Savory Lamb Stew Recipes

Steps:

• Heat two tablespoons oil in a heavy casserole. Add the lamb, a little at a time, and brown pieces on both sides, removing as they brown.
• Add remaining oil to the casserole and add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic and saute over medium heat until vegetables are lightly browned. Stir in flour and cook a minute or so, then stir in wine.
• Return the meat to the pan, stir, then add the remaining ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover and simmer until the lamb is tender, about two hours. Check seasonings before serving.

Steps:

• Toasted Cauliflower Crumbs:
• Coarsely chop cauliflower and pulse in a food processor until about the size of grains of rice (or, you can very finely chop with a knife instead). You should have about 2 cups.
• Heat oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Cook cauliflower, stirring often, until golden brown all over and charred in spots, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat; season with salt and pepper. Let cool in skillet.
• Lemony Mint Yogurt:
• Mix yogurt, mint, and lemon juice in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Stew and assembly:
• Season lamb shanks very generously all over with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Working in 2 batches, cook lamb shanks in a single layer, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 8-12 minutes per batch. As the shanks finish cooking, transfer to a large plate.
• Reduce heat to medium; add onions and garlic, cut side down, to the same pot and cook, tossing onions occasionally, until onions are browned in spots and garlic is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add cinnamon and crushed coriander and cook, stirring constantly, until spices are very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add harissa paste and cook, stirring often and scraping bottom of pot, until vegetables are coated and paste is slightly darkened in color, about 2 minutes. Add 7 cups water, stirring to release any bits stuck on bottom of pot. Season generously with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Return lamb shanks to pot and bring stew back up to a simmer. Cover with a lid, leaving slightly askew so steam can escape, and cook, adjusting heat to maintain a very gentle simmer and skimming foam from surface as needed, until meat is tender and easily pulls away from bones, 1 1/2-2 hours.
• Transfer lamb shanks to a cutting board and let cool 10-15 minutes; keep liquid at a simmer. Pull meat from bones and tear into bite-size pieces. Add bones back to pot as you go. Transfer meat to a medium bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
• Simmer bones in broth, uncovered, until liquid is thick and very flavorful, 25-30 minutes. Remove from heat; add meat back to pot and let cool uncovered (bones and all) until no longer steaming. Cover pot and chill stew at least 12 hours (you can skip this step, but it will dramatically improve the flavor).
• Uncover stew and spoon off half to three-quarters of fat on the surface; discard. Gently reheat stew until barely simmering. Pluck out and discard bones. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Ladle stew into bowls and serve with Toasted Cauliflower Crumbs, Mint Yogurt, harissa, and olives, mint leaves, and/or preserved lemon as desired.
• Do Ahead
• Yogurt can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Stew can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, brown meat in 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Remove with a slotted spoon; set aside. Add the onions, carrots and remaining oil to pan. Cook for 5 minutes or until onions are tender, stirring occasionally. Add the potatoes, broth, salt, pepper and lamb; bring to a boil. , Remove from the heat. Cover and bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until meat and vegetables are tender., With a slotted spoon, remove meat and vegetables to a large bowl; set aside and keep warm. Pour pan juices into another bowl; set aside. , In the Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in pan juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the parsley, chives, thyme, and meat and vegetables; heat through.