Spring Lamb Stew With Artichoke Hearts And Peas Food

LAMB STEW WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the canola oil in a medium (10- to 11-inch) ovenproof pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook for 5 minutes, until browned. Transfer the bacon to a large plate, leaving the fat in the pan. Dry the lamb with paper towels and toss it in a bowl first with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper and then with the 1/4 cup of flour. Raise the heat to medium high and cook half the lamb in the bacon fat for 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned. Add the lamb to the plate with the bacon and brown the second batch, also transferring it to the plate. Add the garlic to the pot and cook for one minute.
• Pour the lamb and bacon, along with any juices that collect, back into the pot. Add the beef stock, wine, tomatoes (including the juice), thyme, rosemary, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil, scraping up the brown bits in the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes, cover and place in the oven for 30 minutes. Add the carrots, potatoes, onions and turnips, cover and return to the oven for 1 hour, until all the vegetables are tender.
• Mash the 2 tablespoons of flour with the butter in a small bowl. Stir the mixture into the stew and simmer on top of the stove for 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the peas and parsley, season to taste and serve hot in large shallow bowls.

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.

ROAST SPRING LAMB WITH ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Remove the outer leaves of the artichokes so that only the tender inner leaves remain. Bring a pot of water to boil, add the trimmed artichokes and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove artichokes, let cool, then slice in half in order to scoop out the chokes with a small spoon. Reserve hearts.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large casserole, add the lamb shanks and saute until browned on all sides, about 15 minutes. Transfer lamb shanks to a shallow roasting pan and scatter the onions and garlic in the pan. Pour in the meat stock, and roast for 30 minutes.
• Place a small saucepan over low heat, add the ham and saute until lightly browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the artichokes to the lamb, baste the meat and artichokes with the accumulated juices, and roast for another 10 minutes. Add the ham and roast another 5 minutes, or until lamb is desired doneness. Remove lamb from oven, let rest a few minutes, then serve warm.