French Lamb Stew Recipe Copykat

LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Heat a large Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Pour in enough oil to fill the pan about 1/4-inch deep. Spread flour out on a plate or piece of waxed paper. Season half the lamb with 1 teaspoon of the salt and some pepper. Dredge in the flour and shake off the excess. Cook, uncovered, stirring only occasionally, until well browned, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the lamb to a plate. Repeat with the remaining lamb. Discard the oil and wipe out the pan.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Return the pot to the stove and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Return the lamb to the pot and add the water or broth, and bring to a simmer. Using a piece of kitchen twine, tie together the parsley, thyme, and bay leaves and add the bundle to the pot. Stir in the remaining 2 teaspoons salt and pepper. Cover and transfer to the oven. Stew the meat until tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove the Dutch oven from the oven. Skim the fat from the cooking liquid with a ladle. Add the potatoes, carrots, celery, and the tomatoes, and bring to a simmer. Cook the stew, uncovered, on top of the stove until the liquid has thickened and the vegetables are tender, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the herb bundle. Stir in the vinegar. Divide among bowls and serve immediately.

SPRING LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large Dutch oven over high heat. Season lamb with salt and pepper. Add lamb to pot and sauté until brown, about 5 minutes. Add flour and stir 2 minutes. Add onions, potatoes, carrots, bay leaves and thyme and stir 2 minutes. Add broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until lamb and vegetables are almost tender, about 1 hour.
• Uncover stew and simmer until gravy thickens and lamb and vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes longer. Add parsley. Season stew to taste with salt and pepper.

LAMB STEW FROM SOUTHERN FRANCE

Steps:

• Slice the lamb meat off the bone and cube. Using a mallet, crack the bone in a few places and set aside.
• Whisk together the rice flour, salt, pepper and mustard powder in a dish and dredge the cubed meat.
• Heat 3 tbsp of the oil in a heavy Dutch oven and fry meat in batches until well browned. Remove to a plate.
• Add the remaining oil to the pot and stir in the onions, minced garlic, carrots and celery.
• Cook for 5 minutes over medium flame.
• Add all the spices and continue to cook for a couple of minutes, until fragrant.
• Add the lamb back to the pot, add the bone and pour in the wine and chicken broth.
• Stir in the tomato paste, thyme sprigs, lemon zest, halved garlic cloves and fruit.
• Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Cover the pan with a lid and cook over a gentle heat for 2 hours, or until the lamb is tender.
• Remove the bone and cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes longer.
• Serve over brown rice, Israeli couscous or your favourite ancient grain.

IRISH-STYLE LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Layer the lamb meat, onion, potatoes, carrot and celery in an oven proof pot or casserole dish. Season each layer with parsley, salt and pepper as you go. Pour in the beef stock and cover tightly.
• Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the preheated oven, until vegetables and meat are very tender. Divide into bowls and garnish with additional parsley.