Connemara Lamb Stew Recipes

TRADITIONAL LAMB STEW

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.

CHEF JOHN'S IRISH STEW

Steps:

• Season lamb shoulder chops with salt and black pepper.
• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat. Working in batches, cook lamb shoulder chops until browned on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer chops to a stock pot.
• Cook and stir onion with a pinch of salt in the same skillet over medium heat until slightly softened and edges are browning, about 5 minutes. Stir butter into onion until melted; add flour and stir until onions are coated, about 1 minute.
• Pour stock into onion mixture; bring to a boil, add rosemary, and stir until mixture thickens, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir carrots and celery into pot with lamb shoulder chops and pour chicken stock mixture over the top. Add water as needed to cover meat completely. Bring mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and cook until meat is almost falling off the bone, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer meat to a plate. Stir potatoes into stew and return meat to stew, placing on top of vegetables. Simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender and meat is falling off the bone, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer meat to a plate using a slotted spoon. Bring stew to a boil and cook, skimming off fat, until stew is reduced and thick, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove meat from bones; discard bones and any pieces of fat. Stir meat back into stew. Stir green onions into stew and season with salt and pepper to taste.

CONNEMARA LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Season the flour with the salt and pepper. Lightly dust the lamb with the flour and shake off the excess. Heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottom pot over medium heat until hot. Add the lamb in one layer and saute until golden brown on all sides, about 6 to 10 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of the mint and season lightly with salt and pepper. Add the white wine, stir well and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth, lemon juice and artichoke hearts, lower the heat, cover the pot and simmer gently until the lamb is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix the remaining 2 tablespoons mint, the parsley and the lemon zest. When the lamb is tender, gently slide the oysters into the stew and simmer for an additional 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the mint mixture, divide among heated bowls and serve.