Lamb Stew With Shallots And Chestnuts Food

LAMB-AND-CHESTNUT STEW

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a chestnut knife or a small paring knife, make an incision about 1/8 inch deep through the shell and into the flesh of each chestnut almost all the way around the circumference of the nut.Transfer to a chestnut pan or rimmed baking pan. Roast in the oven until the chestnuts are tender, about 35 minutes.Turn the oven off. Leaving the pan with the chestnuts in the oven, remove several at a time.Working quickly, place 1 chestnut in a towel, and, holding both, peel the chestnut while still hot. Remove and discard the shells and inner skin; set aside.
• Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Dredge the meat in flour, and shake off excess; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add lamb, in a single layer without crowding, and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes.Transfer lamb to a dish. Repeat browning with the remaining olive oil and meat.
• To the Dutch oven, add onions, and cook until golden, about 4 minutes. Add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook until well browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add red wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Add the reserved lamb, beef stock, chestnuts, tomatoes, sage, and rosemary, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered, until the meat is very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add cranberries, and cook 2 minutes. (Proceed with step 5, and serve immediately, or let cool, refrigerate overnight, and proceed with step 5 just before serving.)
• Serve the hot polenta with the lamb-and-chestnut stew.

MINT LAMB STEW

Steps:

• In a large shallow dish, combine the flour, salt and pepper. Add the meat, a few pieces at a time, and turn to coat. In a large skillet, brown meat and shallots in oil in batches., Transfer to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Add wine to the skillet, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-2 minutes. Add to slow cooker., Stir in the broth, potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, parsnips and garlic. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender. Stir in jelly; sprinkle with bacon. If desired, sprinkle with fresh mint before serving.

AZERBAIJANI-STYLE LAMB WITH APRICOTS & CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Put the saffron in a heatproof cup and pour over 75ml boiling water. Leave for 30 mins, or until the water is a deep yellow colour.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, and brown the lamb all over - you'll need to do this in batches. Transfer the browned lamb to a bowl using a slotted spoon as you continue cooking the rest.
• Fry the onions in the residual fat in the pan over a medium-low heat for 10-12 mins until golden and soft. Add the tomatoes and garlic, and continue to fry until the tomatoes have softened. Stir in the spices and cook for a few minutes, then return the lamb to the pan with some seasoning. Pour in the stock and infused saffron water. Bring to just under the boil, then add the apricots, chestnuts, and a little more seasoning. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook over a very low heat for 1 hr-1 hr 15 mins until the lamb is tender. At this stage, the lamb can be frozen. Leave to cool completely first, then transfer to a freezer proof airtight container. Will keep in the freezer for up to three months.
• To serve straightaway, stir in the lemon juice, sumac and coriander. Alternatively, if you have frozen the lamb, defrost in the fridge overnight, then transfer to a saucepan and heat gently. When it is piping hot, add the lemon juice, sumac and coriander. Taste to check for seasoning, then serve.

CUMIN-CRUSTED LAMB WITH SHALLOTS & CRUSHED NEW POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Mix the spices with a generous pinch of salt, then coat the lamb in the mix. Heat a large ovenproof frying pan. Sizzle the lamb, fat-side down, for 5 mins. Flip the lamb, then put the shallots, cut-side down, in the pan. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for 10 mins for pink lamb, or 15 mins for medium. Remove the pan from the oven, then leave to stand for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, put the potatoes on to boil and simmer until just cooked. Drain, then gently crush with a potato masher. Add the spring onions and lemon zest, season, then keep warm until ready to serve.
• Remove the lamb and shallots from the pan. Stir the capers, mint, lemon juice and a splash of olive oil (if needed) into the lamb juices to make a dressing. Slice the lamb and separate the shallots into layers. Spoon the potatoes onto warm plates, add slices of lamb and some shallots, then spoon over the dressing.

LAMB STEW WITH SHALLOTS AND CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• To peel the shallots or baby onions more easily, blanch them in boiling water for 5 minutes. This loosens their skins. When they are cool enough to handle, peel them and trim the roots.
• Cut the meat into 6 to 8 pieces. Remove any skin, and trim some but not all of the fat.
• In a large saucepan, fry the shallots or onions in the oil over a medium heat, turning them, until they are brown all over. Then lift them out and put in the meat. Turn the pieces to brown them on all sides.
• Add water to barely cover the meat. Bring it to the boil, remove any scum, then add the cinnamon, allspice, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, until the meat is very tender, turning it over and adding a little water so that it does not dry out. Put back the onions and cook for 15 minutes more. Finally, add the chestnuts and cook for 10 minutes more.