Moroccan Lamb And Zucchini Pide Recipes

LAMB AND VEGETABLE RICE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• I use a couscousierre to make this dish. The directions will be written for this cooking method.
• Peel and quarter all of your vegetables. You can leave the skin on the zucchini and squash if you like.
• In the bottom of the couscousierre, add the lamb, potato, sweet potato, carrots, parsnips, tomato, serano pepper, squash and onion.
• Add enough liquid (water or broth) to cover the vegetables.
• Mix in all of the spices, and drop in the parsley bouquet.
• Turn the stove on medium high heat until it boils, and then reduce the heat to medium-low.
• Before steaming the couscous for the first time, spread the grains out in a large bowl and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt water. Separate the grains with your fingers as much as possible. You may need to add more water, they really should be quite damp but not dripping liquid.
• Transfer the couscous to the top of the couscousierre and turn the stove temperature to high. Cover the top of the pot with a lid and leave alone for about 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, check the grains. If they feel dry then remove and pour back into the bowl you originally used. Add more of the salt water and continue the process the same way you did the first time, taking care to separate the grains as much as possible.
• Just as with traditional couscous you will steam and wet the grains 3 times.
• Before the third steaming, add the zucchini and chickpeas to the bottom. At this time check the liquid levels and add more if it is getting low.
• When the final steaming is complete, remove the top of the couscousierre and dump the grains onto a large serving plate. Separate the grains as much as possible.
• Use a large slotted spoon to remove the meat and vegetables and arrange on top of the couscous.
• Pour 1/2 of the remaining liquid over the top of the dish.
• Place the remaining liquid into smaller bowls so that those eating can add extra liquid to their liking.
• Serve with large spoons for eating!

SUMAC-SPICED LAMB PIDES

Steps:

• First make the dough. In a large bowl, mix the flour, yeast, sugar, olive oil, a pinch of salt and 300ml warm water. Bring together with your hands or in a tabletop mixer, then knead for 10 mins by hand or 5 mins in a mixer, until soft and elastic. Put the dough in a clean, oiled bowl, cover with a sheet of oiled cling film and leave to rise for 2 hrs or until doubled in size. You can also pop the dough in the fridge and leave to rise overnight. (Take out of the fridge and leave for 1-2 hrs to bring back to room temperature to use.)
• For the topping. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add onion and cook for a few mins until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 min more. Add the lamb, increase the heat and fry until starting to brown, about 8 mins. Sprinkle in spices and stir for 1 min, then add purée, tomatoes, pomegranate molasses and seasoning, along with 50ml water. Simmer for 10 mins, stirring now and then - the mince should be sticky rather than saucy. Leave to cool.
• Dust 2 large baking sheets and the work surface with semolina. Knock any air bubbles out of the dough, then tip onto work surface and divide into 4. Working with 1 piece at a time - keeping remaining dough covered with the oiled cling film - roll into a thin oval shape, roughly 30cm long. Place the rolled dough on baking sheets. Divide mince mixture between the 4 pides, leaving a 1cm border around the edges. Roll the edges over the filling and pinch the ends together to form a pointy boat shape. Cover with the oiled cling film and leave to prove for 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Uncover pides and brush the edges with a little oil. Sprinkle the feta, sesame seeds and a good pinch of sumac over each pide and bake for 15 mins until puffed up and golden. Serve with salad and pickled Turkish chillies, if you like.

MOROCCAN LAMB AND ZUCCHINI PIDE

Steps:

