Middle Eastern Lamb Fondue Recipes

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB FONDUE

Steps:

• Cut lamb into bite size pieces, and place in a zipper bag with lemon juice, garlic, herbs, and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Marinate for up to 8 hours, or at least while you prepare the rest of the meal.
• Prepare the sauces. For the tzatziki sauce, grate or finely mince the cucumber, squeeze out as much water as you can, and mix with yogurt and seasonings. Refrigerate until ready to use. This can be made a couple of days ahead, if you like.
• For the apricot relish, heat oil in a small skillet or saucepan, add onion and garlic, and cook just until translucent. Add drained apricots, and sherry if using. If you don't use the sherry, add the same amount of apricot juice from the can. Simmer for just a few minutes, until the liquids just begin to thicken. Puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add parsley, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. This can be stored in the refrigerator, but should be reheated before serving.
• Make the salad by dicing tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers into bite sized pieces. Quarter or slice olives, and toss salad with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste.
• Remove the lamb from the marinade, and pat dry with a clean towel to avoid splattering. Serve lamb on its own plate to avoid cross contamination.
• Set out lamb, salad, bread, and sauces where they're easily reached by your dinner companions. Be sure to provide small plates, and spoons for the sauces.
• Now, you're ready to set up the fondue pot. Fill about halfway with vegetable oil, and heat to 375. (At the right temperature, it will brown a cube of bread in about 30 seconds.)
• Each person spears a cube of lamb, and cooks it to their taste in the hot oil. The piece can be set on a piece of pita with a little bit of sauce, and eaten that way, or with a fork with or without sauce.

LACHMAJOU (MIDDLE-EASTERN LAMB DISH)

Steps:

• For the bread:.
• Crumble the yeast into a bowl, sprinkle with the sugar and add 310ml (1 1/4 cups) tepid water.
• Leave for 10-15 minutes until the yeast begins to activate.
• Mix in the flour, salt and butter and mix well.
• Turn out onto a well floured work surface and knead well until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Leave in a warm place for approximately 1.5 hrs to rise.
• For the lamb topping:.
• Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and cook the onion for approximately 5 minutes until softened.
• Add the lamb, cinnamon and most of the parsley, and season well with salt and pepper (you'll need to season it quite a lot).
• Cook for approx 10 minutes until most of the moisture has evaporated, remove from the heat and stir in the tomato.
• Preheat your oven to 220c.
• Back to the bread:.
• Knock down the dough by punching out all of the air to bring it back to its original size.
• Divide into 14 balls (less if you prefer) and keep them well covered to ensure they don't dry out.
• On a well floured surface, roll to dough balls to approximately 1-2mm thick and 12-15cm in diameter.
• Arrange on a lightly floured baking try.
• Cover each disk of dough with just more than 1 heaped tablespoon of mixture, ensuring you leave a thin border around the edge.
• Drizzle approximately 1tsp of olive oil over each one and bake for 10 minutes or until the dough is cooked but has not dried out.
• Serve immediately sprinkled with the remaining parsley and chili flakes (to taste).

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB

Steps:

• Trim meat of fat and sinew.
• Slice across grain into long thin strips.
• Heat oil.
• Add 1 teaspoon ground cumin.
• 1 teaspoon ground corriander.
• 1 teaspoon dried mint leaves.
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric.
• Stir fry 1 minute.
• Add meat and cook until browned.
• Add spinach and cook 4 minutes.
• Mix together cornflour, yoghurt and water and add to pan.
• Add sultanas.
• Let sauce thicken over heat.
• Serve immediately with couscous.