Spring Spinach And Lamb Ragout Recipes

LAMB RAGOUT WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Season lamb chunks generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with fennel seed and rub to distribute. Set aside for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for up to several hours, or overnight).
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven or similar heavy pot over medium-high heat. When hot, add lamb and brown on all sides, until meat is well caramelized, about 10 minutes. Work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding pan.
• Remove lamb, turn heat to medium and add onions (and a little oil if necessary) and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly colored, 5 to 8 minutes. Add garlic, bay leaf and thyme and cook for 1 minute, then stir in tomato paste. Sprinkle with flour and cook 2 minutes more. Add white wine and whisk well as mixture thickens. Whisk in broth and bring to a brisk simmer.
• Return meat to pot. Cover pot and bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes, until meat is tender when probed. Taste sauce and adjust seasoning. Keep warm, or cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight before proceeding with vegetables (which should be prepared right before serving).
• Prepare the vegetables: Remove fava beans from pod. Blanch 2 minutes in boiling water, then cool in ice water. Peel and discard outer gray skin from each bean. You should have about 1 1/2 cups. Set aside. (If using frozen lima beans or edamame, cook the thawed beans for 3 to 4 minutes in salted boiling water.)
• Bring a medium pot of fresh water to a boil and salt well. Add fennel and simmer until tender, about 2 minutes. Remove with spider and rinse with cold water to refresh. In the same pot, cook carrots until tender, about 4 minutes, then remove and refresh. Cook turnips for 3 minutes, then remove and refresh.
• Just before serving, melt butter in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add cooked fennel, carrots and turnips. Add scallions and stir to distribute. Season with salt and pepper. Add a splash of water and cook until scallions have softened, about 2 minutes. Add fava beans and heat through. Stir in lemon zest and parsley.
• Transfer meat and sauce to a large serving dish. Spoon vegetables around meat and garnish with fennel fronds.

ITALIAN SPRINGTIME LAMB

Steps:

• For the lamb: Remove the lamb from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
• Warm 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, rosemary, pepper flakes and walnuts. Toast until fragrant and beginning to brown. Add the chopped spinach and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and cook until wilted. Stir in the raisins.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the lamb out flat, fat-side down, on a board in front of you. If it is still very thick, gently pound it to an even, 1-inch thickness. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Spread evenly with the mustard; distribute the spinach mixture over the mustard. Starting from one side, roll up the lamb with the filling inside so that it maintains the shape of the leg. Tie with butcher's twine at 2-inch intervals. Season the outside with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Wipe out the saute pan and add the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Place the pan over high heat and allow it to get hot. Place the lamb in the pan and sear it on all sides until golden brown all over, about two minutes per side. Transfer the lamb to a rimmed baking sheet or a roasting pan and roast until the internal temperature registers 135 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove to a cutting board and rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
• While the lamb is roasting, prepare the gremolata: In a small saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the panko and cook, stirring regularly, until golden brown. Add the parsley, lemon zest, pepper flakes and salt. Toss and set aside to let the flavors mingle.
• Serve the sliced lamb with a sprinkling of the breadcrumb gremolata.

RAGOUT OF LAMB AND SPRING VEGETABLES WITH FARRO RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Steps:

• Tie together oregano, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves with kitchen twine. Heat ¼ cup oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high. Season lamb with salt and pepper. Working in batches, cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 12-15 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate as you go. Add onions to pot and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper and cook until starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook 30 seconds before adding vinegar. Cook, scraping up browned bits, until syrupy, about 1 minute. Add wine, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced by about one-fourth, about 4 minutes. Add broth, lamb, and herb bundle. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently, partially covered, until lamb is tender, 75-85 minutes. Stir in farro and cook until nearly al dente, 15-20 minutes. Remove herb bundle; add turnips. Cook until farro is cooked through, turnips are tender, and lamb is almost falling apart, 30-40 minutes. Mix in asparagus and peas; cook until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Add greens and stir to wilt. Season with salt and pepper. Serve drizzled with oil.

RAGOUT OF LAMB AND SPRING VEGETABLES WITH FARRO

Steps:

• Tie together oregano, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves with kitchen twine.
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high. Season lamb with salt and pepper. Working in batches, cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 12-15 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate as you go.
• Add onions to pot and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper and cook until starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook 30 seconds before adding vinegar. Cook, scraping up browned bits, until syrupy, about 1 minute.
• Add wine, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced by about one-fourth, about 4 minutes. Add broth, lamb, and herb bundle. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently, partially covered, until lamb is tender, 75-85 minutes.
• Stir in farro and cook until nearly al dente, 15-20 minutes. Remove herb bundle; add turnips. Cook until farro is cooked through, turnips are tender, and lamb is almost falling apart, 30-40 minutes. Mix in asparagus and peas; cook until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Add greens and stir to wilt. Season with salt and pepper. Serve drizzled with oil.

SPRING RAGOUT WITH ASPARAGUS AND POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, preferably enameled cast iron, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium. Add onion, garlic, jalapeno, and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Add tomatillos and cook, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to soften, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a blender; let cool slightly. Add 2 cups spinach, cilantro stems, and 1/2 cup water; season with salt and pepper. Blend until pureed, adding up to 1/2 cup more water if needed. Season with salt and pepper.
• Wipe skillet clean; return to medium heat. Swirl in remaining 1/4 cup oil, add spices, and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add scallions, season with salt, and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in chickpeas, tomatillo mixture, asparagus, and remaining 2 cups spinach. Nestle in poached eggs; cover and cook until eggs are heated through and asparagus is bright-green and crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drizzle with oil and top with cilantro leaves; serve.

LAMB WITH SPINACH SAUCE (SAAG GOSHT)

Steps:

• Heat a heavy non-stick pan over high heat. Add the lamb and 3 tablespoons of oil. Sear the meat, turning and tossing, until nicely browned all over. Transfer meat to a plate. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and the onion to the pan and cook, stirring often, until the onions are browned, about 15 minutes. Stir in the ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, red pepper, paprika, and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes. Add the tomato puree, meat, salt, and enough water to fully cover the meat, about 1 1/2 cups. Bring contents to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is cooked and very tender. Fold in the spinach and garam marsala. Serve sprinkled with cilantro.

SPRING SPINACH AND LAMB RAGOUT

Steps:

• Remove any thick spinach stems and cut the larger leaves into smaller pieces. In a wide bowl, toss the leaves with 2 teaspoons of the salt and let stand for 1 hour. Meanwhile, line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth; add the yogurt and drain over a bowl for 1 hour to thicken.
• While the yogurt is draining and thickening, warm 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet and brown the lamb well on each side. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; add boiling water and scrape the bottom of the pan well. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and cook the lamb for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until it is very tender and about 2 cups of cooking juice remain. Remove the lamb from the juice and let it cool. Use a sharp knife to remove the bones and fat from the lamb and cut the meat into bite-size pieces. Skim the grease off the remaining cooking juices and set juices aside. Wipe the skillet with a paper towel.
• Gently squeeze spinach to remove as much water as possible. In the skillet, heat remaining olive oil over medium heat. Add scallions and saute until they wilt. Stir in paprika, tomato paste and reserved cooking juice and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the meat and spinach and continue cooking for about 10 minutes. Add salt to taste. Put on serving platter and top with remaining freshly ground black pepper. Serve with the drained, thickened yogurt and rice.

ROASTED RACK OF LAMB WITH SPRING SUCCOTASH AND WILTED SPINACH

Steps:

• Prep potatoes:
• Bring medium saucepan water to boil. Reduce heat to moderate, add potato chunks and simmer, uncovered, until tender but not falling apart, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain potatoes and let cool to room temperature.
• Marinate lamb:
• In large sealable plastic bag, combine olive oil, garlic, parsley, and thyme. Add racks of lamb and seal bag, pressing out air. Turn bag to coat lamb, then transfer to shallow baking pan and refrigerate, turning bag over occasionally, at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Thirty minutes before roasting, remove lamb from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature.
• Remove lamb from marinade, discarding marinade. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and transfer to rack set in large roasting pan. Roast until thermometer inserted 2 inches into thickest part of lamb (do not touch bone) registers 130°F (for medium rare), approximately 25 minutes. Transfer to carving board, tent with foil, and let stand 10 minutes.
• While lamb is roasting, make succotash and spinach:
• In medium skillet over moderately high heat, heat canola oil until hot but not smoking. Add potatoes and sauté just until starting to brown, about 8 minutes. Add corn and celery and sauté until aromatic, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and parsley and sauté 1 minute. Add black-eyed peas and wine and bring to simmer, then reduce heat to moderate and continue simmering, uncovered, until liquid is reduced by half and mixture is slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add broth, raise heat to moderately high, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to moderate and simmer, uncovered, until liquid is reduced by half and mixture is slightly thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Keep warm.
• In large, wide skillet over moderate heat, heat olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add spinach all at once and sauté, stirring occasionally, until just wilted, about 4 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl, sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, and toss to coat. Keep warm.
• Plate and serve:
• Divide succotash evenly between 8 bowls and top each portion with small mound of spinach. Carve lamb into chops and place 4 chops on each serving. Serve immediately.