• PIDE DOUGH: Combine the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the water and oil. Use a round-bladed knife in a cutting motion to mix until combined and a soft dough forms. Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for 5 minutes or until smooth. Set aside in a bowl covered with a tea towel.
• LAMB AND ZUCCHINI TOPPING: Preheat the oven to 200°C Combine vinegar, 2 cloves of the garlic, 1/4 cup oil, 1 tsp cumin and 1/4 cup tomato paste in a small baking dish. Add zucchini and toss to coat then season with salt and pepper. Cover with alfoil then cook in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over medium heat and cook onion, stirring for 3 minutes or until soft. Add lamb and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until browned and cooked through. Add allspice, 2 tsp cumin, remaining tomato paste and 2 tbs water. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in the pine nuts. Season to taste with salt and pepper, cover and set aside to cool.
• TO ASSEMBLE PIDES: Divide dough into 2 portions. Roll out 1 dough portion on a lightly floured surface to make an oval shape about 15cm wide and 30cm long. Spoon half of the lamb mixture down the centre, leaving a 4cm border at each end.
• Lay half the zucchini slices diagonally, spaced evenly down over the mince mixture on the dough. Fold in the sides of the dough to enclose filling slightly, leaving an opening down the centre. Place on a lined baking tray. Repeat with remaining dough, lamb and zucchini.
• Bake pides in oven at 200°C for 15 minutes or until dough is golden brown and crisp. Serve pides with tzatziki and garnished with fresh coriander leaves.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Use a melon baller to separate and remove seeds and pulp separately from the zucchini, carving out each half and leaving about a half-inch shell. Chop zucchini pulp into pieces about 1/4 inch in diameter. Discard seeds.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ground lamb; continue to cook and stir until lamb is lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir chopped zucchini into the lamb mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer mixture until the zucchini is hot, about 3 minutes. Drain excess grease. Season lamb mixture with coarse salt and black pepper.
• Remove skillet from heat. Stir tomato sauce, tomatoes, feta cheese, pine nuts, and 1/4 cup mint leaves through the lamb mixture; spoon into the zucchini halves. Put stuffed zucchini halves into a large baking dish. Pour water into the baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Mix bread crumbs and mozzarella cheese in a bowl. Sprinkle 1/4 cup mint leaves over the zucchini and top with the bread crumb mixture. Continue baking until the top is crusty and browned, about 10 minutes more.

MOROCCAN LAMB AND EGGPLANT MATZO PIE WITH SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make lamb filling:
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet (2 inches deep) over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add lamb and sauté, stirring and breaking up lumps, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add two thirds of garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon ras-el-hanout with oregano, mint, pepper, and cinnamon, then sauté, stirring, 1 minute.
• Stir in 4 cups tomatoes with some of juice (reserving remaining tomatoes and juice for sauce) and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Roast eggplant and assemble pie:
• Preheat broiler.
• Toss eggplant slices with 4 tablespoons oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Brush a large shallow baking pan (1/2 to 1 inch deep) generously with oil and arrange as many slices as possible in 1 layer. Broil, in batches if necessary, 5 to 7 inches from heat, turning slices over as they brown (about halfway through broiling), until tender, 12 to 15 minutes total.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Soak matzos, 1 or 2 at a time, in a pan of warm water until matzos are slightly softened but still hold their shape, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Let excess water drip off and transfer matzos to paper towels or kitchen towels to drain.
• Arrange 2 matzos side by side in a generously oiled 13- by 9- by 2-inch (3-quart) baking dish to nearly cover bottom. Spread 3 cups lamb filling over matzos in pan. Arrange 2 matzos side by side on top, then spread remaining filling over them. Arrange eggplant slices in 1 layer over filling (overlapping slices slightly if necessary), then arrange remaining 2 matzos on top and brush with oil. Bake, covered with foil, 20 minutes, then remove foil and continue to bake until filling is hot, about 10 minutes more.
• Make tomato sauce while pie bakes:
• Purée remaining 2 cups chopped tomatoes with juice in a blender. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a 10- to 12-inch skillet over moderate heat, then cook cayenne, remaining garlic, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon each ras-el-hanout and salt, stirring, until garlic is golden, about 1 minute. Add tomato purée and sugar and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 4 to 6 minutes.
• *Available at specialty foods shops and Kalustyan's (800-352-3451).

LAMB WITH ZUCCHINI STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Mix lamb, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, ginger, minced garlic and 2 teaspoons cornstarch in large bowl. Mix broth, lemon juice, chili sauce and remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in small bowl.
• Heat both oils in wok or Dutch oven over high heat. Add 3 garlic cloves; cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Discard garlic. Add zucchini and onion; stir-fry until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add green onions; stir-fry just until wilted, about 1 minute. Transfer vegetables to platter. Add lamb mixture to wok; stir-fry until meat is brown, about 3 minutes. Add broth mixture; boil until sauce thickens, stirring constantly, about 1 minutes. Return vegetables to wok; stir until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with rice.