Rick Stein Greek Lamb Food

SLOW ROASTED GREEK LAMB

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF.
• Place the peeled potatoes, onions and lemon peel in a large, oven-proof pot/casserole and season with salt, pepper, oregano and olive oil. Add rosemary and garlic.
• Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons olive oil over the lamb and season generously with salt, pepper and oregano. Place the lamb over the potatoes then pour in the stock and wine.
• Cover with a lid and place in the oven. Allow to roast for 30 minutes then turn the heat down to 160ºC/320ºF for 3-4 hours until the lamb is tender.
• Remove the lid and turn the heat back up to 200ºC/400ºF and allow the lamb to roast until golden brown (approximately 1 hour). At this point you can remove the lamb and cover with foil to rest for at least 10 minutes, ideally up to 30 minutes. Pour the stock into a jug and place the potatoes back in the oven to roast until golden brown and crisp.
• Slice/shred the lamb once rested and serve with the potatoes and gravy.

GREEK LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 150°C, gas mark 2. Cut the meat into 6cm pieces.
• Heat a large lidded flameproof casserole dish and add a tablespoon of oil. Brown the meat all over in batches, then remove and set aside.
• Add the remaining oil to the dish, stir in the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until beginning to soften. Leaving the top intact, split the chilli along its length, this adds flavour to the stew without too much heat. Stir in the chilli, sliced garlic and rosemary, and increase the heat. Pour in the wine and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and reduce the heat.
• Return the lamb and juices to the dish, stir through the black olives and bring to a simmer. Season, then cover and cook in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until the lamb is really tender.
• Remove the chilli and rosemary, and discard. Set the stew aside to cool.
• To Serve, bring the stew to a simmer on the hob. Add the pasta (make sure its broken into small pieces otherwise it will stick together in lumps) and cook for 3-5 minutes until tender, and the lamb is thoroughly heated. Ladle the stew onto plates and serve scattered with the feta and mint sprigs.
• Delicious with a fennel and orange salad

LAMB AND ARTICHOKE STEW (GREEK)

Steps:

• Cut the lamb into 1 inch pieces.
• Clean the artichokes, placing them in a bowl filled with water and the lemon slices, so they don't discolor.
• Slice each artichoke heart in half.
• Pour the oil into a large saucepan and, over medium heat, sauté the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the spring onions and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Increase the heat to high and add the meat.
• Brown the meat until it becomes a rich, dark colour.
• Add the hot stock and, as soon as it comes back to the boil, lower the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add the artichokes, minced dill, juice and rind of 1 lemon, salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover again and simmer until the artichokes and the meat are very tender, about 15 minutes longer.
• Turn off heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, yolk, lemon juice and corn flour.
• With a ladle, slowly add the hot stock from the meat/artichokes to the egg/lemon mixture, whisking constantly.
• When you have added all the stock, pour the egg/lemon sauce over the meat, shaking the pan to mix it thoroughly, let it thicken slightly for about 2 minutes, and serve.

LAMB KLEFTIKO

Steps:

• Crush together the garlic cloves and 1 tsp salt using a pestle and mortar. Add the herbs, lemon zest, cinnamon, some black pepper, crush a little more, then stir through 2 tbsp of the olive oil.
• Using a sharp knife, create lots of holes all over the lamb, and rub in the paste, pushing it deep into the holes. Transfer the lamb to a large food bag, pour in the lemon juice and marinate overnight.
• The next day, take the lamb out of the fridge 1 hr before you want to cook it. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.
• Lay 2 long pieces of baking parchment on top of 2 long pieces of foil - one widthways, the other lengthways to form a cross. Pop the potatoes in the centre of the parchment and toss with the remaining oil and some seasoning. Bring up the sides of the foil, then pour the marinade from the lamb over the potatoes and throw in the bay leaves.
• Set the lamb on top of the potatoes and scrunch the foil together tightly to completely enclose the lamb. Lift into a roasting tin and roast in the oven for 4½ hrs until very tender.
• Remove tin from the oven and increase the temperature to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Unwrap the parcel and scrunch the foil and parchment under the rim of the tin, baste the lamb with the juices and return to the oven for a further 20 mins until browned. Remove the lamb from the tin, wrap in foil and rest.
• Turn the potatoes over and return to the oven for 30 mins, then season with salt. While the potatoes are cooking, stir together all the ingredients for the yogurt.
• Combine the red wine vinegar, oil and some seasoning to make a dressing for the salad. Toss together the remaining salad ingredients, adding the dressing when you're ready to eat. Serve the lamb with the potatoes and meaty juices, with the salad and yogurt on the side.