Sauteed Sicilian Lamb Recipes

SICILIAN LAMB SPEZZATINO WITH SAFFRON AND MINT

Steps:

• Season chops generously with salt and pepper. Put olive oil in a wide deep skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly brown lamb on both sides, then remove and set aside. Lower heat to medium, add onion to pan and season with salt. Cook, stirring, until softened and lightly colored, about 5 minutes.
• Stir garlic, saffron and tomato paste into onions and cook 1 minute. Add wine and simmer for 2 minutes, then return lamb to skillet. Add 4 cups water, just to cover meat, and bring to a boil. Put on lid, turn heat to low and simmer gently for about 45 minutes, until quite tender.
• Remove lid and raise heat to a rapid simmer. Simmer until juices have reduced by nearly half and sauce has thickened somewhat (may be prepared ahead to this point). Taste and adjust seasoning. Just before serving, reheat and stir in chopped mint.

GARLICKY LAMB CUTLETS WITH SICILIAN-STYLE GREENS

Steps:

• Use a small sharp knife to poke a few holes in each lamb cutlet, then push in slivers of garlic and rosemary leaves. Rub all over with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and leave to marinate for up to a day in the fridge, or at room temperature for 30 mins.
• Put the remaining oil, the shallots and 1 rosemary sprig in a big frying pan. Gently cook until the shallots are very soft and golden. Remove the rosemary sprig and discard, then add the sugar, sherry vinegar and sultanas. Cook for another few mins to plump up the fruit, then stir in the pine nuts and set aside.
• Heat a big pan of water until boiling, then add the asparagus and broad beans for 1 1/2 mins. Tip in the peas, count to 10, then drain everything. Halve the asparagus spears lengthways.
• Heat the grill or a griddle pan and season the lamb. Warm up the shallot mixture, then tip in all the cooked veg, plus the spinach with some seasoning. Stir together and gently warm through while you grill or griddle the lamb for 1-2 mins each side or until cooked to your liking. Serve with the veg.

EASTER LAMB FROM SICILY

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy casserole, add the onion and saute until it is translucent. Stir in the lamb and add the stock, using enough to cover the lamb. Bring to a simmer; cover and cook over medium-low heat until the lamb is tender, about 45 minutes.
• Remove the lamb from the broth. Strain the broth and remove as much of the fat as possible. You can do this by starting the preparation the night before and refrigerating the lamb, covered, overnight and also refrigerating the stock. When the stock has chilled sufficiently, the fat can be lifted off and discarded.
• Shortly before serving, measure the stock. You should have about two cups. Add a little water if there is less. If there is more you should plan to increase the amount of potato starch proportionately.
• Slowly beat some of the cream into the potato starch, beating to blend the cream and the starch together. When the starch is liquefied stir in any remaining cream.
• Bring the stock to a simmer in a casserole. Whisk the egg yolks and lemon juice together in a bowl. With the stock barely simmering, slowly whisk in the egg-yolk mixture. Then slowly beat the cream mixture into the stock mixture. Cook slowly, about five minutes, until the stock thickens and becomes sauce, then return the lamb to the sauce. When the lamb has been sufficiently reheated, season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer the stew to a warm serving dish, sprinkle with the mint, then serve.

SICILIAN LAMB PATTIES BRAISED WITH EGGPLANT, PEPPERS, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• For lamb patties:
• Combine breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup water in small bowl. Soak 5 minutes. Squeeze all water from crumbs. Place crumbs in large bowl. Add lamb and remaining ingredients; mix gently to combine. Shape into 12 oval patties, each about 2 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch thick.
• For eggplant mixture:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine cubed eggplant and 4 tablespoons oil in large bowl and toss to coat. Spread eggplant out on rimmed baking sheet; sprinkle with coarse kosher salt and pepper. Bake 12 minutes. Turn eggplant over and bake until soft, about 12 minutes longer.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add lamb patties and sauté until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer lamb patties to plate. Add bell pepper strips to drippings in skillet; sauté until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Transfer bell pepper to plate with lamb.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and chopped onion to same skillet. Cover and cook until onion is soft, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add wine and garlic. Cook, scraping up browned bits, until wine is reduced to glaze, about 7 minutes. Return lamb and bell pepper to skillet; add eggplant, tomatoes, and marjoram. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until lamb is cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 12 minutes. If sauce is thin, simmer uncovered until thickened to desired consistency. Season sauce to taste with coarse salt and pepper.
• Polenta:
• Bring 4 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to boil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until polenta is very thick, whisking often, about 20 minutes.
• Spoon polenta into shallow bowls. Top with lamb and vegetables. Sprinkle with pecorino cheese.
• Sold at some supermarkets and at natural foods stores and Italian markets. If unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal and cook about half as long.

SICILIAN SPINACH SAUTé

Steps:

• Combine spinach and 1/4 cup water in heavy large pot over high heat. Toss until spinach wilts but is still bright green, about 3 minutes. Transfer spinach to colander; press to release excess liquid.
• Heat oil in same pot over medium heat. Add garlic; stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add currants and capers and stir 1 minute. Mix in spinach, then cheese and toss until heated through, about 1 minute. Season spinach to taste with salt and pepper and serve.