Ingredients

• 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice
• 2 lg. cloves garlic, pressed
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/3 c. olive oil
• 3 lb. lamb ribs (2 racks)
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper

Preparation

Combine the first five ingredients in a blender, and pulse on high for 1 minute until the sauce is smooth and pale yellow.

Preheat the oven to 300 F. Pour half of the sauce over the ribs and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes (or refrigerate overnight).

Season the racks with salt and pepper and wrap individually with foil. Place on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake for three hours. Remove the foil and flip the ribs. Add extra sauce and increase the temperature to 400 F. Roast for 30 minutes, rest for at least 15 minutes, and serve with extra sauce.

Frayed Apron

Ingredients

• 1 kg lamb leg shank, diced
• 2 red onions, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, sliced
• 4cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• 2 habañero peppers
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil
• 400ml coconut milk
• salt and pepper
• handful parsley

for the spice mix:

• 3 uda pods, deseeded and bark discarded
• 100g cashews, roasted and coarsely ground
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 180C fan/gas mark 6.

Using a pestle and mortar, grind all the ingredients for the suya spice mix until you have a fine powder. In a large bowl, season the diced lamb with the suya mix, salt and pepper, and set aside to marinate.

Put the onions, garlic, ginger and habanero peppers in a food processor and blitz to create a paste. Over a medium heat, melt the coconut oil in a large casserole dish and add the onion paste. Fry for 5 minutes before adding the marinated lamb. Cook for a few minutes until the meat has browned, then pour in the coconut milk and heat until it begins to bubble, stirring every so often. Cover the dish with a lid and transfer to the preheated oven. Cook for 1 hour and 30 minutes before removing the lid and cooking for a further 30 minutes – this will allow the sauce to reduce. Taste for seasoning and adjust as you see fit.

Serve the curry scattered with parsley leaves.

The longer you wait to eat this curry, the better the flavour will be. To reheat it, place in the oven at 180C fan/gas mark 6 for about 15 minutes, then serve immediately. If you have a slow cooker, you could just put all the ingredients in at once and cook for 2 hours on a high setting.

Lopè Ariyo / BBC

Ingredients

for the paste:

• 2 shallots
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 coriander root
• 12 long dried chiles
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp. cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp. coriander seeds
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 2 cloves
• seeds of 1 cardamom pod
• 1/4 tsp. black peppercorns
• 2 sticks lemongrass, bashed and finely chopped
• 1/4 nutmeg, grated
• 1 heaped tbsp. kapi (shrimp paste)

for the curry:

• 2 tbsp. ghee
• 400g goat meat, cubed
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 shallots, peeled and halved
• 4 new potatoes, halved
• 2 tbsp. coconut cream
• 400ml coconut milk
• handful raisins (optional)
• 200ml water
• 2 tbsp. tamarind paste
• 6 cardamom pods, broken open
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1-2 tbsp. fish sauce
• 1-2 tbsp. roasted peanuts

Preparation

To make the paste, preheat the oven to 180C fan/gas mark 6.

Wrap the shallots, garlic and coriander root tightly in tin foil and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until soft.

Meanwhile, in a dry frying pan, toast the dried chillies until they are crispy, shaking them in the pan to ensure they don’t burn. Set aside to cool, then snip them up into small pieces with scissors, discarding the stalks and the seeds. Soak the pieces in warm water for at least 20 minutes. Dry them thoroughly with paper towels.

Toast the cinnamon stick, cumin seeds and coriander seeds in the dry pan until they’re fragrant. Then grind the paste, starting with the dried chillies and the salt, followed by the toasted spices, the remaining dry spices, and the lemongrass. Peel the shallots and garlic, cut the coriander root into small pieces, and pound them into the paste, followed by the grated nutmeg and the kapi.

Keep grinding until the paste is as smooth as possible, and everything is thoroughly incorporated.

To make the curry, melt the ghee in a large frying pan, and gently brown the meat. You will need to do this in batches.

Heat the vegetable oil in a large wok or saucepan, then add the paste, and fry until it’s very fragrant. Add the meat, shallots, potatoes and the coconut cream, and stir them thoroughly into the paste. Then add the coconut milk, raisins (if using) and water, bring up to the boil, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Now add the tamarind paste, cardamom, palm sugar and nam pla and gently simmer, partially covered, for another 30-40 minutes, until the meat is tender. About 10 minutes before you finish cooking, add the peanuts.

