Tamarind Glazed Lamb Skewers With Dried Apricot Relish Food

TAMARIND-GLAZED LAMB SKEWERS WITH DRIED-APRICOT RELISH

Steps:

• For glaze:
• Bring first 4 ingredients to boil in small saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced to 1 cup, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in lime juice.
• For apricot relish:
• Mix apricots and next 5 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Season relish to taste with salt and pepper. (Glaze and relish can be made 1 day ahead; cover separately and chill. Bring relish to room temperature. Stir glaze over medium heat until heated through.)
• Thread lamb and onion pieces onto skewers, using about 6 onion and lamb pieces per skewer. (Skewers can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Sprinkle skewers with salt and pepper. Grill lamb to desired doneness, turning once and basting with glaze during last minute of grilling, about 2 minutes total for medium-rare. Transfer skewers to platter. Serve with relish.
• Available at Indian markets.

LAMB KEBABS WITH TAMARIND SAUCE

Steps:

• *Cook's Note: Reserve the inner core of the red onion for the Black Eyed Peas and Rice recipe
• For the tamarind sauce: Put the coriander seeds and cinnamon stick into a saucepan and toast over medium heat for 1 minute. Stir in the tamarind, coconut milk, grapefruit juice, water, sugar, ginger, salt, and pepper to taste, breaking up the tamarind with a spoon. Bring the ingredients to a boil, and then reduce the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the sauce has thickened, about 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the sauce into a bowl, and adjust the seasonings with salt, and black pepper, to taste.
• For the marinade: Combine the shallot, ginger, garlic, oil, and black pepper in a bowl, and mix.
• Add the lamb pieces to the mixture and toss to coat evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 24 hours.
• For the kebabs: Preheat a grill to medium-high and lightly oil the grates.
• Assemble the kebabs by threading 1 piece of red onion onto a wooden skewer that has been soaked in water, followed by 1 piece of lamb through the same skewer, so the meat is resting on the red onion. Skewer the mint stems and leaves, wrapping them around the red onion and the lamb. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Grill the kebabs until the lamb is medium-rare, approximately 10 to 12 minutes, turning frequently.
• Transfer the kebabs to a serving platter and serve with the Tamarind Sauce and the Black Eyed Peas and Rice.
• *Can be found at specialty Asian markets .
• Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook until the onion is translucent. Season the mixture with salt, and pepper, to taste. Add the rice, stirring to coat the grains in the oil. Pour in the water, and stir to separate the rice. Bring the ingredients to a boil, and at this point, reduce the heat to a simmer, and place a lid over the pot. Cook the rice until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Add the black eyed peas to the pot 5 minutes before the end of the cooking process.
• Transfer the finished dish to a bowl, let it cool slightly, and garnish with the mint.

CHEZ PANISSE LAMB STEW WITH DRIED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Soak the apricots in warm water for an hour or so while you prepare the rest of the stew.
• Season the lamb well with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan over medium high heat--enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan.
• Add the lamb and brown it on all sides, working in batches if necessary--do not crowd the meat.
• Remove the meat to a plate and pour off and discard most of the fat/oil in the pan, leaving just a thin veil of oil.
• Add the onions and cook them until soft--about 7 minutes.
• Add the lamb back in, stir in the spices and mix well, and cook for another four minutes.
• Add enough water to come just to the top of the meat and bring to a boil, skimming any foam that rises to the top.
• Turn the heat down to a simmer, cover and cook for half and hour.
• Whhile the lamb is cooking, drain the apricots, reserving the liquid.
• Chop the apricots coarsely and add them to the lamb.
• Now keep the pan partially covered and continue to simmer for about another hour or until the lamb is tender.
• Stir occasionally and, if the liquid gets too low, add some of the reserved apricot liquid.
• Wen the lamb is tender, skim any fat off the top, taste for salt and adjust seasonings as needed.
• Add the rose water (if you like--I do).

TAMARIND HONEY LAMB KABOBS

Steps:

• mix the first 5 ingredients together in a large measuring cup.
• pour half the mixture into a large bowl, add lamb, marinate for 1/2 hour, or more if desired.
• thread lamb on skewers, broil for 3-5 minutes per side, brushing with honey sauce until desired doneness.
• you can also grill these outdoors.