Middle Eastern Lamb Rub Food

PERSIAN-SPICED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Trim any excess fat from lamb shanks and season generously with salt. Mix together the cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, rosebuds (if using), black pepper and turmeric. Sprinkle evenly over shanks and rub into meat. Let sit at room temperature at least an hour, or wrap and refrigerate overnight, then bring to room temperature.
• Place a Dutch oven or deep, heavy pot over medium-high heat and add oil to a depth of 1/2 inch. When oil is hot, add 2 lamb shanks and fry until nicely browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside, then brown the 2 remaining shanks.
• Meanwhile, put saffron in a small bowl with lime juice, 2 teaspoons rosewater and 1/2 cup warm water. Let steep for 10 minutes. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Carefully remove all but 2 tablespoons oil from Dutch oven. Add chopped onion and cook over medium heat until softened and lightly colored, 8 to 10 minutes. Season onion with salt, then add lime zest, orange zest, thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Stir in saffron mixture. Lay in the lamb shanks and add the broth. Bring to a boil, then turn off heat and cover pot.
• Transfer pot to oven and bake for about 1 1/2 hours, covered, until meat is tender when probed and beginning to fall from the bone. Remove lamb shanks to a deep serving dish and keep warm. Strain braising juices through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing with a wooden spoon to obtain all the liquid (discard thyme, bay leaves and onions). Skim fat, then taste and add salt if necessary. Add 1 more teaspoon rosewater, if desired. Reheat strained juices and pour over lamb shanks. Combine parsley, mint and reserved orange zest and sprinkle over top.
• Use a large spoon to break the tender shank meat into large chunks. Serve in low, wide soup plates, giving each portion a spoonful of the juices. Accompany with steamed Basmati rice, lavash flatbread or a loaf of crusty French bread.

MOROCCAN SPICE RUB (FOR LAMB & OTHER MEAT)

Steps:

• Mix the cumin, paprika, coriander, salt, pepper, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and cayenne thoroughly. Rub on the surface of the meat. Rub the garlic over the spices and refrigerate overnight. Without the garlic the spices will keep for months in a tightly covered, air-tight covered container.

YOTAM OTTOLENGHI'S JERUSALEM LAMB SHAWARMA

Steps:

• Put the peppercorns, cloves, cardamom, fenugreek, fennel, cumin, star anise and cinnamon in a cast-iron pan set over medium-high heat and dry-roast them for a minute or two, until the spices begin to pop and release their aromas. Take care not to burn them. Add the nutmeg, ground ginger and paprika, and toss for a few more seconds, just to heat them, then transfer to a spice grinder. Process the spices into powder. Transfer to a medium bowl, and stir in the sumac, salt, fresh ginger, garlic, cilantro, lemon juice and oil, and stir to combine.
• Use a small sharp knife to score the leg of lamb in a few places, making half-inch-deep slits through the fat and meat. Put the lamb in a large roasting pan and rub the marinade all over it, using your hands to massage the meat. Turn the lamb fat-side up, cover the pan with aluminum foil and place it aside on a countertop for at least a couple of hours, or preferably, rest it overnight in the refrigerator.
• Heat oven to 350. Remove the aluminum foil, and place the lamb in the oven. Roast for approximately 4 1/2 hours, or until the meat is completely tender. After 30 minutes of roasting, add about a cup of boiling water to the pan, and use this liquid to baste the meat every hour or so. (Add more water, as needed, making sure there is always a little in the bottom of the pan.) After 90 minutes or so, cover the lamb with aluminum foil to prevent the spices from burning. Once the lamb is done, remove it from the oven, and leave to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving and serving.

MOROCCAN RUB LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat grill pan to high. Brush chops with a little olive oil. Combine dry spice blend in a small container, cover and shake to combine. Rub spice blend into the chops on both sides. Grill chops 7 to 8 minutes, turning once, for medium rare, 10 to 12 minutes for medium to medium well. Serve with wedges of lemon.

LAMB STEAK WITH LEBANESE SPICES

Steps:

• Lay butterflied lamb leg on a cutting board and cut into 4 equal pieces, approximately 6 ounces each. Trim extraneous fat or gristle.
• Place lamb on a baking sheet and season on both sides with salt and the seven-spice powder. Sprinkle meat with sliced garlic and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Rub with your hands to coat, massaging the spices into the lamb. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Put yogurt in a mixing bowl and season with salt. Stir in cucumbers, mint, grated garlic and crushed red pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. Set aside.
• Put a large cast-iron skillet or stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add lamb steaks in one layer and cook for about 5 minutes, until nicely browned. Turn pieces and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more, until juices appear on surface, for medium-rare. Transfer lamb to a cutting board and let rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. (Alternatively, broil lamb or grill over coals.)
• While lamb is resting, put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add chard and 1/4 cup water. Season lightly with salt. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until chard is just wilted. Remove chard from pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a serving platter or individual plates.
• Carve lamb on the bias in 1/8-inch-thick slices, against the grain, and place next to the chard. Garnish with dill sprigs, if desired, and serve with a spoonful of cucumber-yogurt sauce. Pass the rest of the sauce separately.

MIDDLE EASTERN SPICE BLEND

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a bowl and toss to combine. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 year.