Lamb And Rice With Olives And Dried Cherries Recipes

LAMB AND RICE WITH OLIVES AND DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Combine rice and 1 cup of water in a heavy-bottom pot. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer, cooking for a total of 17 minutes.
• Chop the whole onion.
• Heat nonstick pan large enough to hold all the ingredients, until it is very hot. Add the oil, and reduce heat to medium high. Saute the onion until it softens and begins to brown.
• Meanwhile, trim the fat from the lamb, grind the lamb and mince the garlic. When onion is browning, add the lamb, breaking it up as it cooks. Add the garlic.
• Wash and trim the whole zucchini and pepper. Seed the pepper. Cut the zucchini into 1/2-inch cubes. Cut the pepper into narrow strips. When the lamb is browned, add zucchini and pepper. Saute a few minutes, until pepper begins to soften.
• Pit the olives, and cut coarsely. Stir in the tomato paste, cherries, olives, cumin and stock. Reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are tender and liquid has been absorbed but mixture is still moist. Season with salt and pepper, and serve over the rice.

RACK OF LAMB WITH DRIED CHERRY AND GREEN PEPPERCORN SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté 2 minutes. Mix in tomato paste. Add both broths; boil until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 25 minutes. Strain sauce into small saucepan. Add cherries, Port, brandy,1/2 teaspoon rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon marjoram; boil until reduced to 1 cup, about 15 minutes. Mix in peppercorns. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Sprinkle each rack of lamb with 4 1/2 teaspoons rosemary,4 1/2 teaspoons marjoram and 4 teaspoons parsley; press to adhere. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large skillet over high heat. Add 1 lamb rack; brown on all sides, about 6 minutes. Place lamb, meat side up, in baking pan. Repeat with second rack. Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center registers 130°F for medium-rare, about 18 minutes. Place lamb on carving board; let stand 10 minutes.
• Bring sauce to simmer. Cut lamb between bones. Serve lamb with sauce.

LAMB WITH RED WINE AND DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• If using a broiler, turn it on.
• Wash, dry and remove excess fat from the lamb. Cut into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Mash the garlic and combine with the wine in a bowl large enough to hold the lamb. Add the lamb, and turn it to coat it with wine. Allow the lamb to marinate until time to cook, or at least 10 minutes.
• If using a stove-top grill, prepare it. Remove the lamb from the marinade and broil or grill until it is brown on both sides and pink inside, 7 to 10 minutes total.
• Add the cherries to the wine marinade, and boil until it is reduced by half. When the lamb is cooked, stir it into wine mixture. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

LAMB WITH CHERRIES AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Chop whole onion.
• Heat large nonstick pan until very hot. Reduce heat to medium high; add oil, and cook onion until it begins to soften and brown.
• Meanwhile, clean, trim and slice mushrooms; add to onion as it cooks.
• Wash lamb and remove fat. Cut lamb into small cubes, add to onion and mushrooms as they cook, and stir to brown on all sides; remove from heat.
• Following package directions, bring water to boil for couscous.
• Coarsely grate ginger; finely grate lemon and orange rinds.
• Add grated ginger and rinds and couscous to boiling water; cover and remove from heat, and allow to sit until water is absorbed and couscous is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir the cherries, tomato paste and orange juice into the lamb; season with pepper; return to heat and cook through. Serve over couscous.

PASSOVER-INSPIRED BRAISED LAMB WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Season the meat with salt and pepper and put it in a pot that will fit it snugly and can later be covered. Add the spices and a 1/2 bottle of wine. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a slow bubble, and cover. Cook about an hour, then add onion, garlic, ginger and dried fruit, and check to make sure the liquid isn't evaporating too quickly; turn and continue to cook. Add the remaining red wine if the mixture looks dry, but essentially cook this without fuss.
• When the meat is very tender - after about 2 1/2 hours - uncover. Check and adjust the seasoning as necessary, garnish and serve.

MOROCCAN LAMB STEW WITH DRIED CHERRIES AND LEMON

Steps:

• Rehydrate the cherries in a bowl with about a cup of warmed stock. Let soak until needed.
• In a large, heavy saute pan, heat 2 T olive oil with 2 T butter over high heat. Season the lamb with salt and pepper and saute in batches, not overcrowding the pan, so all sides are browned. Transfer to a large saucepan or casserole. Continue this process until allo the lamb is well browned.
• Reheat the saute pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and saute the onions to translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the spices and cook until the aromas start to come up, 2-3 minutes. Deglaze with some of the stock and add this to the pan with the lamb. Add the remaining stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Add the rehydrated cherries with their soaking liquid and the preserved lemon (or lemon zest). Continue cooking for about 15-20 minutes more, or until the lamb is very tender. Add the honey and season to taste with additional salt and pepper.
• Serve over couscous, mixed with a few chopped Kalamata olives. Top with toasted sesame seeds and enjoy with a glass of Cabernet Franc.
• Notes:
• This dish has A LOT of butter. By mistake, I only used 2 T, in stead of ½ cup Next time, I wouldn't use any at all. There is enough olive oil & liquid from the lamb to sufficiently cook the lamb without the butter. This will cut calories by A LOT, too!
• I toasted the ground coriander in a frying pan until it was smoky & fragrant.
• I used beef broth, and lemon zest.