Middle Eastern Lamb Stew Food

INSTANT POT MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Turn the Instant Pot on and set it to the Sauté function. Heat the butter or oil and saute the onions for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Add the lamb, garlic, salt and all the spices and saute for 5 more minutes until fragrant. Add the vinegar, tomato paste, honey, stock, chickpeas and raisins and stir until combined.
• Cover and set the Instant Pot (or pressure cooker) to pressure cook setting for 50 minutes on normal/high. Naturally release.
• Let the pressure release and give a stir. The lamb will be tender and break apart easily. If you prefer it less juicy, return to saute function and cook off some of the liquid. ( Note that it will thicken a bit as it sits)
• Serve over quinoa, rice or cous cous with some fresh cilantro or parsley.
• The leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld.

MEDITERRANEAN STYLE LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Separately cooked white beans and braised fennel and 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil.
• Blue print stew technique: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Season the flour with salt and pepper. Coat the meat with flour and shake off excess. Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Brown the meat, in batches, until browned on all sides. Remove browned meat to a plate. Add seasoning vegetables to remaining oil in casserole, cover and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until totally tender. Return browned meat to seasoning vegetables with juices that have collected on the plate. Add optional tomato ingredients, bouquet garni and liquid. Season lightly with salt, bring to a simmer, cover and set in oven to cook for about 1 1/2 hours or longer or until meat is fork tender. Remove casserole from oven, remove meat and keep warm, degrease the liquid. Either puree the solids into the liquid to form a thick sauce, or strain the solids out and reduce the sauce until intensely flavored. Add any additional seasoning ingredient (like barbecue sauce) and fresh herbs at last minute. To cook the vegetable garnish, either cook it in the stew liquid before you puree or reduce it, then return the meat to the liquid to rewarm it. Or cook the garnishes separately.

MIDDLE EASTERN SLOW-COOKED STEW WITH LAMB, CHICKPEAS, AND FIGS

Steps:

• Let the oil get heating in a large pot over medium-high heat; also coat pan with cooking spray.
• Add in half the cubed lamb; stir/saute 8 minutes or until browned; remove from pan.
• Repeat procedure with remaining lamb.
• Return first batch of lamb back to pot so that all the lamb is now in the pot.
• Add in onion, 1/4 cup water, and garlic; cook 4 1/2 minutes or until lightly browned, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
• Add in cumin and the next 6 ingredients; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
• Stir in broth and 1 1/2 cups water; bring to a boil.
• Cover, lower heat, and simmer 1 hour.
• Stir in chickpeas and the next 3 ingredients; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until the carrots are done.
• Stir in mint and salt.
• This dish is best when made ahead of time and refrigerated up to 2 days to allow the flavors to meld.
• May reheat in a slow-cooker or on the stove-top if desired.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Melt butter in medium stockpot, saute scallions & parsley until parsley turns dark green and fragrant.
• Add the cubed lamb & saute until lamb is just lightly browned.
• Add broth, lemon juice and coriander. Stir well, reduce heat and cover & simmer about 1 hr 15 minutes.
• Stir in the kidney beans, salt & pepper. Cover and simmer just until heated through.
• Serve over rice, if desired.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Brown the lamb in oil and remove from pan.
• Sauté the onion, shallot (if using), and celery until soft and starting to brown.
• Add the wine, browned meat, carrots, sweet potatoes, and the cinnamon stick.
• Bring to a simmer, adding water if necessary.
• After about 20 minutes, remove the cinnamon stick and add spices, bay leaves, and if using, the almonds and cherries.
• Simmer until meat is tender and sweet potatoes are soft.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB AND OKRA STEW (BAMIA STEW)

Steps:

• Trim the baby okras and wash in cold water and then place in a colander to drain.
• In a large saucepan, heat the oil or butter and add in the meat and brown on all side.
• Add the crushed garlic and chopped onions to the meat and saute till brown.
• Add in the chopped tomatoes, stirring in till the tomatoes are all broken down and soft, for about 10-15 minutes.
• Add in all the spices and salt and give it a good mix.
• Add enough water to cover the meat (about 7-8 cups) and stir to combine well.
• Add in the trimmed okras and bring to boil.
• Cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, until the meat is tender (the sauce will thicken as it cooks).
• Lastly, pour in the lemon juice and add in the chopped coriander and carefully stir once or twice (careful not to mash the okras) and gently simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and serve with rice.

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.