Spicy Lamb Pie Recipes

SPICED SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Peel and finely chop the onions, ginger and garlic, then deseed and finely slice the capsicum. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Add the mince, garam masala, cinnamon stick and cardamon pods and fry for around 5 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly browned, stirring regularly.
• 2. Remove to a bowl and set aside, then place the pan back on the heat. Turn the heat down to medium and cook the onion, ginger and garlic for around 5 minutes, or until softened, then add the capsicum for a further 5 minutes. Tip in the tinned tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon as you go, then pour in half a tin's worth of water and stir well. Turn the heat up to high and bring to the boil, then reduce to a low heat, stir the mince back into the pan and simmer for 25 minutes, or until thickened, stirring occasionally. 3. Meanwhile, peel the potatoes, cutting any larger ones into quarters and place in a large saucepan. Cover with water, add a good pinch of salt and cook for 20 minutes, or until tender. 4. Drain in a colander and leave to steam dry, then return the potatoes to the empty pan. Add a knob of butter, a splash of milk, a good pinch of salt and pepper, then mash well. Stir the peas through the mince, season with salt and pepper, then remove the cinnamon stick and transfer to an ovenproof baking dish (roughly 20 x 25cm). 5. Evenly spoon the mash over the top, smooth the surface slightly, then use a fork to fluff it up - this will give you great texture once it's cooked. Drizzle the pie with a little olive oil and season lightly. Cook in the oven for around 30 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

SPICED LAMB PIE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish. Toss the lamb in the flour with some seasoning, then brown it in the dish. Do this in batches so you don't overcrowd the dish (which will cause the meat to steam instead of fry). Take your time to build up a deep brown colour, which will add lots of meaty flavour to the stew. Set the meat aside on a plate as you go.
• Add the remaining oil to the dish along with the onion and garlic. Cook for 5 mins until softened, then stir in the spices, tomatoes, lemon zest and juice, honey and molasses. Fill the tomato can halfway with water, swill around and add this too. Season well, bring to a simmer and cover with a lid. Reduce the heat and cook for 2 hrs 30 mins-3 hrs or until the meat is tender. Leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Transfer the meat to a pie dish that's about 25cm wide, or leave it in the casserole if it's wide enough to fit the topping. Unwrap the filo and brush a sheet with butter, scrunch up and place on top of the pie. Continue with the remaining sheets until the tagine is covered. Drizzle any remaining butter over the top and scatter over the almonds, then bake for 45 mins or until the pastry is crisp and golden. Scatter over the pomegranate seeds just before serving.

SPICED-LAMB PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large skillet, combine lamb, onion, tomato paste, cayenne, cumin, and cinnamon. Season with salt. Cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until meat is browned, about 10 minutes. Dust surface lightly with flour. Divide dough into 6 balls; roll into 10-by-5-inch ovals. Transfer to 2 rimmed baking sheets. Divide filling among ovals, leaving 1/2-inch borders. Fold edges over meat; pinch ends together. Let stand, draped with plastic, in a warm place until they double in size, about 30 minutes.
• Brush crust with olive oil. Bake until golden, about 18 minutes. Drizzle with more oil; top with red onion, mint, and pine nuts; serve.

SPICED LAMB PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F and butter a 13x9x2-inch baking dish.
• In a large non-stick skillet cook lamb or beef in 1 tablespoon oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and drain meat in sieve set over a large bowl, reserving any juices. Add water and bread to juices and let stand 10 minutes. Chop onions and in a skillet cook in butter and remaining tablespoon oil over moderate heat, stirring until softened.
• In another large bowl combine meat, onion, and all remaining ingredients except bread mixture, lime leaves, eggs, and milk. Squeeze liquid from bread and break into small pieces, dropping into meat mixture. Toss together bread and meat and spread evenly in baking dish. Roll lime leaves into spikes and insert, evenly spaced, in several places into mixture. (Bobotie may be made up to this point one day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring bobotie to room temperature before proceeding.)
• Bake bobotie in middle of oven 30 minutes. In a small bowl whisk together eggs and milk until just combined and pour over bobotie. Bake bobotie until custard is set, about 5 minutes more.
• Cut bobotie into squares or wedges and serve with rice chutney.
• Available at Southeast Asian markets and by mail order from Adriana's Caravan, (800) 316-0820, or Uwajimaya, (800) 889-1928.