Lamb Stew With Parsnips And Figs Recipes

SPRING LAMB STEW

Steps:

• For me, small carrots and parsnips symbolize the beginning of the spring season. This stew recipe celebrates that for me.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Heat a Dutch oven over high heat and add the oil. Season the pieces of lamb on all sides with salt and pepper. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, use a pair of metal tongs to arrange the lamb, in a single layer, in the hot oil. Brown the meat on all sides. Remove the meat and transfer it to a medium bowl. Stir in the onions, garlic, and brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the parsnips and carrots and cook until they become slightly tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the vermouth, bay leaves, mustard, browned meat, lamb bones, and stock. Stir to combine and put the pot in the center of the oven, uncovered. Cook until the meat is tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Just before serving, put a large cast iron pan over medium-high heat and coat it with olive oil. Once heated, add the remaining garlic cloves and the sliced bread and toast on both sides. Remove the toast from the pan and set aside.
• Remove the stew from the oven and use a large spoon to skim any excess fat or impurities form the surface of the sauce and remove the bones. Taste for seasoning. Stir in the mustard greens and peas, if desired. Serve immediately with toast.

LAMB AND WINTER VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan, and brown the lamb meat on all sides. Drain fat, and stir in the beef broth and wine. Season with garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 minutes.
• Mix in the squash, parsnips, sweet potatoes, celery, and onion. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
• In a small bowl, blend the sour cream and flour. Gradually stir in 1/2 cup of the hot stew mixture.
• Stir the sour cream mixture into the saucepan. Remove the bay leaf, and continue to cook and stir until thickened.

LAMB STEW WITH TURNIPS AND SWEDES

Steps:

• Cut the shoulder meat into 1 1/4-inch cubes and trim off the large chunks of fat. Place the fat in a heavy pan or Dutch oven over medium low heat and cook until the fat runs out, about 5 minutes. Discard any solid bits of fat that remain.
• Season the meat with salt and pepper and add to the hot fat. Brown meat on all sides, working in batches if necessary, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer browned meat to a casserole. Add the onions, leeks, swedes, and turnips to the pot, season with salt and pepper, and brown lightly in the fat. Add the vegetables to the casserole. Pour the stock into the pan, bring to a boil, and stir to dissolve the caramelized bits. Pour into the casserole. Lay the potatoes over the vegetables in the casserole, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil over the stove.
• Cover the casserole, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the lamb is tender and vegetables are cooked, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• When stew is cooked, pour off cooking liquid into a clean saucepan. Skim off any excess fat and bring liquid to a simmer. In another saucepan, make a roux by melting the butter, then whisking in the flour until it forms a smooth paste. Cook roux over low heat for 2 minutes. Add roux to cooking liquid, whisking until thickened slightly. Add parsley and chives, taste for seasoning, and pour back over casserole. Bring casserole back up to a simmer and serve immediately.

MIDDLE EASTERN SLOW-COOKED STEW WITH LAMB, CHICKPEAS, AND FIGS

Steps:

• Let the oil get heating in a large pot over medium-high heat; also coat pan with cooking spray.
• Add in half the cubed lamb; stir/saute 8 minutes or until browned; remove from pan.
• Repeat procedure with remaining lamb.
• Return first batch of lamb back to pot so that all the lamb is now in the pot.
• Add in onion, 1/4 cup water, and garlic; cook 4 1/2 minutes or until lightly browned, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
• Add in cumin and the next 6 ingredients; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
• Stir in broth and 1 1/2 cups water; bring to a boil.
• Cover, lower heat, and simmer 1 hour.
• Stir in chickpeas and the next 3 ingredients; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until the carrots are done.
• Stir in mint and salt.
• This dish is best when made ahead of time and refrigerated up to 2 days to allow the flavors to meld.
• May reheat in a slow-cooker or on the stove-top if desired.

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.

LAMB STEW WITH LEMON AND FIGS

Steps:

• Set strainer lined with double layer of cheesecloth over medium bowl.
• Place yogurt in strainer; cover and chill 3 to 5 hours to drain.
• Transfer yogurt to small bowl.
• Stir in mint; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill.).
• Place 1/2 cup warm water and saffron in small bowl; let stand at least 20 minutes to infuse.
• Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
• Working in batches, cook lamb until brown on all sides, adding more oil as needed, about 5 minutes per batch.
• Transfer lamb to large bowl.
• Pour all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot (or add 1 tablespoon oil if dry); heat pot over medium heat.
• Add onions; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add lemon, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne.
• Stir 1 minute.
• Add saffron mixture; stir, scraping up browned bits.
• Add tomatoes with juice, figs, and lamb with any juices to pot.
• Stir to coat.
• Add 2 1/2 cups broth.
• Bring stew to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, then cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer until meat is tender, stirring occasionally and adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls as needed if dry, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper (Can be made 2 days ahead.
• Cool slightly.
• Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and chill, skim off any fat.).
• Bring stew to simmer, thinning with more chicken broth if necessary.
• Divide stew among 6 plates; top each serving with dollop of minted yogurt.