Lamb Tagine With Baby Artichokes And Mint Food

ROAST LAMB WITH ARTICHOKES AND LEMONS

Steps:

• Lamb and artichokes:
• Preheat oven to 325°. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Generously season lamb on all sides with salt and pepper and cook, turning often, until well browned, 12-15 minutes. Transfer lamb and oil to a roasting pan.
• Carefully add wine to skillet, scraping up browned bits. Bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by one-third, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands, garlic, red pepper flakes, and 2 cups water and pour into roasting pan. Squeeze lemons over lamb; add to pan. Roast 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, remove tough dark outer leaves from artichokes. Using a serrated knife, trim 1" from top. Trim stems and remove tough outer layer with a vegetable peeler. Halve artichokes lengthwise. Toss to coat with pan juices and tuck under and around lamb. Roast, turning artichokes occasionally, until artichokes are tender and meat is falling off the bone, 1 1/2-2 hours. (Remove artichokes if they become too soft before meat is done.)
• Anchovy-herb oil and assembly:
• Pulse oil, anchovies, garlic, parsley, mint, and red pepper flakes in a food processor until smooth; season with salt.
• When done, place lamb in a large bowl and transfer artichokes, lemons, and garlic with a slotted spoon to bowl. Pour anchovy-herb oil over; tent with foil. Transfer pan juices to a glass measuring cup. Let sit a few minutes, then spoon off fat from surface. Serve lamb with artichoke mixture and pan juices.

MOROCCAN LAMB WITH APRICOTS, ALMONDS & MINT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Add the lamb and cook over a medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until evenly browned, stirring often. Remove the lamb to a plate, using a slotted spoon.
• Stir the onion and garlic into the casserole and cook gently for 5 minutes until softened. Return the lamb to the pot. Add the stock, zest and juice, cinnamon, honey and salt and pepper. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for 1 hour.
• Add the apricots and two-thirds of the mint and cook for 30 minutes until the lamb is tender. Stir in the ground almonds to thicken the sauce. Serve with the remaining mint and toasted almonds scattered over the top.

LAMB TAGINE WITH ARTICHOKES AND FAVA BEANS

Steps:

• Put the meat with the onions, butter or oil, salt, pepper, ginger, and saffron in a pan and cook, turning over the meat, for about 5 minutes. Cover with water and simmer, covered, for 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is very tender, adding water if it becomes too dry. Remove the lid and reduce the sauce at the end.
• Add the artichoke bottoms, fava beans, and lemon juice and cook 10 minutes, until the artichokes are tender. Add the cilantro and cook 1 or 2 minutes more.
• Serve hot, garnished if you like, with the preserved lemon peel.
• For an Egyptian beef stew with fresh green fava beans: Sauté 1 pound fresh or frozen (and defrosted) beans in 3 tablespoons vegetable oil with 1 pound cubed stewing beef until lightly browned. Add 2 whole garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, salt, and pepper, and cover with water. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is very tender.

LAMB TAGINE WITH BABY ARTICHOKES AND MINT

Steps:

• Mix garlic, all but 1 tablespoon mint, lemon juice and zest, cumin, pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt in 2-quart bowl. Add lamb, mix well, cover and marinate 2 hours at room temperature. Place raisins and sherry in small bowl, and set aside.
• When lamb is marinated, trim artichokes, cutting stems flush with bottoms, removing outer leaves, and slicing off top 1/2 inch. Quarter artichokes, place in bowl, and cover with water.
• Lightly toast pine nuts in 12-inch skillet. Remove. Add 2 tablespoons oil, and brown lamb over high heat in two shifts to avoid crowding. Remove lamb from pan, and lower heat to medium. Add remaining oil and onion, and sauté until translucent. Drain artichokes, and add, with raisins, sherry, balsamic vinegar and chickpeas. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to tagine. Place lamb on top. If you are not using a tagine, add lamb to skillet. Add stock.
• Cover tagine or skillet, and cook over low heat until lamb is tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Baste meat with pan juices. If using a tagine, scatter reserved mint and pine nuts on top, and serve. Otherwise, transfer to serving dish, garnish and serve.