Lamb With Braised Lentils Recipes

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.

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.

SLOW ROASTED LAMB SHANKS WITH BRAISED LENTILS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F. Spread onions, celery, and carrots over bottom of large roasting pan. Rub thyme and mint over lamb shanks; sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Place lamb shanks atop vegetables. Drizzle 3 tablespoons oil over. Roast uncovered 30 minutes. Pour 1 cup chicken stock over lamb and vegetables in pan. Reduce oven temperature to 425°F. Continue to roast uncovered until lamb is very tender and almost falls off bones, adding 1 cup stock to pan every 30 minutes and turning and basting lamb occasionally, about 3 hours longer. Using tongs, transfer lamb shanks to bowl; cover to keep warm.
• Transfer vegetables and pan juices to large saucepan; skim fat from surface. Add remaining 1 cup stock, wine, juniper berries if desired, and bay leaf to saucepan. Simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors. Strain, pressing on solids to extract as much vegetable pulp and liquid as possible. Return strained liquid to same saucepan; bring to boil. Mix flour and butter to blend in small bowl. Add to saucepan; whisk until sauce thickens slightly and is reduced to 2 cups, about 2 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Spoon Braised Lentils onto 4 plates. Drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons oil over lentils. Top each serving with 1 lamb shank. Spoon sauce over lamb.
• Available in the spice section of most supermarkets.

BRAISED LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery and sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add lentils and stir 1 minute. Add stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until lentils are just tender, stirring occasionally, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

SLOW BRAISED LAMB WITH BACKYARD FARMS TOMATOES AND LENTILS

Steps:

• For the lamb, sear in a casserole dish in the olive oil until well browned.
• Remove the lamb and then add the onion, garlic, and tomatoes.
• Cook for a minute or two and add the lamb.
• Add the stock, red wine, bay leaves, olives, and thyme.
• Cover and cook in the oven at 350 degrees for two hours. The lamb should be almost falling off the bone.
• Meanwhile, fry the carrot, onion and celery with the olive oil for a few moments and then add the stock, tomatoes, bay leaves, and lentils.
• Simmer until the liquid has gone and the lentils are tender. Add a splash more oil and the lemon juice.
• Take the lamb out, reduce the stock for a moment and flake off some big chunks of lamb.
• Place a pile of lentil in a rustic dish and place the lamb on top. Spoon the sauce over and around and serve.
• Recipe provided by Seaport Hotel Culinary Team.

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.

BEER-BRAISED LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole dish over a high heat, add the lamb trimmings (if using) and cook until crisp. Remove using a slotted spoon and set aside. Keep the dish on the heat but reduce to the lowest setting, add the shallots and cook for 15 mins.
• Tip in the lentils and stir well to coat. Pour over the beer and let it bubble until almost all of it has evaporated. Return the crispy lamb trimmings to the dish (if using), add the stock and stir through the thyme. Simmer gently for 25 mins or until the lentils are just cooked. Pop on a lid and set aside, then reheat when the lamb is ready.