Middle Eastern Lamb And Spinach Soup 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.

MIDDLE EASTERN SPINACH WITH SPICES AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat a small dry skillet over medium heat and add the clove, allspice berries, and coriander seeds or cumin seeds. Heat, shaking the pan, until the spices begin to smell toasty, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool for a few minutes, then grind in a spice mill. Add the cinnamon, and set aside.
• In a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic with 1/4 teaspoon salt to a paste, and stir into the yogurt. Set aside.
• Place the baby spinach in a bowl and pour on boiling water to cover. Let sit for a couple of minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water, squeeze out excess water, and chop coarsely.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet and add the pine nuts. Cook, stirring, until they begin color (2 to 3 minutes), then remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the spices to the oil. When they begin to sizzle, cook for about 30 seconds and add the spinach, toasted pine nuts, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until the spinach is heated through and coated with the oil and spices, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and spoon the yogurt over the top. This is very nice served with Arabic bread.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pan, saute the chopped onion in 2 Tbs oil until golden.
• Add the turmeric, split peas and 5 cups water; bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes.
• Combine the lamb and grated onion. Shape into walnut-sized balls with your hands.
• Add meatballs to the pan and simmer 10 minutes.
• Add the spinach, cover and simmer 20 more minutes.
• Mix rice flour with 1 cup cold water to make a smooth paste. Slowly add the paste to the pan, stirring constantly.
• Add the lemon juice, salt and pepper and cook over low heat 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, saute the garlic in 1 Tbsp oil in a small skillet until golden. Stir in mint and remove from heat.
• Remove the soup from the heat and stir a little bit into the beaten eggs, then stir the eggs back into the soup.
• Sprinkle the garlic and mint over the top of soup before serving. Serve hot.

LAMB, SPINACH, AND COUSCOUS SOUP

Steps:

• In a heavy kettle heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it brown the lamb necks. Add the onion and the garlic and cook the mixture, stirring, for 10 minutes, or until the onion is golden. Add the water, the broth, the wine, the parsley, and the carrot, bring the liquid to a boil, skimming the froth, and simmer the mixture, uncovered, for 2 hours. Transfer the lamb necks with tongs to a cutting board, discard the fat and bones, and chop the meat coarse. Add the meat to the kettle with the mint, the rosemary, and the spinach, bring the liquid to a boil, and add the couscous. Boil the soup, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the couscous is tender, and season it with salt and pepper.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB SALAD WITH SPINACH & FETA (LOW CARB)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Rub the lamb all over with the oil and then with the seasonings.
• Grill the lamb until medium-rare, turning once (internal temp 135F; about 40 minutes on an outdoor grill).
• On a baking sheet, toast the pecans in preheated oven for about 10 minutes.
• In a bowl, cobine the remaining ingredients and toss to mix.
• Sprinkle the pecans over the top of the tossed salad.
• Slice the lamb thin when it finishes cooking, then serve the salad with the grilled lamb on top.