Easy Lamb And Squash Tagine Food

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil in a large oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. Season lamb shanks with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
• Stir onion, carrots, and celery into the pan. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, garlic, 2 teaspoons thyme, 1 teaspoon rosemary, and basil. Pour in chicken broth and wine; bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cover.
• Place covered pan in the preheated oven; bake until lamb shanks are tender, about 6 hours. Check level of liquid every 2 hours, adding more chicken broth or red wine if too much evaporates.
• Place butternut squash in a large pot of water with 1 teaspoon salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
• Stir 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary. Mash with a fork until smooth. Reheat over medium heat before serving with lamb shanks.

LAMB TAGINE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH, DRIED APRICOTS, AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place a large soup pot over medium-high heat; add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
• When oil begins to smoke, add half the lamb; lightly brown on all sides, regulating the heat if the meat threatens to burn.
• Set meat aside in a bowl; repeat with remaining lamb.
• Take the pot from the heat and let it cool slightly.
• Return it to med-low heat; add in 4 tablespoons butter; let it melt.
• Add in the saffron, cinnamon, black pepper, turmeric, cayenne, ginger, and minced yellow onion, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits.
• Let the mixture cook gently for 4 minutes.
• Add in the cooked lamb and any accumulated juices, with 1 1/2 teaspoon salt; stirring to coat the lamb with the spice mixture.
• Stir in the water; increase heat to high and bring just to a simmer.
• With kitchen string, tie together 5 coriander springs and add to the pot.
• Let mixture cook, uncovered, at a bare simmer( the bubbles should be lazy) for 1 hour 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add in the sliced sweet onion and the almonds; simmer for 30 minutes.
• Taste the tagine; add salt if needed.
• Remove the coriander bundle and discard.
• Turn off the heat and allow the tagine to rest at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours at room temperature.
• While tagine is resting: Prepare the squash--you only need the seedless neck from the squash; peel and halve the neck lengthwise; then cut it into 3/8-inch thick half moons.
• Heat a large skillet over med-high heat and add in the remaining vegetable oil.
• When the oil slides easily in the skillet, sauté the squash pieces on both sides, lightly salting each side as you go for about 5 minutes per side or until just tender and golden brown at the edges.
• Regulate the heat if the squash threatens to burn.
• Near the end of cooking, and while the squash pieces are still a bit firm, add the remaining butter and drizzle the honey over the squash.
• Swirl the pan to blend the ingredients, and gently toss the squash to coat.
• Turn off the heat and reserve in the skillet.
• When ready to serve, gently reheat the lamb, and stir in about 2/3s of the squash pieces.
• Combine the apricots with the remaining squash in the skillet, cover and reheat gently, swirling to coat the pieces.
• Divide the lamb mixture into 4 wide, shallow bowls.
• Drizzle with some of the juices.
• Distribute the apricots and remaining squash over the lamb.
• Drizzle any liquid remaining in the skillet over each serving.
• Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

LAMB AND SQUASH TAGINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, toss lamb with flour; season with salt and pepper. In a 2-quart enameled cast-iron tagine or a Dutch oven (at least 5 quarts), heat oil over medium-high. Cook lamb until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes; transfer to a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium; add onion, garlic, and tomato paste to pot; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion has softened, 6 minutes. Add cinnamon sticks, 4 cups water, and reserved lamb (with any juices that have accumulated); bring to a boil.
• Cover pot and transfer to oven; cook until lamb is just tender, about 1 hour. Add squash, return to oven, and cook until squash is tender, about 30 minutes more. Remove cinnamon sticks, stir in prunes, and season with salt and pepper. Serve with cilantro and couscous.