Lamb Stew With Artichokes And Dried Figs Recipes

RACK OF LAMB WITH FIGS

Steps:

• Rub lamb with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place meat side up on a rack in a greased roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 45-60 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°)., Remove to a serving platter; cover loosely with foil. Add 1 cup water to roasting pan; stir to loosen browned bits from pan. Using a fine sieve, strain mixture; set drippings aside., In a small saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in cornstarch until blended; gradually add the wine, drippings, figs, pepper and remaining salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, uncovered, until figs are tender and sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally., Sprinkle walnuts over lamb; serve with fig sauce. If desired, top with chopped parsley.

ROAST LAMB WITH ARTICHOKES AND LEMONS

Steps:

• Lamb and artichokes:
• Preheat oven to 325°. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Generously season lamb on all sides with salt and pepper and cook, turning often, until well browned, 12-15 minutes. Transfer lamb and oil to a roasting pan.
• Carefully add wine to skillet, scraping up browned bits. Bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by one-third, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands, garlic, red pepper flakes, and 2 cups water and pour into roasting pan. Squeeze lemons over lamb; add to pan. Roast 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, remove tough dark outer leaves from artichokes. Using a serrated knife, trim 1" from top. Trim stems and remove tough outer layer with a vegetable peeler. Halve artichokes lengthwise. Toss to coat with pan juices and tuck under and around lamb. Roast, turning artichokes occasionally, until artichokes are tender and meat is falling off the bone, 1 1/2-2 hours. (Remove artichokes if they become too soft before meat is done.)
• Anchovy-herb oil and assembly:
• Pulse oil, anchovies, garlic, parsley, mint, and red pepper flakes in a food processor until smooth; season with salt.
• When done, place lamb in a large bowl and transfer artichokes, lemons, and garlic with a slotted spoon to bowl. Pour anchovy-herb oil over; tent with foil. Transfer pan juices to a glass measuring cup. Let sit a few minutes, then spoon off fat from surface. Serve lamb with artichoke mixture and pan juices.

LAMB STEW WITH LEMON AND FIGS

Steps:

• Set strainer lined with double layer of cheesecloth over medium bowl. Place yogurt in strainer; cover and chill 3 to 5 hours to drain. Transfer yogurt to small bowl. Stir in mint; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill.)
• Place 1/2 cup warm water and saffron in small bowl; let stand at least 20 minutes to infuse.
• Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook lamb until brown on all sides, adding more oil as needed, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb to large bowl. Pour all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot (or add 1 tablespoon oil if dry); heat pot over medium heat. Add onions; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add lemon, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne. Stir 1 minute. Add saffron mixture; stir, scraping up browned bits. Add tomatoes with juice, figs, and lamb with any juices to pot. Stir to coat. Add 2 1/2 cups broth.
• Bring stew to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, then cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer until meat is tender, stirring occasionally and adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls as needed if dry, about 1 1/2 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and chill.)
• Bring stew to simmer, thinning with more chicken broth if necessary. Divide stew among 6 plates; top each serving with dollop of minted yogurt. Place wedge of Crispy Noodle Cake alongside each and serve.

LAMB STEW WITH JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Season the lamb with salt and black pepper; brown the meat (in batches, if necessary) on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Cook the artichokes in remaining tablespoon oil in same pot over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer artichokes to a separate bowl.
• Add onion, garlic, and ginger to remaining oil in pot; saute over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and red-pepper flakes; cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes and juice, stock, saffron, and 1 teaspoon salt. Using the side of a wooden spoon, break up tomatoes. Add reserved lamb; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover, and simmer until meat is tender, about 1 hour.
• Return reserved artichokes to pot. Continue to simmer until artichokes are tender, about 25 minutes; add caperberries during final 5 minutes of cooking. Season with salt and black pepper; stir in cilantro. Discard cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom before serving.

LAMB STEW WITH BABY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Dredge the lamb lightly with flour. Heat the oil in a large heavy casserole and brown the lamb pieces a few at a time, on all sides, turning them with tongs. Remove the browned pieces to a bowl.
• Add the stock, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste and white wine. Scrape up the cooking juices with a spoon, stir well, and return the lamb pieces to the casserole along with the thyme, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat.
• After the meat has simmered for 30 minutes add the carrots. After 15 more minutes, add the onions. Cook the stew for one-and-a-half to two hours total, or until the meat is tender.
• Meanwhile, trim the tops (cutting off about two-thirds of an inch) and stalks from the artichokes. Remove tough outer leaves. Slice the artichokes vertically top to bottom in quarter-inch pieces. Place them in a large bowl filled with water and lemon juice to stop them from turning brown.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Saute the artichokes until brown and keep warm. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook just enough to change color. Sprinkle over the top of the artichokes. Just before serving the stew, sprinkle the artichokes over the top.

LAMB AND ARTICHOKE STEW (GREEK)

Steps:

• Cut the lamb into 1 inch pieces.
• Clean the artichokes, placing them in a bowl filled with water and the lemon slices, so they don't discolor.
• Slice each artichoke heart in half.
• Pour the oil into a large saucepan and, over medium heat, sauté the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the spring onions and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Increase the heat to high and add the meat.
• Brown the meat until it becomes a rich, dark colour.
• Add the hot stock and, as soon as it comes back to the boil, lower the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add the artichokes, minced dill, juice and rind of 1 lemon, salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover again and simmer until the artichokes and the meat are very tender, about 15 minutes longer.
• Turn off heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, yolk, lemon juice and corn flour.
• With a ladle, slowly add the hot stock from the meat/artichokes to the egg/lemon mixture, whisking constantly.
• When you have added all the stock, pour the egg/lemon sauce over the meat, shaking the pan to mix it thoroughly, let it thicken slightly for about 2 minutes, and serve.