Madhur Jaffrey Lamb Madras Food

LAMB WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Put the oil in a large pan and set over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, put in the peppercorns, cloves, bay leaves and cardamom pods. Stir for a second. Now put in the onions, garlic and ginger. Stir-fry until the onions develop brown specks. Add the meat to the pan, along with the cumin, coriander, cayenne and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Stir-fry for a minute. Add 1 tablespoon of the beaten yoghurt and stir-fry for a further minute. Add tablespoons of the yoghurt in the same way until all the yoghurt has been incorporated. The meat should also have a slightly browned look. Add the spinach and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt to the pan, and stir to mix. Keep stirring and cooking until the spinach wilts completely Cover tightly and simmer on low heat for about 1 hour 10 minutes or until the meat is tender. Remove the lid and add the garam masala. Increase the heat to medium. Stir and cook for a further 5 minutes or until most (but not all) the water in the spinach disappears and you have a thick, green sauce. Fish out the 2 bay leaves before serving. This dish could also be made with beef. Use cubed stewing steak and cook it for about 2 hours or until it is tender.

LAMB SHANK MADRAS

Steps:

• Tip the yogurt, cumin, turmeric, 1 tsp sea salt and the lamb shanks into a large mixing bowl, then mix to coat the lamb. Cover and pop in the fridge for a couple of hrs, or overnight if you have time.
• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 4. Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish over a medium heat, add the shanks and brown all over for 10 mins, then remove from the dish. Scatter the onions into the dish and fry for 10 mins until golden brown. Stir in the curry powder, garlic and ginger and cook for 3 mins until aromatic. Add the lamb shanks back to the dish along with the tomatoes, chillies, curry leaves, cardamom pods and lime pickle. Give everything a good stir and pour over the stock. Bring up to a simmer, cover, then transfer to the oven and cook for 3 hrs.
• Remove the lid and cook for 1 hr more - this will help reduce some of the liquid and char any exposed meat. When the lamb is very tender, leave to rest for 30 mins or leave to cool completely and reheat the next day for the best flavour. Can be made up to two days in advance. Scatter with chopped mint and serve with naan bread and rice on the side.