North African Lamb Stew Food

NORTH AFRICAN LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 5-liter or larger pressure cooker over medium-high heat.
• Add lamb cubes in batches to avoid overcrowding; brown on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch.
• Transfer browned lamb to plate with slotted spoon.
• Add onion and garlic to heated fat; saute to soften slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Return lamb to pot and stir in remaining ingredients, including wine and salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir slightly while the mixture comes to the boil to avoid scorching.
• Place the lid on the cooker and bring pressure to the second red ring.
• Adjust the heat to maintain pressure at the second red ring and cook for 15 minutes.
• Use Natural Release method. (10 to 15 minutes extra).
• When the pressure has dropped, test the meat.
• It should be fork-tender.
• If not, stir the mixture to prevent scorching, replace the lid when the mixture begins to boil, and cook on the second red ring another 5 minutes longer.
• Use quick-release (finger-tip release) method.
• Garnish with mint leaves and serve with rice.

AFRICAN STEW

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot, brown chicken in hot peanut oil. Add 1 chopped onion and stir until golden brown. Peel tomatoes if you wish, then chop into chunks. Thin tomato paste with 1/2 cup of water, and add tomatoes and tomato paste to the pot.
• Boil 4 cups of water and add to the pot with the vegesal. While the mixture boils gently, thin peanut butter with some of the hot pot liquid and stir it in gradually. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Begin adding vegetables, letting each simmer for 5 minutes or so before adding the next one. Cook until chicken and all the vegetables are tender. Crush or grind the second onion with the hot pepper. Add during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
• The recipes for this program, which were provided by contributors and guests who may not be professional chefs, have not been tested in the Food Network?s kitchens. Therefore, the Food Network cannot attest to the accuracy of any of the recipes.

LAMB TAGINE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine lamb and 2 teaspoons salt. Let sit at room temperature at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• In a small pot, bring stock to a boil. Remove from heat, add apricots, and let sit at least 15 minutes.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a tagine, Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot with a tightfitting lid, warm 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat until hot. Working in batches, add lamb to pot, leaving room around each piece (this will help them brown). Cook until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer pieces to a plate as they brown.
• Drain fat, if necessary, leaving just enough to coat the bottom of the pot. Add onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Add tomato paste, ginger, 1 cinnamon stick and the spices, and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add lamb and any juices on the plate, the apricots and stock, and half the cilantro. Cover pot with foil and then its lid, and cook in oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until lamb is tender, turning it occasionally. (If using a tagine, you don't need to use foil.) Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
• Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat butter and 1 cinnamon stick over medium heat. Add almonds and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick.
• To serve, transfer lamb and juices to a serving platter. Top with toasted almonds and any butter left in the small skillet, scallions, parsley and remaining cilantro. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice to taste. Serve with flatbread or couscous, if desired.

NORTH AFRICAN LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large casserole over a medium flame. Add the lamb chunks in batches and brown well on all sides. Remove and set aside while you finish the remaining lamb. After all the lamb has been browned return it to the pot. Combine the coriander, cumin, turmeric and cardamom in a bowl and sprinkle the lamb with the spice mix. Brown the spice coated meat over low heat being careful not to burn the spices. Season with the salt and pepper.
• Add the vegetable to the pot and stir to combine well. Add the water and bring quickly to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook for 1 1/2 hours or until the lamb is fork tender.
• Combine the fresh herbs in a bowl with the red pepper, lemon juice and tomato. Adjust the seasoning and set aside.
• Cook the couscous according to package directions.
• Remove the stew from heat and stir in the fresh herbs and tomato. Serve over couscous.

