Greek Easter Lamb Soup With Egg Lemon Sauce Recipes

EASTER LAMB SOUP

Steps:

• Wash the lamb head and neck thoroughly and place in a pot with the onions. Cover with cold water, season with salt, and simmer for about 1 hour, skimming the surface several times.
• Cut the intestines into several pieces and wash thoroughly under running water. If you like, slice them open so you can wash them more easily. In a separate pan, bring some salted water to a boil and add the intestines. Blanch for 2 minutes, then remove with a skimmer and discard the water. Chop the intestines finely. You don't need more than 1 cup of chopped intestines.
• The head and neck are done when the meat falls from the bones. Remove them from the pot. Using a sharp knife, cut open the head and separate the meat from the bones. Remove the meat from the neck and cut all the meat into small pieces. Strain the stock and discard the onions. Let the stock cool and remove the fat. (Up to this point, the preparations can be made a day ahead. You can refrigerate the meat and the stock, making it easier to skim off the fat.)
• To finish the soup, wash the liver well and cut it into small cubes. In a skillet, heat the olive oil and sauté the liver with the scallions and chili pepper, if using. Add the finely chopped meat and intestines, together with 1 cup of the dill, and turn a few times with a wooden spoon. Transfer the mixture to a pot and add the stock plus an equal amount of water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes. Taste and add more pepper and salt if needed.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl with about 2 spoonfuls of water and the juice of 1 lemon. Slowly add cupfuls of the hot soup to the bowl, beating continuously with the whisk. When the egg mixture is very hot, pour it slowly into the pot, stirring well, over very low heat, to prevent curdling. Taste and add more lemon juice if needed. Sprinkle with the rest of the dill, and serve immediately.
• NOTE: Some people add 1/2 to 1 cup short-grain rice to the soup.
• If you hate the taste of boiled lamb, you can make an equally tasty magiritsa with chicken livers and chicken stock. There is even a meatless magiritsa. Sauté the scallions and dill, adding a few chopped leaves of romaine lettuce. Pour in water or stock and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Make the egg and lemon mixture as described above and serve.

GREEK LAMB STEW WITH EGG AND LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• In a casserole combine the lamb with enough water to cover, bring to a boil, skimming, and simmer 5 minutes. Drain.
• In a casserole set over moderate heat, heat oil until hot. Add onion, celery and carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until vegetables are softened. Add stock, water, cheesecloth bag, marjoram, reserved lamb and salt to taste. Bring liquid to a boil and simmer, partially covered, for 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer lamb to a platter and strain cooking liquid. Return lamb and cooking liquid to casserole, bring liquid to a boil and add artichokes. Simmer, partially covered, 20 to 25 minutes, or until lamb and artichokes are tender.
• In a bowl whisk eggs until thick and light. Whisk in lemon juice and 1 cup of hot stock, a little at a time. Add egg mixture to casserole and simmer over moderately low heat, stirring, until lightly thickened. Do not boil. Before serving stir in fresh dill.

GREEK EASTER LAMB SOUP WITH EGG LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim the lamb of most of the fat. Cut lamb into bite-sized pieces. If the bone is too thick to cut through, cut all the meat off, but save the bone.
• Add olive oil to a large pot on medium heat. Add lamb and bone(s) and saute for 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Add green onions and saute for another 3 minutes.
• Add 5 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then immediately lower to a simmer. Simmer covered for 30 minutes.
• Add lettuce, dill, salt, and pepper. Simmer for one hour.
• In a bowl, whisk together eggs and lemon juice.
• While whisking, ladle 2 ladlefuls of broth from the soup very slowly into the egg-lemon mixture. Make sure to keep whisking the whole time. You're trying to bring the temperature of the eggs up.
• Turn off the stove and remove the pot from the heat. Pour in the egg-lemon sauce and stir the soup immediately.
• It is important to not cover the soup, as the eggs may solidify.