Chez Panisse Lamb Stew With Dried Apricots Recipes

LAMB & APRICOT STEW

Steps:

• In a medium-sized pan, heat 1 tbsp of the oil. Season the meat and fry briefly until browned. Remove from the pan and add the remaining oil. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, and fry with a little seasoning. Cook for 5 mins until soft, then add the spice mix, tomato purée, apricots and stock, and return the lamb to the pan. Simmer gently for 25 mins. Serve with warm couscous, mint or coriander leaves, and lemon wedges.

FRAGRANT LAMB STEW WITH DRIED FRUITS

Steps:

• -Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat olive oil in bottom of 4 to 5 quart heavy-bottomed Dutch oven.
• Brown cubes of lamb in oil, in batches, remove lamb to plate. Add onions to pot, scraping up brown bits and stirring.
• When softened, add crushed garlic; stir to incorporate, then add carrots.
• Cook 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add curry, salt, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, lemon zest, cayenne or pepper flakes, and rosemary.
• Stir to mix in well, then add water and wine. Raise heat and let the liquids bubble. Lower heat, then add the tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and the lamb cubes.
• Add dried fruits, the lemon juice, and the almonds.
• Adjust seasonings to taste, adding more water if the stew seems too thick.
• Add 1/2 cup of cilantro, cover pot, and place in oven for 75 to 90 minutes.
• From time to time, check stew, adding water as needed to keep it moist. When lamb is tender and dried fruits have softened almost enough to become part of the sauce, remove from oven and stir in remaining cilantro.
• Let stew rest 5 minutes and serve.

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).