Braised Lamb Shoulder With Thyme Carrots And Fennel Food

BRAISED LAMB SHOULDER CHOPS

Steps:

• Trim fat from chops.
• Heat oil in large deep non stick frypan or Dutch oven; brown chops on both sides, about 5 minutes each side; remove from pan, set aside.
• In the same pan, add onion chunks, saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add carrots, celery, salt and pepper and lemon slices, saute until caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in wine or broth, bring to simmer and deglaze pan.
• Meanwhile, empty tomatoes, undrained, into a bowl, add curry powder, cumin, coriander, garlic and soy sauce.
• Stir to mix, pour tomato mixture into pan; stir to mix with caramelized veggies.
• Return chops to pan and spoon mixture over them.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 1 hour or until chops are fork tender.
• Make a slurry of cold water and cornstarch, stir into pan and bring to boil, simmer until juices are thickened.
• Sprinkle with chopped fresh mint.
• Serve over mashed potatoes or rice or noodles.

BRAISED CARROTS AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Slice the carrots 1/2-inch thick on an angle.
• Quarter the fennel bulbs lengthwise, cut into bulb to remove core and thinly slice, or roughly chop. Reserve 1/4 cup chopped fennel fronds.
• Halve and slice the onion. Fill a skillet with 1/4-inch water. Add vegetables then sprinkle with sugar and salt and drizzle with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil. Simmer covered 20 minutes, and uncovered for 5 minutes and adjust salt. Toss vegetables with fennel fronds, dill and chives.

HONEY-BRAISED LEG OF LAMB WITH CARROTS AND FENNEL

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the mint, rosemary and garlic. Open up the lamb flat on a baking sheet and top with some salt and pepper, about 2 tablespoons of the honey and about three-quarters of the herb-garlic mix. Roll up the lamb and tie it with butcher's twine, then top with the remaining honey and herb-garlic mix. Refrigerate, uncovered, for about 2 hours to marinate, then let the lamb come to room temperature before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Add the chicken broth, white wine, carrots, onions and fennel to a large Dutch oven, then set the lamb on top of the vegetables. Roast until the lamb registers an internal temperature of 130 degrees F (medium rare) on an instant-read thermometer, about 2 hours.
• Let the lamb rest on a cutting board for 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the vegetables to a serving platter.
• In a small bowl, use a fork to mash the butter and flour together to form a smooth paste. Place the Dutch oven with the pan juices over medium heat and bring to a simmer, then whisk in the butter and flour mixture. Bring to a boil and heat until thickened, about 3 minutes.
• Slice the lamb and serve with the vegetables and pan sauce spooned over.

BRAISED LAMB SHOULDER WITH POTATOES AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300° with rack the in lower third of the oven.
• In a medium bowl, combine breadcrumbs with chopped garlic, chopped rosemary, and chopped sage; drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, and toss to combine and set aside. Using kitchen twine, tie together remaining sprigs of rosemary and sage to make an herb bouquet; set aside.
• Season lamb with salt and pepper.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• Add lamb, searing on all sides until golden brown, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Remove lamb; set aside.
• Add potatoes, fennel, celery, sliced garlic, coriander, and reserved herb bouquet to the Dutch oven; sauté, stirring, for 5 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, lemons, chicken stock, and tomato paste.
• Return lamb to pot, and sprinkle reserved breadcrumb mixture evenly over lamb.
• Cover, and transfer to oven; cook for 1 hour.
• Using a pastry brush, baste the lamb, being careful not to disturb the crumb crust. Cover, and cook until crust is golden and crispy, about 30 minutes more.
• Transfer lamb and vegetables to a large serving platter; serve immediately.