Jamie Oliver Lamb And Aubergine Food

AROMATIC LAMB CURRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
• Put a large shallow casserole pan on a high heat.
• Dice the lamb into 3cm chunks and place in the pan, fat-side down.
• Peel the onions, dice with the aubergines to the same size as the lamb, then stir into the pan.
• Season with sea salt and black pepper, stir in the curry paste and 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, then transfer to the oven for 1 hour, or until tender, stirring halfway and loosening with a splash of water, if needed.
• Taste the curry, season to perfection, ripple through the yoghurt, drizzle over ½ a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, hit it with lots of black pepper, and serve.

LAMB-STUFFED AUBERGINES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Place the aubergine halves on a large baking tray or two smaller ones. Drizzle over 2 tbsp of the oil and season the aubergines well. Cover with foil then roast the aubergines for 50 mins until tender.
• Meanwhile, make the lamb stuffing. Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over a high heat. Add the lamb, breaking down the meat with the back of a wooden spoon. Fry for 5-6 mins or until most of the liquid has evaporated and the mince has started to brown.
• Add the onion and spices and cook for another 5 mins until the meat is completely brown and has become caramelised and sticky. Add the sultanas, pine nuts and parsley, season to taste, then set aside.
• Carefully scoop most of the flesh out of the aubergines and add it to the lamb, then refill each aubergine with the mixture. Return to the oven for 8-10 mins, until piping hot. Serve with a green salad.

LAMB & AUBERGINE STEW WITH CRISPY CHICKPEA TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in flameproof casserole dish. Add the onions and cook until softened. Season the lamb and toss in the flour. Push the onion to the edge of the pan, add the lamb, then cook for a few mins on each side until nicely browned.
• Add the garlic, aubergine, peppers, ras el hanout and harissa. Cook for a few mins until the spices are aromatic. Add the tomatoes, sugar, 400ml water (fill the tomato can and swish it around to get all the bits out) and crumble in the stock cube. Bring to a simmer, cover, then cook over a low heat for 2 hrs.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Add the herbs to the lamb stew and tip into a daking dish. Tip the chickpeas into a bowl with the cumin seeds, remaining oil and some seasoning. Leaving about half the chickpeas whole, lightly crush remainder with a fork or potato masher. Add half the feta and mix through. Scatter over the stew, top with remaining feta, then bake for 45 mins until the topping is really crispy and the stew is hot. See tips on freezing, below left.

LAMB KOFTA KEBABS FROM JAMIE OLIVER

Steps:

• Put the pistachios into a blender and chop until they're all about half size.
• Add the lamb and thyme, along with most of the cumin, chili and sumac (or lemon zest) (reserve a little for sprinkling on the made-up kebab). Add salt and pepper to season.
• Pulse until it's mixed and looks like a chunky mince. If you don't pulse, you'll end up with a puree).
• Shape onto four metal skewers, so you have four sausage shapes. Dimple the kebabs with your fingers to improve the cooked texture.
• Place in the fridge for a couple of hours to "set" the meat a little.
• Put kebabs onto a very hot barbecue and cook until nicely golden.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix the sliced onion with a good pinch of salt and pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice, which will take the edge off the onion.
• Just before the kebabs are ready, add the salad leaves, mint and parsley to the bowl and mix together. Add another pinch of salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and another squeeze of lemon.
• Warm your tortillas on the griddle (or in the microwave for a few seconds).
• Place a spoonful of the salad mix in the middle, top with a kebab and a dollop of creme fraiche, and sprinkle with a little of the left over spices. Drizzle with a little olive oil, wrap up and eat, delish!

TENDER LAMB SHOULDER

Steps:

• Pour the dried chickpeas into a 30cm x 40cm roasting tray. Quarter the preserved lemons and trim away the seedy core, then finely chop the rind and add to the tray with a good splash of liquor from their jar. Roughly chop the tomatoes, adding them to the tray as you go. Drizzle the lamb with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then rub all over with the ras el hanout and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Sit the lamb in the tray, pour in 1 litre of water, cover tightly with tin foil and place in a cold oven. Turn the temperature to 170ºC/325ºF/gas 3 and leave the lamb in there for 6 hours, or until the chickpeas are cooked through and the lamb is pullable - after 3 hours, stir a splash of water into the chickpeas, covering tightly again with foil. To serve, taste the chickpeas, season to perfection, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, then pull the lamb apart with two forks. CALORIES 522kcal FAT 26.7g SAT FAT 10.2g PROTEIN 37.4g CARBS 35.3g SUGAR 5.8g SALT 0.7g FIBRE 1.4g 5 Ingredients by Jamie Oliver is published by Penguin Random House ⓒ Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited. Photographer: David Loftus