Summer Lamb Stew Food

LAMB STEW RECIPE

Steps:

• In a 5Qt dutch oven, saute chopped bacon over medium heat until browned and fat released. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a large plate.
• While bacon cooks, season lamb pieces with 1/2 Tbsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup flour and toss to coat. Cook lamb in 2 batches in hot bacon grease over medium heat until browned (3-4 min per side) then transfer to the plate with bacon.
• Add diced onion and sauté 2 min. Add garlic and cook another minute, stirring constantly. Add 1 1/2 cups wine, scraping the bottom to deglaze. Add sliced mushrooms, bring to simmer then cook uncovered 10 min. Preheat Oven to 325˚F.
• Return bacon and lamb to pot and add 4 cups broth, 1 Tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp dried thyme and 2 bay leaves. Stir in potatoes and carrots, making sure potatoes are mostly submerged in liquid. Bring to a boil then COVER and carefully transfer to preheated oven at 325˚F for 1 hr and 45 min. When done, potatoes and lamb will be very tender.**

LAMB AND RED WINE STEW

Steps:

• Place a medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat another 30 seconds. Dry the lamb meat well and sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Place the meat in the pot and leave undisturbed for about 4 minutes. When the first side is deeply browned, use tongs to flip the meat. Continue to brown the meat for about 4 minutes on each side until the pieces are evenly browned on all sides, about 20 minutes total. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat to a plate. Add the carrots, celery, garlic and onions. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until fragrant and beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute more. Deglaze with the red wine. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often to reduce slightly, about 5 minutes. Stir in the broth, thyme, bay leaf and reserved meat. Reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and simmer for 1 hour.
• Stir in the olives. Partially cover the pot, leaving a small opening, and simmer until the meat is completely tender, about 30 minutes more. Stir in the parsley. Serve with mashed potatoes or crusty bread to sop up the juices.

SUMMER LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Place lamb in a large (6-quart or more) ovenproof casserole or Dutch oven and add onion, bell pepper, potatoes, tomatoes, green onion, garlic, dill, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
• Pour on olive oil and then the water.
• Cover and bake 2 1/2 hours.
• Scatter squash and green beans on top of other ingredients and add a little more water (about half a cup) if the stew looks dry.
• Bake 30 minutes longer.
• Remove casserole from oven, leaving oven turned on if serving stew the same night.
• Pour off (or tilt casserole and spoon off) most of the liquid into a bowl. To liquid add lemon juice, tasting carefully and correcting seasonings.
• To serve the same night, spoon off all visible fat from liquid or, better yet, place bowl in freezer until fat congeals on top (about 20 minutes).
• To serve the next day, refrigerate liquid separately from remaining ingredients. Remove and discard fat from top of liquid.
• Whichever technique is used, before serving pour remaining degreased liquid back into casserole.
• Cover casserole and reheat in oven until liquid is bubbling slightly (about 20 minutes if chilled, 5 minutes if unchilled).
• Serve in large soup bowls with French bread on the side or on large plates over a bed of Pilaf. For a thicker, creamy sauce, stir 3/4 cup yogurt into liquid just before reheating.

LAMB STEW WITH LEMON AND THYME

Steps:

• Pat lamb dry with paper towels. Toss lamb cubes with flour in medium-sized bowl. Shake off excess flour and set aside on a wire rack.
• Pour oil into Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. When oil is shimmering, add lamb. Cook lamb until browned on each side, about eight minutes total. Remove lamb to a plate and set aside.
• Add shallots, leeks, garlic, and thyme to Dutch oven. Cook, stirring often, until leeks are lightly browned, about four minutes.
• Add stock, white wine, lemon juice, and lemon zest to pot. Scrape up any browned bits from bottom of Dutch oven with wooden spoon. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and return lamb to Dutch oven.
• Turn heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and partially cover. Cook, stirring frequently, until lamb is very tender, 45 minutes to an hour.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with boiled potatoes.