Lamb With Cherries And Couscous Recipes

MOROCCAN LAMB STEW WITH DRIED CHERRIES AND LEMON

Steps:

• Rehydrate the cherries in a bowl with about a cup of warmed stock. Let soak until needed.
• In a large, heavy saute pan, heat 2 T olive oil with 2 T butter over high heat. Season the lamb with salt and pepper and saute in batches, not overcrowding the pan, so all sides are browned. Transfer to a large saucepan or casserole. Continue this process until allo the lamb is well browned.
• Reheat the saute pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and saute the onions to translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the spices and cook until the aromas start to come up, 2-3 minutes. Deglaze with some of the stock and add this to the pan with the lamb. Add the remaining stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Add the rehydrated cherries with their soaking liquid and the preserved lemon (or lemon zest). Continue cooking for about 15-20 minutes more, or until the lamb is very tender. Add the honey and season to taste with additional salt and pepper.
• Serve over couscous, mixed with a few chopped Kalamata olives. Top with toasted sesame seeds and enjoy with a glass of Cabernet Franc.
• Notes:
• This dish has A LOT of butter. By mistake, I only used 2 T, in stead of ½ cup Next time, I wouldn't use any at all. There is enough olive oil & liquid from the lamb to sufficiently cook the lamb without the butter. This will cut calories by A LOT, too!
• I toasted the ground coriander in a frying pan until it was smoky & fragrant.
• I used beef broth, and lemon zest.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH CHERRIES

Steps:

• Saute 1 chopped red onion in olive oil until softened. Add 1 cup Israeli couscous; cook, stirring, 4 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat, 8 minutes. Toss with 8 ounces halved pitted cherries, 1/2 cup crumbled feta, 1/4 cup each chopped parsley and scallions and 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

CURRIED BRAISED LAMB SHANK WITH THREE ONION COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Season the shanks well with salt and pepper. Mix flour with curry, chili, fennel, and coriander. Completely coat shanks in mix. In a hot casserole lightly coated with canola oil, sear shanks and color on all sides. Set shanks aside and wipe out casserole. Saute onions, celery, carrots, garlic and ginger until soft. Season with salt and pepper. Deglaze casserole with red wine and reduce by half. Stir in thyme. Add soy sauce, banana, kaffir lime and chilies. Add shanks and completely cover with water. Check for seasoning. Slowly bring to a boil then cover tightly with foil or lid. Roast in a 325 degree oven (at a simmer) for at least 3 hours. The meat should fall off of the bone. Remove shanks and reduce sauce until thickened slightly. Remove kaffir lime leaves and puree sauce using a hand blender. Check again for seasoning.
• THREE ONION COUSCOUS: In a hot saute pan, add canola oil and caramelize onions with the scallions. Season. Remove to a large bowl. Add olive oil, currants and couscous. Boil water and add exactly 6 cups to bowl and quickly stir together. Immediately cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let stand 30 minutes. With a fork, fluff couscous and check for seasoning.

LAMB WITH CHERRIES AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Chop whole onion.
• Heat large nonstick pan until very hot. Reduce heat to medium high; add oil, and cook onion until it begins to soften and brown.
• Meanwhile, clean, trim and slice mushrooms; add to onion as it cooks.
• Wash lamb and remove fat. Cut lamb into small cubes, add to onion and mushrooms as they cook, and stir to brown on all sides; remove from heat.
• Following package directions, bring water to boil for couscous.
• Coarsely grate ginger; finely grate lemon and orange rinds.
• Add grated ginger and rinds and couscous to boiling water; cover and remove from heat, and allow to sit until water is absorbed and couscous is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir the cherries, tomato paste and orange juice into the lamb; season with pepper; return to heat and cook through. Serve over couscous.