Finally, taste the curry and adjust the seasoning. You’re looking for a sour start to its taste, which then develops in the mouth to become sweet and savoury.

Kay Plunkett-Hogge / BBC

Ingredients

• Kosher salt
• 1 large eggplant (1 1/2 pounds), sliced crosswise 1/2 inch thick
• 1/4 cup plus 2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 lamb shanks (about 1 1/4 pounds each)
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1 large white onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup pomegranate molasses
• 1/2 cup dried yellow split peas (3 ounces)
• 4 dried red chiles
• 2 teaspoons baharat spice blend or garam masala
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 8 small pita breads, warmed and torn into large pieces

Preparation

In a bowl, dissolve 2 teaspoons of salt in 1 quart of water. Add the eggplant, cover with a small plate to keep the slices submerged and let soak for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Season the lamb with salt and pepper and cook over high heat, turning once, until well browned, about 5 minutes per side. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 10 minutes. Add 3 quarts of water, the pomegranate molasses, split peas, dried chiles, baharat and coriander and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes, skimming and stirring a few times.

Drain the eggplant and pat dry. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 11/2 tablespoons of the oil. Add one third of the eggplant and cook over moderately high heat until browned, 3 minutes per side; transfer to paper towels to drain. Brown the remaining eggplant in the 3 tablespoons of oil. Add the eggplant to the lamb and simmer over low heat, stirring, until the lamb is tender, 45 minutes.

Transfer the lamb to a rimmed baking sheet. Remove the meat from the bones and cut into 1-inch pieces. Boil the stew over high heat, skimming, until the liquid has reduced to 3 cups, about 40 minutes.

Return the lamb to the stew and season with salt and pepper. Divide the pita among 4 bowls. Ladle the stew on top and serve.

Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lb. bone-in pork loin, excess fat removed (preferably marinated overnight)
• 2 lb. or 5 c. dry white beans (in the US, Great Northern beans)
• 1/2 lb. fresh pork rind or salt pork rind
• 6-8 sprigs parsley
• 4 unpeeled cloves garlic
• 2 cloves
• 1/2 tsp. thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 lb. fresh, unsalted, unsmoked lean bacon (or very good, lean salt pork simmered for 10 minutes in 2 qt. water, drained)
• 1 c. sliced onions
• 2–2 1/2 lb. boned shoulder or breast of mutton
• 4–6 tbsp. fresh pork fat, pork-roast drippings, goose fat, or oil
• 1 lb. cracked mutton or lamb or pork bones
• 2 c. minced onions
• 4 cloves mashed garlic
• 6 tbsp. fresh tomato purée, or tomato paste, or 4 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and juiced
• 1/2 tsp. thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 cups dry white wine or 2 cups dry white vermouth
• 1 qt. brown stock or 3 cups canned beef stock with 1 cup water
• salt and pepper
• 1 1/2 lb. saucisse de Toulouse or other garlic-forward sausag
• 2 c. dry white bread crumbs mixed with 1/2 c. chopped parsley
• 3–4 tbsp. pork roasting fat or goose fat

Preparation

Bake the pork loin to an internal temperature of 175–180 degrees, and set it aside to cool. Reserve its cooking juices.

Place the beans into an 8 quart pot containing 5 quarts of water at a rolling boil. Boil for two minutes. Remove from heat and let the beans soak for 1 hour. The rest of the cooking should proceed as soon as possible after the soaking is completed.

While the beans are soaking, place the pork rind in a saucepan and cover with 1 qt. cold water. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Drain, rinse, and repeat the process. Then, with kitchen shears, cut the rind into 1/4" strips, and cut the strips into small triangles. Cover the rind again with 1 qt. water, bring to a simmer, and simmer slowly for 30 minutes. Set the saucepan aside.

Tie the parsley, garlic, cloves, thyme, and bay leaves in cheesecloth. Place the unsmoked bacon (or blanched salt pork), onions, the pork rind and its cooking liquid, and the herb bouquet into the kettle with the soaked beans. If you did not use salt pork so far, add 1 tbsp. salt. Bring to a simmer. Skim off any fat which might rise. Simmer, uncovered, for about 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are just tender. Add more boiling water during cooking, if necessary, to keep the beans covered. Season to taste near the end of the cooking process. Leave the beans in their cooking liquid until you are ready to use them, then drain, reserving the cooking liquid. Remove the bacon or salt pork and set aside. Discard the herbs.

