Colorado Lamb And Caramelized Onion Mash With Lamb Fennel Essence Recipes

COLORADO LAMB AND CARAMELIZED ONION MASH WITH LAMB FENNEL ESSENCE

Steps:

• Remove all fat from the lamb top rounds and discard. Combine rosemary, thyme, garlic, and 1/8 cup canola oil. Marinate lamb in herb-garlic mixture, covered and refrigerated, overnight.
• For the Lamb Fennel Essence: Trim lamb scraps and dice into 1/8-inch cubes. Heat canola oil until just smoking. Pan fry lamb in batches. Cook until lamb is evenly caramelized dark brown, but not burnt. Strain off fat and de-glaze pan with vinegar and scrape fond from bottom of pan. Add thyme, fennel seeds, and red wine to pot. Reduce. Add demi-glace and simmer very slowly for 2 to 3 hours.
• Add water to bring sauce up to original volume as needed. Reduce by half and season with salt. Strain through fine chinois. Adjust seasoning.
• To finish, bring one cup of sauce to boil. Whip in two tablespoons of cold butter and check seasonings.
• For The Lamb: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Remove lamb from marinade. Season well with salt. Sear the lamb over high heat with one tablespoon oil in ovenproof pan. Sear to a dark brown, then turn lamb over, and transfer to the oven for 7 to 10 minutes, for medium rare. Remove from oven, cover with foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
• Place potatoes and salt in a large pot. Add cold water and cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until completely tender, about 30 minutes. Drain well in a colander.
• Combine 4 tablespoons butter and cream in a saucepan over low heat and heat until butter is melted.
• Peel onions and slice thin as possible. To very hot skillet, add 2 tablespoons butter, then onions, and salt. Stir and continue to cook over high heat until they color. Then reduce heat and caramelize to a chestnut brown color.
• Mash the cooked potatoes into the pot they were cooked in. Keep potatoes warm over a very low flame, stirring in the cream and butter and onion mixture. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• For lamb shanks:
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sliced onions and shallots and sauté until brown, about 20 minutes. Mix in 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary. Remove from heat.
• Sprinkle lamb shanks with salt and pepper; coat lamb with flour. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Working in batches, all lamb shanks to skillet and cook until brown on both sides, about 10 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer lamb shanks to plate. Add 1 cup dry red wine to same skillet and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Pour into Dutch oven with onion mixture. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups red wine, canned beef broth, tomato paste and 2 bay leaves to dutch oven. Bring to boil, stirring until tomato paste dissolves. Add lamb shanks, turning to coat with liquid.
• Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until lamb is almost tender, turning lamb shanks occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Uncover Dutch oven and boil until liquid is reduced to sauce consistency, stirring and turning lamb shanks occasionally, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• For Mash:
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add potatoes, rutabagas and parsnips. Boil until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Drain well.
• Return vegetables to same pot. Mash until coarse puree forms. Mix in 3 tablespoons olive oil. Season vegetables to taste with salt and pepper. (Vegetable mash can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm over low heat, stirring frequently.) Transfer vegetables to bowl and serve.
• Spoon Potato and Root Vegetable Mash onto plates. Top vegetables with lamb shanks and sauce. Sprinkle lamb shanks with additional chopped fresh rosemary and serve.