Arabian Roast Lamb Fit For A King And Queen With Spiced Rice Food

MOROCCAN SPICED LAMB

Steps:

• Warm a medium skillet and add oil and onions and sauté for about 5 minutes.
• Add cumin, coriander, cinnamon and stir well.
• Add ground lamb (or the equivalent of about two cups of protein of choice), apricots, chili flakes and salt. Stir well allowing meat to brown and cook through. Be mindful not to overcook.
• You may wish to drain the excess liquid, however I prefer to keep it in and spoon it over the rice when I serve for extra flavour.
• Serve with approximately a half cup each of turmeric rice and tomatoes, and a 1/4 cup dollop of hummus.

SABUT RAAN (ROAST LEG OF LAMB)

Steps:

• In a small, dry saucepan over low heat, toast poppy seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, cardamom and bay leaf until they release their aromas. Use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder to process into a rough powder. Add garlic, ginger and salt and grind into a smooth paste. In a small bowl, mix with yogurt.
• Prick deep holes all over the lamb, or make gashes with a knife, then rub marinade all over meat and transfer to a roasting pan. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or as long as overnight.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan over medium to low heat, heat butter and sauté chopped onion until light golden. Set aside.
• Add 1 cup water to the roasting pan with the lamb, cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Gently flip the lamb over and bake for another 45 minutes. Flip the lamb again, pour the onions and clarified butter over the lamb and roast uncovered for about 1 hour, until the meat is tender, cooked through and lightly browned on the surface. If the pan starts to get dry at any time, add 1/2 cup water to it. When ready to serve, garnish the lamb with the fried onions, cilantro and lemon slices.

SPICED MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB PATTIES WITH PITA AND YOGURT

Steps:

• For the sauce:
• In a small bow, whisk the yogurt with the lemon juice. Stir in the chopped herbs, season with salt and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the patties and pita:
• In a bowl, use your hands to mix together all of the ingredients, except for the pita. Form the mixture into twelve 3-inch oval patties (about 1 inch thick). Arrange the patties on a plate and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, until firm
• Preheat a grill for at least 10 minutes and prepare it for grilling over moderately high heat. If you are using a charcoal grill, leave one area where you can grill the pita indirectly.
• Oil the grill grates and grill the patties until dark brown grill marks form on the bottom, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip the patties and grill for 4 to 6 minutes longer, until just cooked through.
• Meanwhile, wrap the pita in foil and set the package on the top shelf of a gas grill or in the cooler spot of a charcoal grill and allow them to warm through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Wrap 2 or 3 patties in each pita, spoon some of the yogurt sauce alongside and serve with herb sprigs, passing the remaining yogurt sauce at the table.

LAMB STEAKS WITH MOROCCAN SPICED RICE

Steps:

• Put the rice in a pan with water to generously cover, and add the stock cube or powder. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10-12 mins, until the rice is tender. Drain well.
• Heat the grill and season the steaks or chops. Grill for 3-4 mins on each side until cooked to your liking.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan, add the onion and fry gently for 5 mins until lightly coloured. Add the garlic and pine nuts, then fry until the nuts are lightly toasted. Stir in the spices, then add the apricots and rice and mix well, heating everything through. Stir through the parsley or coriander and serve with the steaks or chops, adding the lemon wedges for squeezing over.

SPICED ROAST LAMB

Steps:

• Stir together the marinade ingredients and season with ½ tsp ground black pepper and 1½ tsp flaky salt. Slash the lamb several times on both sides, then massage the marinade all over it. Seal into a large food bag or non-metallic container and chill overnight (or at least for a few hrs). Let the lamb sit at room temperature for 1 hr before roasting.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Put the lamb into a foil-lined roasting tin and roast for 20 mins. Turn the oven down to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and roast for 1 hr 20 mins for meat that's pink near the bone. Cover loosely with foil halfway through cooking or once the marinade has charred and the meat looks golden.
• Leave the lamb to rest for 20 mins before carving, then serve with lentil & tomato and cucumber salads (see related recipes).

EASTERN LAMB ROAST RUB

Steps:

• Blend all the rub ingredients.
• Rub this blend all over the roast.
• Allow the roast to sit for a few minutes after applying the rub and prior to roasting.
• Not all the rub will stick to the roast -- that's okay. Just use whatever sticks.
• NOTE: I also like to melt a stick of butter and pour carefully over the roast once it has been seasoned and is in the roaster.

MATT PRESTON'S ROAST SHOULDER OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180c.
• Add the oil and butter to a heavy-based roasting pan and heat until sizzling. Brown the meat on all sides then remove the pan from the heat, and the meat from the pan.
• Place the onions in the pan and stir them through the pan juices and fat. Place the lamb on top of the onions and place in the oven.
• After half an hour, add the garlic to the roasting pan. Turn the heat down to 120c.
• The lamb should be cooked after 90 minutes but is definately ready when it pulls apart easily.
• Remove the lamb from the pan, wrap in tin foil then cover with a newspaper and rest.
• Push the onions and garlic to the side of the pan, and place it on a medium heat. Pour in the wine and deglaze by scraping any brown and meaty bits off the bottom of the pan while the wine evaporates. Mix in the onions and garlic, pour all the pan contents into a tall vessel and blitz with a stick blender. Season with salt and pepper and coffee granules to taste.

MUTTON LEG ROAST

Steps:

• Prick the leg of mutton with a fork and mix all of the ingredients (except the oil) and leave it to marinade for about 1 ½ hours.
• Put the leg in a big pot and cover. Let it cook until all of the juice dries up.
• Add the oil to it and in case it is not tender, add half a cup of warm water and leave it covered for a while until it is done.
• Serve it on a plate or dish garnished with lettuce and cucumber, spoon the remaining sauce from the pot and add on top of the roast.