Cardamom Lamb Hotpot Recipes

LANCASHIRE HOT POT

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute onion until soft and deep golden in color. Remove from skillet and set aside. Add lamb to skillet and fry (in batches if necessary) until rich chestnut brown in color, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain fat and reserve.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Spread 1/2 of the potatoes in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place browned lamb and onions on top, then sprinkle with thyme and season to taste. Cover with remaining potatoes, season to taste and dot with butter. Pour stock over all.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Note: If casserole is drying out while cooking, add more stock as needed. If casserole is browning too quickly, cover with aluminum foil.

YOGURT-MARINATED LEG OF LAMB WITH CARDAMOM AND ORANGE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425º. Remove as much of the surface fat as is practical from the lamb. Mix together the yogurt, mint, orange zest, cardamom, salt and pepper; rub the meat all over with the yogurt mixture. If you have time, let the lamb sit for an hour or more (refrigerate if it will be much longer).
• Put the lamb on a rack in a roasting pan. (You might line the pan first with aluminum foil to make cleanup easier.) Roast for 30 minutes, then check; if the lamb threatens to burn, turn the heat down to 350º; otherwise leave it at 425º.
• After about 1 hour (total) of roasting, check the internal temperature of the lamb with an instant-read thermometer. Continue to check every 10 minutes; when it reaches 130 for medium rare (125 for very rare) in its thickest part (check it in several places), it's done. Total cooking time will be less than 1 1/2 hours. Let it rest for a few minutes before carving. Serve garnished with more chopped mint.

EASY LAMB HOTPOT

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes in a saucepan of boiling water for 15 mins until par-boiled, then drain and leave to steam dry and cool.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the onion for 10 mins or until starting to soften. Add the carrot and cook for 5 mins until tender. Tip the carrot and onion mixture into a large 2-litre ovenproof dish. Put the pan back over high heat. Fry the lamb meatballs, turning, until golden on the outside. Put the meatballs into the ovenproof dish. Pour over the gravy and tuck in the bay leaves and thyme sprigs.
• Thinly slice the cooled potatoes and arrange over the top of the meatballs. Brush the potato with 1-2 tsp oil and add a good grinding of black pepper. Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins until the potatoes are tender and starting to become crisp at the edges, and the gravy is bubbling.

CARDAMOM LAMB HOTPOT

Steps:

• Put the onion, garlic and ginger in a food processor and blend to a purée. Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the onion purée for 20 mins until starting to colour, stirring frequently. Add the cardamom and coriander, and fry a few mins more.
• Stir in the lamb, fry until it starts to brown, then pour in the stock. Add the chilli, tomato purée, coconut and curry leaves, then cover and simmer for 1 hr. Add the aubergines and cook for 30 mins more until the lamb and aubergine are tender.
• Meanwhile, make the potato topping. Boil the potatoes whole in their skins for 15-20 mins until just tender, then drain and cool. Also, wilt the spinach in a hot pan. Cool and squeeze in your hands to remove as much water as you can. Peel and thickly slice the potatoes, then toss with the oil, tamarind, turmeric, cumin seeds, curry leaves and seasoning.
• Stir the spinach into the curry and spoon into one extra-large or two regular-size ovenproof dishe(s). Pile the potatoes on top and lightly press down. Dish can now be frozen, see below. If eating straight away, heat oven to 160C/180C fan/gas 4 and bake for 50 mins-1 hr (add 30-40 mins if using an extra-large dish). Serve with chutney and raita or an Indian salad made with chopped red onion, coriander, tomatoes, cucumber and lemon juice.

CARDAMOM-SCENTED LAMB WITH MASHED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add tomato paste, garlic and thyme; sauté 1 minute. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Add both broths; boil until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• For lamb:
• Preheat oven to 450 °F. Toast cardamom seeds in heavy small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Cool. Transfer to spice grinder; grind coarsely.
• Sprinkle lamb with cardamom, salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add 1 lamb rack; sear until brown, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Transfer lamb, meat side up, to baking sheet. Repeat with second lamb rack. Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center registers 125°F for medium-rare, about 18 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut lamb between bones into chops.
• Bring sauce to simmer. Reduce heat to low. Add butter and mustard; whisk just until butter melts. Season with pepper. Spoon sauce onto plates. Top with sweet potatoes and lamb and serve.