Lamb Navarin Recipes

NAVARIN OF LAMB & SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Trim all the veg and peel the carrots. Boil a large pan of water and have a bowl of heavily iced water ready. Working in batches, cook the turnips for 3 mins, scoop into the iced water, then scoop out to drain. Repeat the process, cooking the carrots for 4 mins, the leeks for 5 mins, the peas and broad beans together for 1 min and finally the onions for 8-10 mins. Use a clean cloth to rub the skins off the turnips. Put all the vegetables in separate piles on a plate. TIP: Use the timings for cooking the baby vegetables only as a guideline, as they can vary in size. To be sure the vegetables are cooked properly, add a few more than the required amount to the water for you to test as they cook.
• Slice the lamb fillets into finger-thick pieces, then season generously with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large non-stick frying pan, then fry the lamb pieces for 2 mins on each side for rare or 3 mins on each side for medium. Tip the lamb into a colander with a bowl underneath to catch the juices, then leave in a warm place. TIP: When you cook lots of pieces of meat together, place them in the pan like points on a clock face - this makes it easy to remember which needs turning and removing from the pan first.
• Place the pan back on the heat and tip in the wine. Boil vigorously until reduced to a sticky syrup, then pour in 200ml of the chicken stock and any lamb juices from the bowl. Boil down until reduced by about half, then whisk in the butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then stir in the chopped tarragon. Pour the sauce into a small bowl, then wipe out the pan with kitchen paper.
• Heat a drizzle of oil and add the turnips and onions. Sizzle until starting to brown, then sprinkle over the sugar and a pinch of salt. Cook, shaking the pan constantly, until the veg are caramelised. Add carrots, leeks and balsamic, bubble for a moment, then add the stock. Bring to the boil, add the peas and broad beans, then boil for a few mins until all the liquid has nearly evaporated. Turn off heat.
• To serve, dress each bowl by placing a few pieces of lamb on the base, spooning the smaller vegetables around the lamb and balancing the carrots and leeks on top. Pour the hot sauce over everything, scatter with tarragon leaves and finally drizzle with olive oil.

NAVARIN OF LAMB WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• In a large flameproof casserole, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Season lamb with salt and pepper, and place in casserole. Brown meat well on all sides.
• Add garlic and diced onions, and cook until onions are soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Add flour, and cook until it is well browned, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add wine and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, scraping bottom and sides of pan. Add stock, tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low; cover, and cook until meat is tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove meat; place in a large bowl and set aside. Reduce sauce over high heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. Adjust seasonings. Skim off any fat. Strain sauce over meat, discarding solids; return meat and sauce to casserole. (The navarin can be made ahead up to this point. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat and continue as directed.)
• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, and add pearl onions. Boil 2 minutes, and drain. When cool enough to handle, peel and set aside. Peel baby carrots; trim tops to 1/4 inch. Repeat with baby turnips. If using large carrots and turnips, peel and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Add onions and carrots to casserole and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Add turnips and peas, and simmer 5 minutes more, or until vegetables are tender.
• Blanch beans until bright green and still crisp, then drain. Serve stew over mashed potatoes, and scatter beans atop each serving. Sprinkle with chervil, and serve immediately.

LAMB NAVARIN

Steps:

• Cut the lamb between the rib bones into strips about 1 1/2 inches wide. You should have about 14 pieces.
• In a large saucepan or Dutch oven cook the lamb, preferably in one layer, over medium heat, partly covered, for 30 minutes, until it has released most of its fat and is nicely browned on all sides. Remove the lamb to a plate and pour out and discard the fat. (You may have 1 cup of fat.)
• Return the meat to the pot, sprinkle it with the flour, and mix well. Add the onions, garlic, water, salt, pepper and herbes de Provence, mix well, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 30 minutes.
• Add the potatoes and carrots, and cook, covered, for 20 minutes. Then, stir in the peas, and cook, covered, for 5 additional minutes.
• To serve, spoon the navarin onto individual plates and sprinkle with the parsley.

NAVARIN D'AGNEAU

Steps:

• Halve the lamb steaks and cut off any excess fat. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil over a medium heat in a large flameproof casserole that has a tight-fitting lid. Fry the lamb until it 'seizes' - it should be a little coloured all over but not charred. Bring a kettle of water to the boil.
• Transfer the lamb to a plate and rinse out the casserole. Add the veg (but not the spring onions) and cover with boiling water. Season and cook for 15 minutes, then drain into a colander over a bowl. Measure 450ml/16fl oz of the cooking liquid, crumble in the stock cube and stir to dissolve.
• Mop the fatty juices from the lamb with kitchen paper. Heat the remaining oil in the casserole over a medium-high heat. Add the lamb, season and sprinkle with the flour, then stir for a minute. Tip in the stock, wine, onions and herbs and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to low, cover and cook gently for 1 hour, stirring a few times.
• Add the veg and stir well, cover and cook for a further 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. (Cool then freeze for up to 1 month or keep chilled for up to 24 hours.)
• Lift out the meat and veg into a warm serving bowl.With the casserole over a low heat, stir in the cream, grate in the lemon zest and squeeze in the juice. Adjust the seasoning, spoon over the lamb and veg, sprinkle with herbs and serve.

NAVARIN OF LAMB

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Season lamb with salt and pepper. Working in batches, cook lamb in a single layer until well browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch.
• Return all of the lamb to Dutch oven, add garlic and onions, and cook until onions are soft, 6 minutes. Add flour and cook until it is well browned, 2 minutes.
• Add wine, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, scraping browned bits from the bottom and sides of pan. Add stock, tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low; cover and cook until meat is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Remove meat, place in a large bowl, and set aside. Reduce sauce over high heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. Adjust seasonings. Skim off any fat. Strain sauce over meat, discarding solids; return meat and sauce to Dutch oven. (The navarin can be made ahead up to this point. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat and continue as directed.)
• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, and add pearl onions. Boil 2 minutes, then drain. When onions are cool enough to handle, peel and set aside. Peel baby carrots; trim tops to 1/4 inch. Repeat with baby turnips. If using large carrots and turnips, peel and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Add onions, turnips, and carrots to Dutch oven and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Add peas and simmer 10 minutes more, or until vegetables are tender.
• Blanch beans until bright green and still crisp, about 5 minutes, then drain. Serve and scatter beans atop each serving.