Nigellas Lamb And Aubergine Recipes

HERBED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
• Sit the lamb in a large roasting tin, skin-side up, and use the tip of a sharp knife to make many incisions all over the skin.
• Put the oregano, rosemary, garlic, lemon and orange zest, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons orange juice, olive oil and salt in a bowl and blend using a stick blender (alternatively, use a small food processor). Spoon this over the lamb and rub in well. Leave at room temperature for 45 minutes.
• Pour ½cm freshly boiled water into the bottom of the roasting tin and roast for 1 hour 40 minutes. Check after an hour to add more water if needed and cover with foil if the meat is beginning to catch. Just before the time is up, remove the lamb from the oven and check it is done to your liking, either using a probe and the temperatures listed in the tips below or piercing with a knife and taking a peek.
• Remove the cooked lamb from the oven, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 15-30 minutes, checking every now and again, before transferring to a board to carve.

LAMB WITH ROSEMARY AND PORT

Steps:

• Mix together the oil and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl, then smear this over the steaks, either with a pastry brush or by dipping the steaks directly into the bowl.
• Heat a heavy-based frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the steaks for about 3 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the steak and how you like it done. If you prefer to use boneless lamb sirloin or noisettes, I'd advise 2 per person, and less time for their cooking.
• Wrap the steaks in aluminum foil to rest on a warm plate or in a warm place, while you make the sauce. With the pan still on the heat, but turned down low, add the butter and let it melt, then finely chop the needles from the rosemary sprig and add them to the pan.
• Peel and crush or mince the garlic clove and add it to the pan, then pour in the port, letting it sizzle and reduce slightly. Unwrap the steaks and add any juices from the foil parcel to the sauce. Arrange the steaks on serving plates and drizzle them with the sauce.

LAMB & AUBERGINE STEW WITH CRISPY CHICKPEA TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in flameproof casserole dish. Add the onions and cook until softened. Season the lamb and toss in the flour. Push the onion to the edge of the pan, add the lamb, then cook for a few mins on each side until nicely browned.
• Add the garlic, aubergine, peppers, ras el hanout and harissa. Cook for a few mins until the spices are aromatic. Add the tomatoes, sugar, 400ml water (fill the tomato can and swish it around to get all the bits out) and crumble in the stock cube. Bring to a simmer, cover, then cook over a low heat for 2 hrs.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Add the herbs to the lamb stew and tip into a daking dish. Tip the chickpeas into a bowl with the cumin seeds, remaining oil and some seasoning. Leaving about half the chickpeas whole, lightly crush remainder with a fork or potato masher. Add half the feta and mix through. Scatter over the stew, top with remaining feta, then bake for 45 mins until the topping is really crispy and the stew is hot. See tips on freezing, below left.

AUBERGINE CURRY WITH LAMB CUTLETS

Steps:

• For the lamb, mix the yogurt and turmeric, and brush it over each cutlet. Cut the aubergine into large wedges. Put a good slug of oil into a frying pan and fry the wedges on both side until they are browned all over and very soft (add more oil if you need to) - they should look almost translucent and lightly charred. Lift the wedges gently out of the pan with tongs, leaving the oil behind - if you have more than 1 tbsp oil left, pour some off.
• Put the fennel seeds and nigella seeds in the pan and heat them until they start to pop. Add the coriander, turmeric and chilli, and let the oil foam up a little with the spices. Add the ginger and garlic, and cook for 1 min, making sure the mixture doesn't stick. Tip in the tomatoes and simmer the mixture for 3 mins or until it starts to thicken, then season well. Return the aubergine to the pan to continue cooking.
• Meanwhile, heat some oil in a frying pan. Salt the lamb cutlets on both sides and fry them until they are browned on the outside but still slightly pink inside. It's important to make sure the fat is well browned.
• Spoon some yogurt over the curry and sprinkle with coriander leaves and nigella seeds. Serve with the lamb and chapatis or rice.