Honey Braised Leg Of Lamb With Carrots And Fennel Food

BALSAMIC-BRAISED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Cut the leg of lamb into 4 even pieces.
• Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil in an 8-quart stovetop pressure cooker over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the lamb pieces and bones all over with salt and pepper. Working in batches (to not overcrowd the pot), sear the meat and bones in the hot oil until well browned on all sides. Remove from the pot and set aside. Pour off excess oil from the pot and then add the garlic, fennel, jalapenos, onions and red bell peppers. Sweat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook for 2 minutes. Deglaze with the beef stock and balsamic vinegar. Add the seared lamb and bones back the pot, close the pressure cooker and cook on low heat until fork tender, 45 minutes.
• Remove the lamb from the braising liquid and pull into large chunks. Remove the bones from the pot, and discard. Strain the braising liquid and then add it back to the pot. Cook over medium heat until the liquid is reduced by half. Turn off the heat, add the lamb back to the pot and spoon the reduced liquid over the top to glaze. Keep warm until ready to serve.

ROSEMARY-HONEY BRAISED LAMB SHOULDER AND MINT JASMATI RICE

Steps:

• For the lamb: Heat a medium size stockpot that can hold the lamb shoulder. Using a skewer, poke the lamb as deep as a sprig of rosemary. Completely insert rosemary in holes. (You can go around the top-side of the lamb like a crown.) Season the lamb well with salt and pepper. Mix together the flour, chile powder and cumin and rub on the lamb. Coat the pot with oil and sear the lamb on 1 side until brown. Rotate the lamb so all sides get brown, about 15-20 minutes total. Remove the lamb and set aside on a plate. Gently wipe out the pot and place back on high heat. Coat again with oil and saute the garlic, ginger, onions, carrots, celery and season. Add bay leaves and deglaze with red wine. Add the chickpeas, honey and soy. Add back the lamb and water to cover. Check for flavor of the braising liquid and season accordingly. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for about 3 to 4 hours, or until fork tender.
• Make the rice using Fuji technique and a rice cooker. Meanwhile, blanch the mint in salted water for 30 seconds and shock in ice water. In a blender, puree the mint with the honey, garlic and oil. Season and set aside. When rice is done, fluff with fork before serving.
• Plating: On a very large platter, make a large ring of rice. Drizzle the mint puree on the rice. Place lamb and vegetables in the middle. Pull out the rosemary 1/3 out to resemble a small crown. Serve family style with harissa on the side.

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.

BRAISED LAMB SHOULDER WITH THYME, CARROTS, AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Trim fat from lamb and discard. Cut each chop lengthwise along bones into 3 separate pieces, leaving bones attached to meat. Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon oil in large ovenproof pot over high heat. Working in batches, add lamb to pot and sauté until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb to bowl. Add onions, 2 chopped carrots, halved head of garlic, and 6 thyme sprigs to pot and sauté until onions are brown, about 7 minutes. Add tomatoes and stir 2 minutes. Return lamb and any accumulated juices to pot. Stir in 1 1/2 cups water. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring mixture to simmer. Cover pot tightly; transfer to oven and bake until lamb is very tender, adding up to 3/4 cup more water if juices evaporate, about 2 hours 15 minutes.
• Using tongs, transfer lamb to medium bowl; discard bones. Pour vegetable mixture from pot into strainer set over large bowl. Press on solids to extract as much vegetable pulp and pan juice as possible. Return strained pulp and juice to pot. Spoon off fat from surface. Return lamb to pot; bring mixture to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced carrots, 2 thyme sprigs, fennel, and bay leaf and sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until vegetables are very tender, stirring often, about 35 minutes. Discard thyme and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with sautéed vegetables.

SLOW-ROAST LAMB WITH CINNAMON, FENNEL & CITRUS

Steps:

• Put the lamb into a large food bag with all the juice and marinate overnight.
• The next day, take the lamb out of the fridge 1 hr before you want to cook it. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Take the lamb out of the marinade (reserve remaining marinade) and pat dry. Rub with half the oil and roast for 15-20 mins until browned. Remove lamb and reduce oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.
• Mix the zests, remaining oil, honey, spices and garlic with plenty of seasoning. Lay a large sheet of baking parchment on a large sheet of foil. Sit the lamb leg on top, rub all over with the paste and pull up the sides of the foil. Drizzle marinade into base, and scrunch foil to seal.
• Roast for 4 hrs, until very tender. Rest, still wrapped, for 30 mins. Unwrap and serve with juices.

HONEY-GLAZED LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the honey, mustard, onion salt and pepper. Cook and stir over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes or until heated through., Brush sauce over both sides of lamb. Broil 4-6 in. from the heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°).