Spice Crusted Lamb With White Bean Tomato Salad Food

SPICE-CRUSTED LAMB WITH WHITE BEAN & TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C/400 degrees F (180 degrees C/350 degrees F fan).
• Put the neck fillets into a dish. Roughly crush the coriander and fennel seeds in a pestle and mortar, then mix with the chile flakes and half the olive oil. Press all over the lamb, season well and set aside for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the tomatoes and beans on a serving platter. Mix the vinegar and lemon juice with some seasoning, then whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil; pour this over the tomatoes and beans.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in an ovenproof frying pan and fry the spiced lamb on all sides until seared and golden all over. Transfer to the oven and cook for 8 to 10 minutes (the lamb should still be pink in the middle). Rest for 5 minutes, then slice and gently toss through the beans and tomato salad. Scatter with the basil leaves and serve.

FETA-CRUSTED LAMB WITH RICH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Marinate the lamb first. Put the racks into a non-metallic dish and mix the thyme, oil, lemon zest, garlic and half the oregano in a bowl. Rub this all over the lamb, then leave to marinate for at least 30 mins or up to 24 hrs. It's important that you cook the lamb from room temperature rather than fridge cold, so if you're cooking within 1 hr or so, leave it out of the fridge.
• For the sauce, finely chop the parsley stalks. Heat a large ovenproof frying pan or wide casserole, then add 1 tbsp olive oil. Add the garlic and the stalks, then soften for 1 min. Add the tomatoes and remaining oregano, then simmer for 5 mins until saucy, popping the cherry tomatoes with your wooden spoon to release all the juices and seeds. Chop the parsley leaves roughly and add half to the pan. Heat oven to 230C/fan 210C/ gas 8. Make the crust by mixing the remaining parsley leaves, feta, zest, oregano and breadcrumbs in a bowl.
• When you're ready to cook the lamb, leave most of the tasty marinade on the meat, season it well with salt and freshly ground pepper, then press the crust onto one side of each piece. Sit the racks in the sauce, with the crust-side facing upwards. Strew the thyme sprigs from the marinade over the lamb and into the sauce, then drizzle everything with a little extra virgin olive oil. Roast the lamb in the sauce, uncovered, for 20 mins (for pink and juicy meat) until the crust is golden and the sauce thickened. Leave to rest for 10 mins, loosely covered, so that the crust doesn't go soggy, then carve the lamb between each bone to make cutlets. Serve the crusted cutlets with spoonfuls of the intense, roasted-down tomato sauce, and the Easy buttered onion pilaf and Lemony greens (recipes below). Garnish with thyme.

SPICED ROAST LAMB

Steps:

• Stir together the marinade ingredients and season with ½ tsp ground black pepper and 1½ tsp flaky salt. Slash the lamb several times on both sides, then massage the marinade all over it. Seal into a large food bag or non-metallic container and chill overnight (or at least for a few hrs). Let the lamb sit at room temperature for 1 hr before roasting.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Put the lamb into a foil-lined roasting tin and roast for 20 mins. Turn the oven down to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and roast for 1 hr 20 mins for meat that's pink near the bone. Cover loosely with foil halfway through cooking or once the marinade has charred and the meat looks golden.
• Leave the lamb to rest for 20 mins before carving, then serve with lentil & tomato and cucumber salads (see related recipes).

SPICED LAMB PIE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish. Toss the lamb in the flour with some seasoning, then brown it in the dish. Do this in batches so you don't overcrowd the dish (which will cause the meat to steam instead of fry). Take your time to build up a deep brown colour, which will add lots of meaty flavour to the stew. Set the meat aside on a plate as you go.
• Add the remaining oil to the dish along with the onion and garlic. Cook for 5 mins until softened, then stir in the spices, tomatoes, lemon zest and juice, honey and molasses. Fill the tomato can halfway with water, swill around and add this too. Season well, bring to a simmer and cover with a lid. Reduce the heat and cook for 2 hrs 30 mins-3 hrs or until the meat is tender. Leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Transfer the meat to a pie dish that's about 25cm wide, or leave it in the casserole if it's wide enough to fit the topping. Unwrap the filo and brush a sheet with butter, scrunch up and place on top of the pie. Continue with the remaining sheets until the tagine is covered. Drizzle any remaining butter over the top and scatter over the almonds, then bake for 45 mins or until the pastry is crisp and golden. Scatter over the pomegranate seeds just before serving.

CURRIED LAMB & PEAS WITH TOMATO & ONION SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the curry paste in a large frying pan until it is fragrant. Add the onion, garlic and lamb, then cook for 15 mins until the mince is really broken down and the onions are soft. Add the frozen peas and some seasoning, cook for 2 mins more, then scatter over half the coriander.
• Meanwhile, cook the rice following pack instructions.
• Make the salad by mixing the remaining coriander with the red onion and tomatoes. Add some seasoning, then serve with the curried lamb & peas and rice.

SPICED LAMB KOFTAS WITH MINT & TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the lamb mince, preserved lemon, olives, parsley, ras el hanout and some seasoning - don't be too generous with the salt, as the preserved lemon and olives are both quite salty. Divide the mixture into 4 and shape each piece around a long skewer. Chill for 30 mins.
• Combine the ingredients for the salad with some seasoning and set aside. Heat the grill to high. Rub the oil over the koftas and wrap a little foil around the bottom of each skewer if you're using wooden ones. Place on a baking tray and grill for about 7 mins each side until nicely browned, checking the meat is cooked through to the centre. Serve with the tomato salad, a dollop of yogurt and some couscous or in wraps, if you like.

LAMB WITH CHRISTMAS SPICES

Steps:

• Fry the onions, garlic and ginger in the oil for about 15 mins. Add the lamb and stir-fry until browned. Add the spices, cook over the heat to release their flavours, then add the almonds. Pour in the stock and season to taste.
• Cover the pan and simmer for 45 mins, stirring occasionally. Add the apricots, then simmer 15 mins more until the lamb is tender. Thin with a little water if the sauce starts to get too thick.
• To freeze, cool, then pack into a freezer container or bags. Will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw for 6 hrs in the fridge, then reheat in a pan until bubbling hot.

LAMB COOKED WITH TOMATOES & AROMATIC SPICES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based pan over a moderate heat until quite hot. Sprinkle in the cumin seeds. When they start to crackle, throw in the cloves, cinnamon and bay leaves. Cook for 30 seconds.
• Tip in the sliced onions and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden. Add the lamb, turn up the heat a little and fry for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned.
• Stir in the garlic and ginger, ground coriander, cayenne, turmeric, potatoes and 1 tsp salt, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, then pour in 300ml/1⁄2 pint boiling water, to just cover the meat. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for 1 hour or until the lamb is tender. Add more water if needed to make a gravy. (Make to here up to 2 days ahead; cool, then keep covered in the fridge.)
• If made ahead reheat for 10 minutes until bubbling then swirl in the yogurt and garnish with coriander.