Cut the lamb or mutton into chunks roughly 2" square. Dry each piece in paper towel. Pour a thin layer of fat into a heavy, 8-quart, fireproof casserole and heat until almost smoking. Brown the meat, a few pieces at a time, on all sides. Set the meat aside. Brown the bones and add them to the meat. If fat has burned, discard it and add 3 tbsp. more. Lower the heat and brown the onions lightly, about 5 minutes.

Return the bones and the lamb to the casserole and stir in the garlic, tomato, thyme, bay leaves, wine/vermouth, and stock. Bring to a simmer and season to taste with salt. Cover and simmer slowly, or in a 325-degree oven, for 1 1/2 hours. Then remove the meat to a dish; discard the bones and bay leaves. Remove all but 2 tbsp. fat and carefully correct the seasoning of the cooking liquid.

Pour the cooked and drained beans into the lamb cooking liquid. Stir in any juices you may have from roasting the pork. Add bean cooking liquid, if needed, until the beans are covered. Bring to a simmer and simmer 5 minutes, then let the beans stand in the liquid for 10 minutes. Drain the beans when you are ready for final assembly, again reserving the liquid.

Brown the saucisse de Toulouse, cut into lengths between 1/2" and 3" long (depending on size/preference) and drain on paper towels.

Cut the roast pork into 1 1/2–2" serving chunks. Slice the bacon or salt pork into serving pieces 1/4" thick. Arrange a layer of beans in the bottom of your cassoulet dish, then continue with layers of lamb, roast pork, bacon slices, sausage, and beans, ending with a layer of beans and sausage. Pour on the meat cooking juices, and enough bean cooking juice so that liquid comes just to the top layer of beans. Spread on the bread crumbs and dribble the fat over the top. You can set this aside until you’re ready for final cooking (about 1h).

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Bring the casserole to a simmer on top of the stove. Set it in the upper level of the oven. When the top has crusted lightly, after about 20 minutes, turn the oven down to 350 degrees. Break the crust into the beans with the back of a spoon, and baste with the liquid in the casserole. Repeat this process several times, as the crust re-forms, but leave a final crust for serving. If the liquid in the cassoulet becomes too thick, add a spoonful or two of bean cooking liquid. It should bake for about one hour.

Variations

You could use goose confit instead of the roast pork. Scrape the fat off, and cut it into serving portions, then brown it lightly in some of the fat from the package. Then arrange it directly in the final step.

If you have fresh goose, duck, turkey, or partridge, you can roast or braise it, carve it into serving pieces, and use it with or instead of the roast pork.

Ham hock or veal shank can be added to the simmer with the beans, then cut into serving pieces and added at final assembly.

Julia Child

Ingredients

• 1/4 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 2 ounces ancho chiles (about 4) stemmed and seeded
• 1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 large garlic cloves, 1 clove mashed to a paste
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• One 3-pound lamb shoulder roast on the bone
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• Freshly ground pepper
• Lettuce leaves and warm naan, for serving

Preparation

In a spice grinder, finely grind the caraway, coriander and cumin seeds. In a microwave-safe bowl, cover the ancho chiles with water and microwave at high power for 2 minutes. Let cool slightly, then transfer the softened chiles and 2 tablespoons of the soaking liquid to a blender. Add the ground spices, paprika, lemon juice, the 2 whole garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of salt. Puree the harissa until smooth.

Set the lamb in a medium roasting pan and rub 1/2 cup of the harissa all over the meat; let stand at room temperature for 2 hours or refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 325°. Add 1/2 cup of water to the roasting pan and cover the pan loosely with foil. Roast the lamb for 2 1/2 hours, adding water to the pan a few times to prevent scorching. Remove the foil and roast for about 2 1/2 hours longer, until the lamb is very brown and tender; occasionally spoon the pan juices on top. Let stand for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt with the cilantro, mashed garlic clove and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Using forks or tongs, pull the lamb off the bone in large chunks. Using your fingers, pull the meat into smaller shreds and serve with the yogurt sauce, lettuce leaves, naan and the remaining harissa.

Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 1 lb. thick macaroni
• 7 tbsp olive oil
• 2 vegetable stock cubes (optional)
• 1 lg. onion, finely chopped
• 1 lg. clove garlic
• 2 lb. minced meat (half pork and half beef, or lamb, etc.)
• 2 tsps dried mint, rubbed
• 1 tsp oregano
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup pureed tomatoes
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 heaped tbsp butter
• 1 egg
• 1 cup grated Halloumi (or other dry, hard) cheese

For the white sauce:

• 8 cups milk scant
• ½ c. corn flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp breadcrumbs
• 3 tbsp grated cheese
• zest of 1 lemon

Preparation

Macaroni:

Grease a shallow baking dish (15x13"). Break the macaroni in half (this will enable you to arrange the cooked pasta better in the baking dish later). Add macaroni to a large pan of boiling water, together with 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and 1 vegetable stock cube (optional). Boil, uncovered, until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain well and put aside in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp butter to the pasta, 3/4 cup of your grated cheese, the beaten egg and 1tsp dry mint. Mix well and set aside.

Meat Sauce:

Heat the rest of your oil in a large frying pan; add your chopped onion and garlic and cook until soft. Add the mince and cook until well browned. Add the pasata and the tomato paste, the sugar, oregano, dried mint, cinnamon, the stock cube dissolved in 1 cup of hot water, the salt and the freshly ground black pepper. Towards the end, add the parsley and remove from the heat.

White sauce:

Dissolve your corn flour in 1 cup of milk, then and1 tsp salt. Add the egg (lightly beaten), and the finely chopped parsley and lemon zest. In a big non-stick pan add the remaining 7 cups of milk and bring almost to the boil. Gradually whisk the dissolved corn flour and egg mixture into the hot milk, stir well over the heat until the mixture boils and thickens; mix until smooth and remove from heat.

Next steps:

Add half of the macaroni into your greased dish. Top the macaroni with the meat sauce and spread evenly. Add rest of the pasta over meat sauce. Pour over ¾ of the white sauce and use a fork to make sure that some of the white sauce goes through the pasta to the base of the dish. Now add the rest of the white sauce and smooth the surface, then sprinkle the breadcrumbs and cheese on top. Spread several nobs of butter equally along the surface of the dish.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until golden brown. Leave to stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Ingredients

• 1 rack of lamb
• 1½ tablespoons olive oil
• Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped flat leaf parsley
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• ½ teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Preparation

Heat a heavy skillet over high heat. While it’s heating, rub rack of lamb with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. When the pan is sizzling hot, sear lamb until golden brown on all sides, about 6 minutes total. Place browned lamb on a cutting board to rest until completely cool, about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

In a small bowl, stir together breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and remaining ½ tablespoon olive oil; mix well. Spread mixture on a plate. Coat cooled lamb with Dijon mustard then roll in seasoned bread crumbs. Press crumbs evenly into lamb, creating a nice, thick coating.

Place lamb on a rimmed baking sheet, and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 120 degrees F, approximately 20 to 30 minutes. If the crust looks like it’s getting too dark toward the end of cooking, loosely tent with foil.

Remove lamb from oven and rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before carving into chops and serving.

D’Artagnan

Ingredients

Pumpkin Quinoa Cakes

• 1 cup pumpkin, cooked
• 1 1/2 cups quinoa, cooked
• 1/2 cup sautéed onion
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme
• 1/2 cup buttered breadcrumbs

Lamb

• 4 lamb chops
• 1 tablespoon dark chocolate powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon white pepper
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika

Preparation

Pumpkin Quinoa Cakes: Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Pat out 1/4 cup of mixture into a patty and dear on both sides in about two tablespoons of oils until seated & heated through on both sides.

Lamb: Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. Add chops to the mixture and let marinate overnight. Roast in the oven until desired internal temperature is reached (about 120 degrees because of thinness).

Edible Nashville

Ingredients

• 4 guajillo chiles
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 10 allspice berries
• 1/3 cup Mexican oregano
• 12 sprigs fresh thyme
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup cider vinegar
• 1 (12-pound) goat, quartered or 1 (6 to 8-pound) lamb shoulder
• Salt and pepper
• 1 (2-pound) package dried avocado leaves (we substituted banana leaves)

Preparation

Toast chiles, cover with boiling water in a deep bowl, and set aside for 20 minutes. Grind cumin, cloves, allspice, and oregano in coffee grinder. Drain soaked chiles, puree in blender the chiles, ground spices, thyme, garlic, onion, vinegar, and 1/2 cup of water. Process until smooth Push mixture through a sieve, season goat with salt and pepper. Rub paste all over the meat. Arrange in a bowl and allow to marinate for 4 hours, refrigerated. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a deep roaster pan scatter half of the avocado leaves on the bottom, place meat on top of the avocado leaves and scatter the remaining leaves over the meat. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Cook the goat 6 to 7 hours until meat is falling off the bone. If using lamb shoulder cook for 4 hours.

Food Network