AFRICAN LAMB COUSCOUS FROM MAURITANIA

Steps:

• In a large stew pot that has a tight fitting lid, brown the meat by stirring quickly in hot oil or butter. Reduce heat and sauté the onions and garlic until golden. Add vegetables, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes. Cover with about 2 cups water, put the lid on the pot, and simmer until vegetables are tender and meat is cooked. Mix the dates, raisins, and chickpeas into the dry couscous, and steam. Serve by ladling the stew over couscous on individual plates. Serves 6 to 8.
• COUSCOUS: There are several ways of steaming and softening this form of semolina wheat that is a base for north African stews. The preferred method is to use a couscousier.
• If you don't have a couscousier here is a method. Get dry couscous grain in an ethnic or gourmet grocery or a natural foods store. Allow 2 oz. per person for a meal.
• Pour the couscous into a large bowl and cover it with cold Iwater. Stir, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then scrape the damp grain out onto a clean absorbent cloth such as a linen dish towel. (If all the water hasn't been soaked up, you should drain it off first.) Leave the grain to swell for 15 minutes. If you prefer, you can leave the grains in the bowl, but as they are more confined, they may not become quite as fluffy.
• Now you must find a way to steam the couscous. A colander that will sit part way down into a pot, without sinking to the bottom, can become a homemade couscousier. But if your colander, like most, has holes too large to prevent the couscous grains from falling through, you must line it with a clean, porous cloth (cheesecloth) When everything is ready, bring water in the pot to a boil, and steam the couscous, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• Now the couscous must swell and steam a second time, but with slight variations. Once again, put it into a bowl or onto the towel. Sprinkle cold water over it-perhaps half a cup for every pound of couscous-and rub grains between your fingers to break up any lumps that have formed. After it has sat for 10 minutes, rub some oil onto your hands and rework the grains with your fingers. (For special occasions, use butter to grease and separate the grains.).
• Finely, steam the couscous for 25 more minutes, and serve hot.
• There is nothing complicated about this process, but it does take some time.
• If it sounds too ambitious, try the packaged, pre-cooked grain that is widely available where couscous is sold and follow the simple directions on the box. True connoisseurs argue, no doubt that you will never know what real couscous tastes like unless you steam your own. The "instant" kind is acceptable though.
• The Africa News Cookbook.

LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in dutch oven over medium heat.
• Add onion and saute until translucent.
• Add garlic and saute 2 minutes.
• Add meat and cook 10 minutes until brown.
• Add water and wine.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour.
• Cut carrots and potatoes into chunks.
• Quarter mushrooms.
• Add rest except herbs.
• Cover.
• Cook medium heat for 30 minutes.
• Add herbs.
• Simmer 2 minutes.

EASY LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish. Add the meat in batches and brown over a high heat for 5 mins, then lift onto a plate. Tip in the onions and carrots, and cook for 8-10 mins until starting to colour. Scatter over the flour and stir for a few minutes, then stir in the tomato purée and cook for a few minutes more. Tip the meat and any resting juices back into the dish and stir well. Pour over the stock, tuck in the herbs and season well. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat.
• Cover with a lid and put in the oven for about 2 hrs 30 mins until the meat is tender. Once cooled, the stew can be chilled and frozen for up to three months - defrost completely before reheating on the hob for 5 mins over a medium heat, until piping hot. Leave to settle for a minute or two, then serve with mash and greens.

FRAGRANT LAMB STEW WITH DRIED FRUITS

Steps:

• -Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat olive oil in bottom of 4 to 5 quart heavy-bottomed Dutch oven.
• Brown cubes of lamb in oil, in batches, remove lamb to plate. Add onions to pot, scraping up brown bits and stirring.
• When softened, add crushed garlic; stir to incorporate, then add carrots.
• Cook 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add curry, salt, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, lemon zest, cayenne or pepper flakes, and rosemary.
• Stir to mix in well, then add water and wine. Raise heat and let the liquids bubble. Lower heat, then add the tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and the lamb cubes.
• Add dried fruits, the lemon juice, and the almonds.
• Adjust seasonings to taste, adding more water if the stew seems too thick.
• Add 1/2 cup of cilantro, cover pot, and place in oven for 75 to 90 minutes.
• From time to time, check stew, adding water as needed to keep it moist. When lamb is tender and dried fruits have softened almost enough to become part of the sauce, remove from oven and stir in remaining cilantro.
• Let stew rest 5 minutes and serve.