Cardamom Scented Lamb With Mashed Sweet Potatoes Food

NEW ZEALAND RACK OF LAMB WITH SWEET POTATO MASH AND THREE BEAN RAGOUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Drain and rinse all liquid off beans. Combine beans in a bowl and set aside. Begin cooking bacon in a saute pan. Begin roasting yams in preheated oven until soft, and remove to let cool enough to handle.
• Heat olive oil in another large saute pan for the lamb. Season the rack of lamb with salt and pepper. Place lamb into hot pan and sear meat all around.
• Remove bacon to drain on paper toweling. In same pan lightly saute onion and garlic in bacon fat until translucent. Add red wine and reduce by half.
• Place the lamb in a roasting pan and roast in the oven until done to your liking, about 15 to 20 minutes for medium rare, an internal temperature of 125 degrees F (this means that because of the 5 to 8 minutes of carryover cooking while it rests, you pull it out at 120 degrees F so it will end up at 125 degrees F for medium rare).
• When yams are cool enough to handle, peel off skin and add butter and cream and mash. Season with salt and pepper, as needed.
• Remove the lamb to a utility platter and let rest before slicing.
• Add demi-glace and tomato paste to the pan with the onion, garlic, and bacon fat, then incorporate all beans with mixture. Lower heat and simmer. Add rosemary and chives. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Place sweet potatoes in the middle of a serving platter. Surround potatoes with bean ragout. Slice rack of lamb in between bones and lay over potatoes. Spoon demi-glace sauce over and serve.

WHIPPED SWEET POTATOES WITH CARDAMOM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with heavy-duty foil. Place potatoes on baking sheets. Pierce potatoes with fork. Bake until very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Let cool slightly.
• Increase temperature to 350°F. Peel warm potatoes and place in bowl of heavy-duty electric mixer. Beat potatoes until mashed. Add butter, cream, cardamom and nutmeg. Whip until smooth and creamy. Season with salt. Transfer potatoes to 13 x 9-inch oval baking dish. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.) Bake potatoes until heated through and beginning to brown on top, about 45 minutes.

CARDAMOM-SCENTED SWEET POTATO ROUNDS WITH CILANTRO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds. In a small skillet over medium-high, toast coriander seeds until dark brown and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Grind in a spice grinder, or crush with a mortar and pestle.
• In a small saucepan, bring butter, coriander, cardamom seeds and pods, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to a boil. Toss with potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet to evenly coat. Transfer half of potatoes to a second rimmed baking sheet; spread in a single layer on both sheets.
• Roast, flipping potatoes and rotating sheets once halfway through, until potatoes are easily pierced with the tip of a knife and golden brown in places, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve, sprinkled with cilantro.

CARDAMOM MASHED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes until tender.
• Drain.
• Cook the corn briefly (also peas if using) by steaming no more than 3 minutes.
• Add the spinach in the last minute or so.
• Drain water and remove from heat.
• Melt the butter and saute the onions slowly until caramelized.
• Mash the potato and season with cardamom, salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in the onions.
• Then add the other vegetables and honey (if using).
• You may also add more butter (if your lover will let you).

CARDAMOM-SCENTED LAMB WITH MASHED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• 1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add tomato paste, garlic, and thyme; sauté 1 minute. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Add both broths; boil until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• 2. Preheat oven to 450°F. Toast cardamom seeds in heavy small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Cool. Transfer to spice grinder; grind coarsely. [I used a mortar and pestle.] Sprinkle lamb with cardamom, salt and pepper.
• 3. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add 1 lamb rack; sear until brown, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Transfer lamb, meat side up, to baking sheet. Repeat with second lamb rack. [I was actually only using one lamb rack and so I seared it in my heavy oven-proof skillet, moved the lamb out, drained some of the oil - careful it's hot! - and then put the lamb back on the skillet instead of a separate baking sheet.
• 4. Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center registers 125°F for medium rare, about 18 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes. Cut lamb between bones into chops.
• 5. While chops are roasting: Bring sauce to simmer. Reduce heat to low. Add butter and mustard; whisk just until butter melts. Season with pepper.
• 6. Top with sweet mashed potatoes and lamb and serve. [I also lightly sautéed thin strips of bok choy, and wrapped them around the plated sauce. Seen in top photo.]