Cardamom Scented Lamb With Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipes

CARDAMOM-SCENTED LAMB WITH MASHED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add tomato paste, garlic and thyme; sauté 1 minute. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Add both broths; boil until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• For lamb:
• Preheat oven to 450 °F. Toast cardamom seeds in heavy small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Cool. Transfer to spice grinder; grind coarsely.
• Sprinkle lamb with cardamom, salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add 1 lamb rack; sear until brown, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Transfer lamb, meat side up, to baking sheet. Repeat with second lamb rack. Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center registers 125°F for medium-rare, about 18 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut lamb between bones into chops.
• Bring sauce to simmer. Reduce heat to low. Add butter and mustard; whisk just until butter melts. Season with pepper. Spoon sauce onto plates. Top with sweet potatoes and lamb and serve.

LAMB CHOPS WITH MASHED SWEET POTATOES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over high heat. Working in batches, add lamb bones; sauté until well browned, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Transfer bones to platter. Add onion and sauté until brown, about 12 minutes. Return bones to Dutch oven. Add both broths, garlic and thyme and bring to boil. Reduce heat, partially cover Dutch oven and simmer 2 hours.
• Strain sauce into heavy small saucepan, pressing hard on solids to release liquid. Discard solids. Boil sauce until reduced to 2/3 cup, about 20 minutes. Spoon fat off surface. Set sauce aside.
• Cook sweet potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 13 minutes. Drain. Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and minced thyme and sauté until onion is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer sweet potatoes and onion mixture to processor and puree until almost smooth. Stir in cloves. Season with salt and pepper. (Sauce and sweet potatoes can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
• Season lamb with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over high heat. Working in batches, add lamb; cook to desired doneness, adding more oil to skillet as necessary, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare.
• Meanwhile, bring sauce to simmer. Rewarm sweet potatoes in medium skillet over low heat, stirring often.
• Place large spoonful of potatoes in center of each of 4 plates. Top each with 2 chops. Spoon sauce over. Garnish with thyme sprigs.

CARDAMOM MASHED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes until tender.
• Drain.
• Cook the corn briefly (also peas if using) by steaming no more than 3 minutes.
• Add the spinach in the last minute or so.
• Drain water and remove from heat.
• Melt the butter and saute the onions slowly until caramelized.
• Mash the potato and season with cardamom, salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in the onions.
• Then add the other vegetables and honey (if using).
• You may also add more butter (if your lover will let you).

WHIPPED SWEET POTATOES WITH CARDAMOM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with heavy-duty foil. Place potatoes on baking sheets. Pierce potatoes with fork. Bake until very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Let cool slightly.
• Increase temperature to 350°F. Peel warm potatoes and place in bowl of heavy-duty electric mixer. Beat potatoes until mashed. Add butter, cream, cardamom and nutmeg. Whip until smooth and creamy. Season with salt. Transfer potatoes to 13 x 9-inch oval baking dish. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.) Bake potatoes until heated through and beginning to brown on top, about 45 minutes.

CARDAMOM-SCENTED LAMB WITH MASHED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• 1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add tomato paste, garlic, and thyme; sauté 1 minute. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Add both broths; boil until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• 2. Preheat oven to 450°F. Toast cardamom seeds in heavy small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Cool. Transfer to spice grinder; grind coarsely. [I used a mortar and pestle.] Sprinkle lamb with cardamom, salt and pepper.
• 3. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add 1 lamb rack; sear until brown, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Transfer lamb, meat side up, to baking sheet. Repeat with second lamb rack. [I was actually only using one lamb rack and so I seared it in my heavy oven-proof skillet, moved the lamb out, drained some of the oil - careful it's hot! - and then put the lamb back on the skillet instead of a separate baking sheet.
• 4. Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center registers 125°F for medium rare, about 18 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes. Cut lamb between bones into chops.
• 5. While chops are roasting: Bring sauce to simmer. Reduce heat to low. Add butter and mustard; whisk just until butter melts. Season with pepper.
• 6. Top with sweet mashed potatoes and lamb and serve. [I also lightly sautéed thin strips of bok choy, and wrapped them around the plated sauce. Seen in top photo.]