Persian Style Lamb With Almonds Recipes

MOROCCAN LAMB WITH APRICOTS, ALMONDS & MINT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Add the lamb and cook over a medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until evenly browned, stirring often. Remove the lamb to a plate, using a slotted spoon.
• Stir the onion and garlic into the casserole and cook gently for 5 minutes until softened. Return the lamb to the pot. Add the stock, zest and juice, cinnamon, honey and salt and pepper. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for 1 hour.
• Add the apricots and two-thirds of the mint and cook for 30 minutes until the lamb is tender. Stir in the ground almonds to thicken the sauce. Serve with the remaining mint and toasted almonds scattered over the top.

SLOW-ROAST PERSIAN LAMB WITH POMEGRANATE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. In a small bowl, mix the molasses with the cumin, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic. Scatter the onion over a casserole dish or a deep roasting tin. Place the lamb on top of the onions. Pour the glaze over the lamb. Rinse the bowl out with about 200ml water, then pour it around - not over - the lamb.
• Cover the dish with a lid or the tin with a large piece of foil. Roast the lamb, undisturbed, for 3 hrs, then remove the lid or foil and continue to roast for 30 mins to give the lamb colour. When the lamb has had its time, pour off the juices, remove as much fat as possible, then pour the juices back over the lamb.
• Just before serving, gently toss all the salad ingredients together. Serve the lamb with its sauce, the salad and some warmed flatbreads.

FLAVORFUL PERSIAN BRAISED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Rub 1 tablespoon olive oil over lamb shanks and cover with salt.
• Mix turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, cumin, and nutmeg together in a small bowl. Sprinkle over lamb shanks. Let lamb shanks marinate for 1 hour at room temperature.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot. Cook and stir onion until browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Whisk hot water, lime juice, rose water, and saffron together in a small bowl. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook lamb shanks in batches until browned, 5 to 8 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb shanks to a plate.
• Whisk wine into the pot, scraping any browned bits off the bottom. Add onion and garlic mixture, steeped saffron mixture, parsley, thyme, lime zest, and bay leaves. Return lamb shanks to the pot. Cover with chicken broth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until lamb shanks are tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Uncover pot and simmer until broth reduces slightly, about 20 minutes. Transfer lamb shanks to an oven-safe dish.
• Place lamb shanks in the preheated oven to keep warm.
• Bring broth to a boil; simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Spoon broth over lamb shanks.

PERSIAN ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment; set aside. Dissolve saffron in rose water; set aside. Fill a bowl with ice water; set aside.
• Place sugar, honey, and oil in a heavy medium saucepan over high heat, and stir constantly until sugar is melted.
• Stir in the almonds, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened and is golden, about 2 minutes.
• Add the saffron mixture, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is golden brown. Drop a spoonful of the mixture into the ice water. If it hardens immediately, the mixture is ready. Reduce heat to the lowest setting.
• Quickly drop mixture by tablespoons onto the paper, leaving a 1-inch space between. Sprinkle immediately with the chopped pistachios. Cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container.

ROYAL PERSIAN LAMB

Steps:

• Put the garlic, ginger and almonds and 6 tablespoons of water into the container of an electric blender. Blend until you have a paste.
• Put the oil in a wide, heavy, preferably non-stick pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, put in just enough meat pieces so they lie uncrowded in a single layer. Brown the meat pieces on all sides, then remove them with a slotted spoon and put them in a bowl. Brown all the meat this way.
• Put the cardamom, cloves and cinnamon into the hot oil. Within seconds, the cloves will expand. Now put in the onions. Stir and fry the onions until they turn a brownish color.
• Turn the heat down to medium. Put in the paste from the blender as well as the coriander, cumin and cayenne. Stir and fry this mixture for 3-4 minutes or until it too has browned somewhat.
• Now put in the meat cubes as well as any liquid that might have accumulated in the meat bowl, the salt, the cream and 120 ml of water. Bring to a boil. Cover and turn heat to low and simmer or cook in a preheated oven (180 C), for 1.5 hour until the meat is tender. Stir frequently during this cooking period. Skim off any fat that floats to the top. Sprinkle in the garam masala and mix.
• Note: The whole spices in this dish are not meant to be eaten.
• Persian Curries are served traditionally with flat bread only but we have found that it is perfect with rice or a delicate alternative would is freshly buttered cus cus.

PERSIAN-STYLE LAMB WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, in hot salad oil, cook slivered almonds, stirring until golden brown. Remove almonds to a plate.
• Over medium-high heat, in oil remaining in skillet, cook ground lamb and next 5 ingredients, stirring, until meat is browned, about 10 minutes.
• To lamb, add almonds, lime or lemon juice, and mint. Stir to blend well. Can serve now, or to make a nice presentation, line the platter with spinach leaves; spoon meat mixture onto spinach leaves and garnish with tomato wedges.