Warm Salad Of Spring Vegetables With Griddled Lamb Food

GRIDDLED LAMB WITH WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the rice in boiling salted water following pack instructions. Drain and immediately run under cold water until the rice is completely cold.
• Meanwhile, put the oil, vinegar, garlic and cumin in a screw-top jar. Season generously and shake well to mix. Toast the almonds in a small frying pan, stirring, for 1-2 mins. Cool, then roughly chop.
• Mix the rice with the almonds, tomatoes, olives and parsley. Heat a griddle pan and season the lamb well. When the pan is hot, cook the lamb, turning occasionally, for 7-8 mins. Remove from the pan, cover with foil and leave to rest for 2 mins.
• Pour the dressing over the rice salad and mix well. Top with the lamb cutlets and serve.

WARM SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Put the courgette ribbons in a large bowl with a pinch of salt and the lemon juice.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil and cook the asparagus for 2 mins, adding the frozen peas and broad beans for the final min. Drain well, pod the broad beans and toss together with the courgette ribbons. Drizzle over the olive oil, sprinkle on parsley and season to taste.

LAMB RAGOUT WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Season lamb chunks generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with fennel seed and rub to distribute. Set aside for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for up to several hours, or overnight).
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven or similar heavy pot over medium-high heat. When hot, add lamb and brown on all sides, until meat is well caramelized, about 10 minutes. Work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding pan.
• Remove lamb, turn heat to medium and add onions (and a little oil if necessary) and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly colored, 5 to 8 minutes. Add garlic, bay leaf and thyme and cook for 1 minute, then stir in tomato paste. Sprinkle with flour and cook 2 minutes more. Add white wine and whisk well as mixture thickens. Whisk in broth and bring to a brisk simmer.
• Return meat to pot. Cover pot and bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes, until meat is tender when probed. Taste sauce and adjust seasoning. Keep warm, or cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight before proceeding with vegetables (which should be prepared right before serving).
• Prepare the vegetables: Remove fava beans from pod. Blanch 2 minutes in boiling water, then cool in ice water. Peel and discard outer gray skin from each bean. You should have about 1 1/2 cups. Set aside. (If using frozen lima beans or edamame, cook the thawed beans for 3 to 4 minutes in salted boiling water.)
• Bring a medium pot of fresh water to a boil and salt well. Add fennel and simmer until tender, about 2 minutes. Remove with spider and rinse with cold water to refresh. In the same pot, cook carrots until tender, about 4 minutes, then remove and refresh. Cook turnips for 3 minutes, then remove and refresh.
• Just before serving, melt butter in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add cooked fennel, carrots and turnips. Add scallions and stir to distribute. Season with salt and pepper. Add a splash of water and cook until scallions have softened, about 2 minutes. Add fava beans and heat through. Stir in lemon zest and parsley.
• Transfer meat and sauce to a large serving dish. Spoon vegetables around meat and garnish with fennel fronds.

GRIDDLED LAMB WITH SPICED NEW POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large pan, cover with water, add a little salt and bring to the boil. Cook for 10-15 mins or until tender. Drain and set aside half for tomorrow. Return the rest of the potatoes to the drained pan with 1 tbsp of the oil, the garlic, preserved lemon and cumin. Keep warm while you cook the lamb.
• Rub the lamb chops with the remaining oil and season. Heat a griddle pan and cook for 3 mins each side or until cooked to your liking. Season the potatoes and stir in the mint, then serve with the griddled lamb and peas or salad.