Braised Lamb Riblets And Lentil Stew Recipes

BRAISED LAMB RIBLETS AND LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulverize the onion, garlic, ginger and tomato paste with ½ cup of water to make a smooth paste.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or stockpot on a medium flame.
• Add the riblets and brown them on each side. This should take about 5 minutes.
• Remove the riblets and keep them aside.
• Add the bay leaves, garam masala and the paste from the food processor to the same stockpot and cook with constant stirring for 6 minutes.
• Stir in the lentils and water, followed by the browned riblets.
• Add the turmeric and season as necessary with salt and pepper.
• Bring the contents of the pot to a boil and reduce the flame to a gentle simmer. Cook for 45 minutes till the meat begins to fall of the bone.
• Serve hot with warm rice.

BRAISED LAMB RIBS WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Cut lamb ribs apart and trim off heavy excess fat. With meat cleaver or sharp knife, cut each rib across into thirds so each piece is about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long.
• Wash lentils and pick over but do not soak.
• Place lamb ribs in cold skillet and gradually heat until they are frying and fat melts. Turn frequently so all sides brown.
• When lamb is golden brown on all sides, remove to 2-quart casserole or stew pot. Add onion and carrot to hot lamb fat in skillet and saute over moderate heat until golden brown. Stir in tomatoes and liquid, bring to boil and scrape in coagulated pan juices with wooden spatula. Pour over ribs in casserole. Add garlic, bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper and 2 cups water.
• Bring to boil, then gently stir in lentils. Add enough additional boiling water to come just to level of lentils. Bring to boil, cover, reduce to simmer and cook steadily but gently for about 2 hours or until lentils and lamb are tender. Add boiling water as needed during cooking and stir gently every half-hour or so.
• Adjust seasonings, adding a few drops of vinegar if you like.
• This can be served with rice. One cup of raw rice cooked in boiling salted water will be about right.

LAMB WITH BRAISED LENTILS

Steps:

• Mix together the lemon rind, rosemary, sage and garlic and rub over the lamb steaks, then squeeze the lemon juice over the lamb steaks.
• Heat a large non-stick pan until hot and, over a medium-high heat, add the lamb steaks (and some of the lemon juice that has dripped off them when you transferred them to the pan) and fry for 1 minute on each side.
• Remove the lamb from the pan, and set aside.
• Add the bacon, onions, carrot and celery to the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes or until they are beginning to soften.
• Add the lentils and the stock - and any of the herbs and garlic that didn't make it into the pan earlier when you were browning the lamb steaks - and, over a high heat, return the lamb to the pan and bring the mixture to the boil.
• Reduce to a low-medium heat and simmer gently for 30-40 minutes or until the lentils are tender and most of the stock has been absorbed.
• Serve the lamb with potatoes mashed with buttermilk or low-fat milk. If the potatoes have been made ahead of time - and if you like spinach - mix through the mashed potatoes a packet of frozen spinach, which has not only been thawed, and thoroughly-drained but has also had all excess moisture squeezed from it.
• Chef's Note: Since I posted this recipe and last made this dish, I have found and posted the most fabulous recipe for vegetable stock, which is now my standard vegetable stock recipe: Vegetable Stock Recipe #135453.

MEDITERRANEAN LAMB AND LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the lamb cubes and bones and brown on all sides, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add onion and garlic and continue cooking about 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Stir in the lentils, 2 cups of the chicken broth, tomatoes, carrots and the thyme, sage and basil. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the lentils are tender but not quite done, stirring occasionally. Depending on the type and freshness of the lentils, this will take from 15 to 30 minutes. If the stew seems dry, add more broth (up to one cup additional). Discard the lamb bones.
• Add the spinach and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in the lemon zest and juice. Garnish individual servings with some of the crumbled cheese.