Greek Yogurt Honey Braised Lamb Recipes

LAMB BAKED IN YOGURT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large, wide pan over medium-high heat and brown the lamb pieces, turning to color evenly. Add the scallions and stir until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook for a few minutes to soften. Add the rice and pour in the wine and water. As soon as the rice has absorbed most of the liquid, season the contents of the pot with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
• Whisk the eggs until creamy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt and flour. Whisk the yogurt mixture into the eggs and stir in the chopped mint. Season lightly with a little salt.
• Place the lamb mixture in a clay or ovenproof glass or ceramic baking dish about 3 inches/7.5 cm deep. Spread the yogurt mixture evenly over the meat. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes until the yogurt is set and lightly browned on top and then cover and cook for another 45 minutes until the lamb tender. Ten minutes before removing from oven, sprinkle, if desired, with grated kefalotyri cheese.

GREEK LAMB WITH YOGURT MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the garlic, rosemary, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until the herbs are finely minced. Add the lemon juice, olive oil, and red wine and combine. Place the chops in a glass or ceramic dish just large enough to hold them in a single layer. Pour the marinade over the chops, turning to coat both sides. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.
• When ready to cook, prepare a grill with one layer of hot coals or turn a gas grill to medium-high heat. Remove the lamb from the marinade, sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, and grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Remove to a platter, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and set aside to rest for 10 minutes. Serve hot with the cold Yogurt Mint Sauce.
• Place the scallions, mint, dill, red pepper flakes, olive oil, and lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and puree until it's a coarse paste. Add the yogurt, salt, and pepper and pulse until combined. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to develop.

GREEK YOGURT-HONEY BRAISED LAMB

Steps:

• Combine the lamb meat with the sea salt and Greek oregano, allow to rest, covered at room temperature, for one hour.
• Add all the remaining ingredients except the water or stock and combine well.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
• Add the liquid and bake in a covered casserole at 350°F for approximately 2 1/2 - 3 hours.
• Remove and serve.

SPICED MARINATED LAMB CHOPS WITH GARLICKY YOGURT

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, lemon juice, and garlic in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Transfer 1/2 cup yogurt mixture to a small bowl and set aside for serving. Stir cumin, coriander, turmeric, and allspice into remaining yogurt mixture.
• Season lamb chops with salt and pepper. Using your hands, evenly coat all sides of chops with spiced yogurt mixture (avoiding the bone if they are frenched). Let chops sit at room temperature 30 minutes, or cover and chill up to 12 hours.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Wipe off excess marinade from lamb chops and cook half until nicely browned, about 3 minutes per side (the yogurt in the marinade will help them take on color quickly). Remove chops from skillet and pour off fat (no need to wipe it out). Repeat with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil and remaining chops.
• Serve lamb chops with reserved yogurt mixture alongside.

CRISP LAMB WITH YOGURT AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Using a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic and salt into a paste. Gradually mix in the olive oil. Stir in the herbs and pepper.
• Fit the lamb into a roasting pan big enough to contain it. Smear it thoroughly with the paste, and place it ribs-side down in pan. Cover tightly with foil, and roast until it reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees, 2 to 3 hours, depending on size of breast. Meat should be wobbly but not falling apart. Allow to cool, then cover and rest in the refrigerator overnight.
• The next day, prepare the sauce. Whisk 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the yogurt. Then the lemon juice. Stir in mint, lemon zest and salt. Before serving, drizzle sauce with remaining tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with pepper and a pinch of paprika to taste.
• Light your grill, or place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the breast and ribs away from the bone that runs lengthwise between them. Cut the breast into half-inch slices that resemble thick-cut bacon, and separate the ribs. Reserve fat from the roasting pan. Cook a few pieces of lamb at a time on fairly high heat, until browned and crispy on both sides, approximately 4 to 6 minutes.
• Brush the onions with some of the lamb fat. Place them on the grill or on a pan under a preheated broiler. Cook them, turning once or twice, until flimsy and slightly charred. Remove them to a large bowl and dress with the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

GREEK BRAISED LAMB WITH GREEN BEANS AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium high heat.
• Add the diced lamb and cook until the meat is browned.
• Stir in the trimmed beans and onion. Cook for approx 10 minutes, stirring occassionally.
• Stir in the passata sauce, water, salt and pepper to taste and the chopped mint.
• Reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 3/4 hour to one hour -- until the meat is cooked through and the beans are tender.
• Check the liquid content of the dish at the 30 minute mark and if there seems to be too much liquid, simmer uncovered for the remaining cooking time.

BRAISED LAMB WITH HONEY AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Put oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until quite soft, about 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and raise heat to medium-high. Add lamb chunks and adjust heat so pieces brown rapidly without burning. Season meat with salt and pepper as it browns.
• Turn off heat and wait for pan to cool a bit; pour off excess fat. Turn heat back to medium and add honey; cook, stirring, until honey has thinned and coated lamb. Stir in garlic, then add spices, reserved onions and the stock. Cover and simmer until meat is tender, an hour or more.
• Meanwhile, put almonds in a skillet, in one layer. Cook over medium heat, shaking skillet, until lightly browned and fragrant.
• Taste meat mixture and adjust seasoning as necessary. Stir in almonds and serve, sprinkled with a few drops of lemon juice and garnished with the parsley