Lamb And Squash Recipes

LAMB STEW WITH CHICKPEAS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Combine the spices and salt in a bowl. In a large bowl, stir together 1/4 cup flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the spice mixture, add the lamb and coat well. Heat 3 teaspoons of oil in a large pot. Add lamb a few pieces at a time; don't overcrowd. Turn the pieces until lamb is browned on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch; add a teaspoon of oil as needed between batches.
• Remove the lamb and set aside. Add the remaining teaspoon of oil and the onion to the pot. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 15 seconds. Stir in the lamb and remaining spice mixture. Stir in the chicken broth and bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Cover and cook until the lamb is tender, about 1 hour. Stir in the squash and chickpeas and cook, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Stir 3 tablespoons of the cooking liquid into 2 tablespoons of flour to make a smooth paste. Stir the paste into the stew and cook until the broth thickens and the squash is tender, about 10 minutes longer. Add salt and pepper to taste. Divide among 4 bowls, garnish with cilantro and serve.

LAMB STEW WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Season lamb with salt.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook and stir 1/2 the lamb cubes in hot oil until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer browned meat with a slotted spoon to a plate, reserving drippings in the pot. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the Dutch oven. Cook and stir second 1/2 the lamb cubes until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer lamb to plate. Reduce heat to medium-low.
• Cook and stir onion, carrots, and garlic in Dutch oven until slightly softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir lamb cubes and any accumulated juices, tomatoes, beef stock, thyme, and rosemary into onion mixture and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cover Dutch oven with an oven-proof lid.
• Cook stew in the covered Dutch oven in the preheated oven until the lamb is tender, 2 to 3 hours. Stir butternut squash cubes into stew, recover the Dutch oven, and return to the preheated oven until squash is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

BRAISED LAMB WITH SQUASH AND BRANDIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Place the racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven, and heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Halve the squash lengthwise, then scoop out the seeds and discard them. Rub the flesh of the squash with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt. Place 3 sprigs each of thyme and sage on a small baking sheet. Place the cut side of the squash directly on top of the herbs. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high. Add the quartered shallots cut-side down and cook until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side, adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid scorching. Season with salt and transfer to a plate. Set aside.
• Pat the lamb dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the pot over medium-high. Cook the lamb on both sides until browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. Work in batches if necessary.
• Add the minced shallots and garlic to the pan, season with salt and stir to coat with the pan drippings. Add the whole peeled tomatoes and their juices, then add the stock or water and bring to a boil. Return the lamb shanks to the pot and add the remaining thyme and sage.
• Cover the pot with a lid or a piece of foil and move the pot to the bottom rack of the oven. Place the squash on the top rack. Bake the squash until the flesh is tender and a thin knife can be easily inserted, about 75 to 90 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Continue to cook the lamb until the meat is tender enough to pull with a fork, about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours total.
• Scoop out the squash with a spoon and place on a serving plate, then transfer the lamb to the plate and cover to keep warm. Remove the braised tomatoes from the lamb cooking liquid and discard along with any excess fat.
• Set the pot over medium heat and reduce the liquid to about 3/4 of its volume, about 5 minutes. Add the browned shallots and brandied fruit. Cook until shallots are tender and sauce is warmed through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Spoon the sauce over the lamb and squash and garnish with mint leaves. Serve with steamed rice, couscous or thick slices of a crusty sourdough loaf.

LAMB AND SQUASH TAGINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, toss lamb with flour; season with salt and pepper. In a 2-quart enameled cast-iron tagine or a Dutch oven (at least 5 quarts), heat oil over medium-high. Cook lamb until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes; transfer to a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium; add onion, garlic, and tomato paste to pot; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion has softened, 6 minutes. Add cinnamon sticks, 4 cups water, and reserved lamb (with any juices that have accumulated); bring to a boil.
• Cover pot and transfer to oven; cook until lamb is just tender, about 1 hour. Add squash, return to oven, and cook until squash is tender, about 30 minutes more. Remove cinnamon sticks, stir in prunes, and season with salt and pepper. Serve with cilantro and couscous.

SQUASH AND LENTIL LAMB STEW

Steps:

• In a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, whisk together first 7 ingredients. In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium heat; brown lamb in batches. Add to slow cooker. , In same skillet, saute onions in remaining oil over medium heat until tender, 4-5 minutes. Add ginger and garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Add to slow cooker. Stir in lentils and squash., Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours, until meat and lentils are tender. Stir in spinach until wilted. Stir in cilantro and lime juice.Freeze option: Freeze cooled stew in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add broth if necessary.