Roasted Sweet Onions Stuffed With Ground Lamb And Apricots Recipes

STUFFED ONIONS WITH SPICED LAMB AND POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• Boil the onions:
• Fill a medium pot with enough water to cover the onions and bring to a boil. Add whole onions, return to a boil, and cook until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove onions to a colander, drain, and let stand until cool enough to handle. Cut a 1/2-inch wedge from the outside to the core of each onion, then carefully peel 5 outer layers from each onion and reserve; chop the onion wedges and core, and reserve separately.
• Make the stuffing:
• In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the lamb, anchovies, salt, and pepper and cook, breaking meat up with a wooden spoon, until lamb is no longer pink, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the spices and 1 cup broth; cook, stirring, until evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer lamb mixture to a rimmed baking sheet and cool slightly; cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove from the refrigerator, transfer to a bowl, and add parsley, cilantro, and 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses.
• Stuff and bake the onions:
• Preheat the oven to 250°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining broth and pomegranate molasses with the tomato paste. Wrap one onion layer around about 2 to 3 tablespoons filling and arrange seam-side down in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Repeat with remaining onion layers and filling.
• Pour liquid over stuffed onions, cover with foil, and roast until tender and some of the liquid is absorbed, 2 hours (you can roast for up to 3 additional hours for softer, more savory onions). Remove from oven and uncover. Preheat broiler and broil until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes. To serve, drizzle with oil, and garnish with pomegranate seeds, parsley, and cilantro.

ONIONS STUFFED WITH LAMB AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Without peeling the onions, cut 1" off the top of each and a little off the bottom so that the onions stand upright. Reserve tops. Remove all but the outer 2 layers of each by scooping out centers with a knife or pushing them up through the top. Set shells and tops aside, finely chop centers.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add chopped onions and cook until soft, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, bring stock to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Add lemon zest and apricots and cook until soft, about 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400*F. Add lamb and cinnamon to onions, increase heat to medium, season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring until lamb is crumbly and just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in stock-apricot mixture and 2 tablespoons each parsley and mint. Cool slightly.
• Spoon filling into onion shells, place in an ovenproof dish. Pile bread crumbs on top (lay onion tops alongside), dot with remaining butter. Pour 1/4 cup water into dish. Bake, basting several times, for 20 minutes, then cover with aluminum foil and bake until onions are tender, about 20 minutes. Garnish with remaining mint and parsley. Serve with onion tops and couscous, if desired.