Middle Eastern Lamb Stew

Photo: Neil Walker

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds boneless lamb stew meat, (shoulder cut) OR 2 ½ pounds lamb shoulder chops, debon

1 tablespoon olive oil, or canola oil

4 teaspoons ground cumin

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

1 medium large or 2 onions, chopped

28 ounces can diced tomatoes

3/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

4 cloves garlic, minced

15 or 19-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed

6 ounces baby spinach

Preparation

Place lamb in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Place on "low" heat.

Mix oil, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Coat the lamb with the spice paste and toss to coat well. Top with onion.

Bring tomatoes, broth and garlic to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour over the lamb and onion. Cover and cook until the lamb is very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours on high or 5 1/2 to 6 hours on low.

Cover and cook until the lamb is very tender, (3 to 3 1/2 hours on high or) 5 1/2 to 6 hours on low. Skim or blot any visible fat from the surface of the stew.

Mash 1/2 cup chickpeas with a fork in a small bowl. Stir the mashed and whole chickpeas into the stew, along with spinach. Cover and cook on high until the spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes.

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About

I tried this recipe from: EatingWell - January/February 2008. It was a really healthy and very hearty stew. My personal tip - I cooked this stew in the pot for 6 hours on low and added another teaspoon or two of Cayenne Pepper; put it in the fridge overnight - and scraped off all of the meat fat the next day Before heating it back up. Amazing. Very spicy for sure.

"This brothy stew is boldly flavored with a blend of characteristic Middle Eastern spices and finished with fresh spinach and fiber-rich chickpeas. Economical lamb shoulder tenderizes beautifully when leisurely cooked in a slow cooker. If you can't find boneless shoulder stew meat, do not substitute more-expensive lamb leg—it tends to dry out during slow cooking. Instead, purchase lamb shoulder chops and debone them. Serve over bulgur and accompany with a salad." - "Eating Well"; (Jan/Feb 2008)

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare the stew, omitting the spinach, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 4 months. Add spinach after the stew is reheated. | Prep ahead: Trim lamb and coat with spice mixture. Chop onions. Combine broth, tomatoes and garlic. Refrigerate in separate covered containers for up to 1 day.

Nutrition Per serving: 319 calories; 15 g fat (5 g sat, 6 g mono); 92 mg cholesterol; 15 g carbohydrates; 30 g protein; 5 g fiber; 494 mg sodium; 238 mg potassium. Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (30% daily value), Vitamin A (25% dv), Iron (20% dv). Carbohydrate serving. Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat.