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Something to do with a lamb breast joint, I'm thinking Morrocan but don't like apricots...

11 replies

HohohoBumperlicious · 03/01/2010 15:21

Anyone got any ideas? I was thinking morrocan lamb, but does it have to have apricots in it? I hate apricots. Anything of a similar ilk that I could make with couscous?

OP posts:
WilfSell · 03/01/2010 15:30

My dad does a thing with a large leg of lamb, involving encrusting it with a paste of moroccan/north african spices (cumin,cinnamon, turmeric I think) and cooking it very slowly on a low heat - like all day cooking...)

I don't have a precise recipe but sure you could google something similar and it is delicious!

No apricots anywhere.

Or you can do a spiced stew with harissa paste, butternut squash, tomatoes and potatoes. That is lovely with couscous

HohohoBumperlicious · 03/01/2010 18:07

Thanks wilf, have got squash from my allotment still so will stick that with it.

I might try your dad's idea, though I would like something a bit saucy.

OP posts:
slim22 · 04/01/2010 12:14

is it a joint to roast or a shank to slow cook?

BEAUTlFUL · 04/01/2010 12:29

This is from my Slow Cooking book and slow cooks for 7-10 hours, but you could just cook it in a normal oven for much less time (approx) and it'd still be delish.

Middle Eastern Lamb (serve with Cous Cous)

2lb 4oz (1kg) lean pieces of stewing lamb on the bone
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp plain flour
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp tumeric
salt & pepper
3/4 pint lamb or chicken stock
2oz red lentils
1oz raisins
1oz dates, chopped
1 tbsp lemon juice

Brown the lamb in a frying pan on all sides and transfer to the slow cooker/casserole dish.

Fry onion with the lamb juices in the frying pan until lightly browned.

Stir in the flour, salt, pepper and spices.

Remove from heat and gradually add the hot stock, then stir continuously over a medium heat till it thickens.

Add remaining ingredients and bring to the boil, then pour over the lamb. Put the Slow Cooker's lid on and cook on LOW for 7-10 hours (or in normal oven for... er, google it

GleeE4 · 04/01/2010 12:30

i hate apricots too

HohohoBumperlicious · 04/01/2010 17:54

'is it a joint to roast or a shank to slow cook?'

Ummmm, I don't know. I think the little sainsbo (value) tag line says it likes to be slow cooked.

Beautiful that sounds nice, but do you think it would be ok to leave the lentils out as I don't like them either? (I know, fussy!)

OP posts:
BEAUTlFUL · 04/01/2010 20:03

Of course you can leave out the lentils! I'm not keen on them either, but they'd be almost unnoticeable, except to soak up stock and add a bit of thickness. Maybe add a bit less stock if you leave them out, because they'd soak up a lot of it. So only use 1/2 pint, not 3/4.

slim22 · 05/01/2010 04:17

Thereare 2 basic recipes for moroccan lamb tagine ( the third one is for sweet tagines so will leave that out)

1)This is with a syrupy yellow sauce, lemony and salty:

Lamb
3 grated onions
3 crushed garlic cloves
1tsp ginger powder
1/2 tsp tumeric
good pinch of saffron threads
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

Mix everything in a dutch oven and fry gently on the hob.
Cover with water, bring to a boil then reduce to gentle simmer.
You can cook it on the hob simmering gently for 3 hours, but I prefer to cook in the oven as a casserole ( 3 hours at 180 degrees)

We generally add vegetables to a tagine so you can add any of the traditional combinations below:

  • potatoes and peas or artichoke hearts and peas
  • carrots and green olives

Root veg are added 1 hour before end of cooking, peas about 20mn.

Always finish with a dash of lemon juice and a handful of fresh chopped coriander ( about 10 mn before end cooking time) and half a chopped preserved lemon if you can find it.

2)This is with a more hearty brown gravy

Lamb
3 sliced onions
3 crushed garlic cloves
1tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp paprika
3 tbsp olive oil
3 sliced tomatoes
salt and pepper

Mix everything but the tomatoes in a dutch oven and fry gently on the hob.
Cover with water, bring to a boil then reduce to gentle simmer.
You can cook it on the hob simmering gently for 3 hours, but I prefer to cook in the oven as a casserole ( 3 hours at 180 degrees)

After 1 hour add sliced tomatoes on top and continue cooking.

Should look like an osso bucco.

No added veggie here.
Eat with crusty bread or couscous if you like.

WilfSell · 05/01/2010 11:53

I love the casually added 'should look like an osso bucco'.

Like we all have that all the time...

What is an osso bucco btw?

slim22 · 05/01/2010 14:46

sorry would have thought italian stews to be more familiar than moroccan tagines.

And who said the face of england wasn't changing

here

and you better try it too....with the gremolata of course

lilolilmanchester · 05/01/2010 18:24

slim, they sound lovely and are making my mouth water!
hohoho I went off apricots in tagines when we were "entertained" with one which had more apricots than lamb and totally put me off! Dates make a good replacement. And actually, you could just leave the fruit out of the recipe anway (or "fish" them out before serving, I do think they add a nice syrup to the sauce)

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