry chutney and cranberry sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

GRILLED LAMB SANDWICHES WITH APRICOT AND JALAPENO RELISH

Steps:

• Slice the lamb into 1/4-inch-thick slices and sprinkle with the sumac, salt and pepper. Place in a food storage bag or bowl and add a rosemary sprig and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar. Set aside.
• Add the apricots, honey, mint, parsley, garlic, remaining tablespoon balsamic and leaves from the remaining 2 sprigs rosemary to a food processor. Turn on and stream in the oil. Add the jalapenos, a generous pinch of salt and fresh black pepper and pulse together until a relish texture is formed. Add 1/3 cup of the mix to the lamb for marinating. Seal and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to a day ahead. Keep the remaining relish refrigerated until ready to use.
• For the walnut and herb pesto: Add the walnuts, basil, mint, parsley, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil, walnut oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper to a food processor. Process until thoroughly combined. Adjust the seasoning and keep refrigerated until ready to use.
• Remove the lamb from the marinade and let come to room temperature before cooking.
• Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to high. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Add the marinated lamb slices to the grill and cook, 1 to 2 minutes on each side.
• You can wait for the lamb to cool, then assemble the sandwiches, or you can make ahead of time, then refrigerate, and build the sandwiches when the lamb is cold.
• Sliced the bread pieces in half horizontally and toast in the oven just until the cut sides are crispy, about 3 minutes.
• Drizzle the lightly toasted bread with olive oil. Evenly spread the pesto and the reserved relish on the cut sides of the bread. Layer the lamb on the bottom piece of each sandwich. Top with some arugula and red onion. Lightly drizzle each with olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place the other half of the bread on top of each sandwich. Wrap each sandwich in waxed or parchment paper and pack for a picnic.

APRICOT AND CRANBERRY JELLY

Steps:

• Boil the water and sugar together for 5 minutes. Add the cranberries and apricots. Simmer until the cranberry skins burst, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the orange zest and cool.
• Note: A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The FN chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.

AZERBAIJANI-STYLE LAMB WITH APRICOTS & CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Put the saffron in a heatproof cup and pour over 75ml boiling water. Leave for 30 mins, or until the water is a deep yellow colour.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, and brown the lamb all over - you'll need to do this in batches. Transfer the browned lamb to a bowl using a slotted spoon as you continue cooking the rest.
• Fry the onions in the residual fat in the pan over a medium-low heat for 10-12 mins until golden and soft. Add the tomatoes and garlic, and continue to fry until the tomatoes have softened. Stir in the spices and cook for a few minutes, then return the lamb to the pan with some seasoning. Pour in the stock and infused saffron water. Bring to just under the boil, then add the apricots, chestnuts, and a little more seasoning. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook over a very low heat for 1 hr-1 hr 15 mins until the lamb is tender. At this stage, the lamb can be frozen. Leave to cool completely first, then transfer to a freezer proof airtight container. Will keep in the freezer for up to three months.
• To serve straightaway, stir in the lemon juice, sumac and coriander. Alternatively, if you have frozen the lamb, defrost in the fridge overnight, then transfer to a saucepan and heat gently. When it is piping hot, add the lemon juice, sumac and coriander. Taste to check for seasoning, then serve.

LAMB TAGINE WITH CHICKPEAS AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Place chickpeas in a medium saucepan. Add water to cover by 2". Let soak overnight.
• Drain chickpeas; return to same saucepan. Add 2 whole garlic cloves and cinnamon stick. Add water to cover by 2". Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until chickpeas are tender, about 45 minutes. Drain; set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Season lamb with salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown lamb on all sides, about 4 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb to a medium bowl. Add onion to pot; reduce heat to medium, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until soft and beginning to turn golden, about 5 minutes. Add chopped garlic, Ras-el-Hanout , and ginger. Stir for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and lamb with any accumulated juices. Bring to a boil. Add 2 1/2 cups stock. Return to a boil, reduce heat to low, partially cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lamb is tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Stir in chickpeas; simmer until heated through, about 10 minutes. Stir in apricots; simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon couscous onto a large, shallow platter, forming a large well in center. Spoon tagine into center. Sprinkle cilantro over.

APRICOT/CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the apricots, cranberries, raisins, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves.
• In a medium saucepan, boil water and sugar, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Add the dried fruit mixture and vinegar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Serve immediately, or refrigerate in a covered container.

APRICOT CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter.
• Add the ginger and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
• Stir in the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and preserves.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer to a bowl and serve warm. NOTE: The sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance. Cover and keep refrigerated until ready to reheat.

APRICOT SAUCE FOR LAMB

Steps:

• ddrain can of apricots, reserving juice.
• chopp apricots coarsely, place in a medium saute pan.
• blend the reserved apricot juice with the arrowroot powder and mustard, stir well.
• pour apricot mixture over apricots, add lemon juice and honey, mix well.
• cook on low heat stirring constanly until the sauce thickens and clears.

BUTTERED PECAN, CRANBERRY AND APRICOT SAUSAGE STUFFING LOAF

Steps:

• For the topping: butter a 1kg (2 lb) loaf tin and line the base with greaseproof paper. Lay the four pecan halves and the bay leaves alternately in a line along the bottom of the tin. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/gas 5.
• For the stuffing: heat 50g of the butter for the stuffing in a large frying pan with the oil until the butter has melted. Add the onions and fry for 8-10 minutes until softened and starting to turn golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in the ground coriander and the rest of the butter and fry for another 3-4 minutes to soften and to caramelise the onions a bit more. Tip in the nuts and stir them around until they start to look toasty.
• Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the breadcrumbs, sausage meat, apricots, cranberries, orange zest, sage leaves, egg and some salt and pepper to season. When combined, spoon the stuffing into the tin and pack it down lightly. Cover with a piece of buttered greaseproof paper.
• Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the paper and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to stand for a few minutes.
• Discard the paper, loosen the sides with a round-bladed knife and turn out the stuffing so the pecans and bay leaves are on the top. Slice to serve.

MOROCCAN LAMB WITH APRICOTS, ALMONDS & MINT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Add the lamb and cook over a medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until evenly browned, stirring often. Remove the lamb to a plate, using a slotted spoon.
• Stir the onion and garlic into the casserole and cook gently for 5 minutes until softened. Return the lamb to the pot. Add the stock, zest and juice, cinnamon, honey and salt and pepper. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for 1 hour.
• Add the apricots and two-thirds of the mint and cook for 30 minutes until the lamb is tender. Stir in the ground almonds to thicken the sauce. Serve with the remaining mint and toasted almonds scattered over the top.