Special Occasion Lamb and Pasta

Ingredients
2 Lamb Fillets
2 Red Onions (quartered)
4 Cloves Garlic (chopped as thin as possible)
A Few Rosemary Sprigs
1 Tablespoon Chopped Rosemary
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Freshly Cooked Pasta to Serve
Parmesan and Parsley to Garnish

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Griddle or Non Stick Frying Pan
1 Large Pan (2/3 rds full with boiling salted water for the pasta)
Pestle and Mortar (or bowl and spoon)

The Good Bit

1. Make small cuts all over the lamb fillets, and then push the thin garlic slices and rosemary sprigs into them, you want to put the fillets onto an all ready hot griddle pan and cook turning occasionally until sealed and charred all over (20 minutes for rare, 30 for medium and 40 for well done) for the last 10 minutes of cooking add the quartered onions.
2. Put the chopped rosemary in your pestle and add a good splash of oil (4 tablespoons roughly) work well and season.
3. Give the lamb 5 minutes before you cut it to rest, cut into strips and drizzle over the seasoned oil, add the onions and serve with pasta, for that special touch garnish with parmesan and chopped fresh parsley.
   

Serves 4

My Favourite Lamb Shanks

Ingredients
4 Lamb Shanks
4 Small Aubergines (halved lengthways and sliced thickly)
4 Large Onions (Sliced)
8 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
2x400g Cans Chopped Tomatoes
2 Cinnamon Sticks
4 Tablespoons Tomato Purée
A Splash of Tabasco Sauce
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 Garlic Press
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan/Casserole Dish
1 Slotted Spoon

The Good Bit

1. In your large pan, add a dash of oil, drop in the lamb shanks and brown evenly all over, the remove with the slotted spoon, next drop in your aubergine slices in batches and brown them too, add more oil if you need to (which you probably will straight after the lamb, just keep an eye on the pan getting dry)
2. Once all the aubergine is done and removed it's time to lower the heat and do the onion and garlic, again until brown, then add both cans of tomatoes, the purée, the cinnamon sticks and a splash of tabasco, now drop the lamb and aubergine back in and bring to a simmer, add water (or chicken stock) if needed to make sure the shanks are almost covered, cover the pan and simmer for 1hour and 45 minutes.
3. Lift the lamb onto serving plates then scoop off as much fat as you can from the top of your pan, then heat the pan rapidly to reduce to a thick sauce, season and drizzle around the outside of your lamb.
   

Serves 4

Lamb Skewers

Ingredients
500g Lamb (cubed)
8 Dried Apricots
8 Baby Onions (or button)
1 Tablespoon Fresh Mint (chopped)
300ml Natural Yoghurt
2 Tablespoons Fresh Ginger (finely chopped)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Coriander
1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
Salt and Pepper
Lemon Wedges to Garnish

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Bowl
1 Small Bowl
1 Spoon
8 Wooden Skewers (pre soaked for 20 minutes in water)
1 Small Pan
1 Garlic Press

The Good Bit

1. Make the marinade first, add all the ingredients from the natural yoghurt downwards (apart from the lemon wedges) to the bowl season with the salt and pepper then drop in the lamb and stir well to make sure it is all well coated, cover and set aside for 6 hours to marinate, stir occasionally if the lamb cubes aren't completely submerged in the marinade.
2. You'll also want to soak the apricots in the other bowl, so put the apricots in your other bowl and cover with boiling water.
3. When your ready to cook, pre heat your grill to a medium high heat, lift the lamb cubes from the marinade and thread onto the skewers alternately with the baby onion and the drained apricots, then cook for 12-15 minutes turning frequently.
   
4. Pour your marinade into the small pan and add the mint, stir well and just heat through, serve the skewers with a drizzle of the marinade on top.
   

Serves 4

Lamb in Tomato and Fennel

Ingredients
1Kg Lamb (cubed)
400g Can Chopped Tomatoes
1 Onion (finely chopped)
750g Fennel Heads (chopped)
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan with Cover/ Casserole Dish
1 Pan

The Good Bit

1. Heat a splash of oil in the pan/casserole and fry the meat until it's browned all over, then add the onion and fry for another 5 minutes, now add in the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
2. Lower the heat and simmer for 40 minutes (you may need to add a little water if the pot gets dry) meanwhile cook the fennel in boiling salted water for 20 minutes, then strain off the liquid (keeping 200ml to one side)
3. Now add the fennel to the meat and pour in the reserved juices, cook for a further 20 minutes then serve immediately.
   

Serves 4

Lamb with Celery and Onion

Ingredients
1kg Lamb (cut into chunks)
375g Baby Onions
2 Sticks Celery
450ml Chicken Stock
2 Bay Leaves
2-3 Sprigs Rosemary (chopped into pieces)
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan with Lid/Casserole Dish

The Good Bit

1. Heat a splash of oil in the pan/casserole dish and fry the onion and celery over a low heat for 5 minutes until soft, now add the meat, rosemary and half the rosemary, season with salt and pepper and fry until the meat is browned all over.
2. Add the stock, and if needed a little water just to make sure all the meat is covered, cover and simmer for 1 hour, when ready, remove the herbs and then garnish with the remaining rosemary.
   

Serves 4

Lamb Stew

Ingredients
1kg Lamb (cubed, neck is a good cut to use)
2 Large Onions (sliced)
1Kg Potatoes (sliced)
2 Large Carrots (diced)
400ml Chicken Stock (lamb or vegetable are ok as well)
Handful Fresh Parsley (chopped)
Butter
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan or preferably Casserole Dish
Greaseproof paper
Tin Foil

The Good Bit

1. If you have a casserole dish, pre heat your oven too 160c 335f gas 3, if not we'll use the hob. Start by layering your vegetables and lamb into the pan, make the top layer one of potato slices, you want to sprinkle salt, pepper and a bit of chopped parsley on each layer, but leave the last layer (your potatoes) alone, then pour on the stock.
   
2. Grease your greaseproof paper with a bit of butter then cover your dish or pan tightly with it, now add a tight layer of tin foil and finally a lid, if your are using the oven put the casserole dish in now and leave for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, on the hob you want to bring the pan to the boil first then reduce the heat and leave to simmer for about the same length of time.
3. Serving suggestion, if you have too much liquid, take a few of the potato slices and mash them then add them back to the stew and heat. Finally add a garnish of parsley, season to taste and serve.
   

Serves 4

Rosemary and Lemon Lamb cutlets

Ingredients
8 Lamb Cutlets
1 Sprig Rosemary (chopped finely)
1 Lemon (zested and juiced)
A Splash of Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Salad/Chips whatever you wish to serve

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Grill Pan
1 Zester/Juicer
1 Metal Spoon

The Good Bit

1. Mix the lemon juice,zest, rosemary and a little splash of oil in the bowl, season with salt and pepper and then drop in the lamb, make sure it's all coated and set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Pre heat your grill to high, then place the lamb on your grill pan, spoon over any remaining marinade and cook for 5 minutes on each side.
   

Serves 4

Rogan Josh

Ingredients
900g Lamb Fillet (cubed)
250ml Natural Yoghurt
400g Chopped Tomatoes
150ml Water
1 Onion (finely chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (finely chopped)
1 Inch Fresh Ginger (grated)
1 Teaspoon Salt
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons Tomato Purée
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
2 Bay Leaves
4 Cardamom Pods
2 Teaspoons Each Ground Coriander, Ground Cumin
1 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
A Splash of Oil
Rice to Serve

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Metal Spoon
1 Wok/Large Frying Pan
1 Large Pan (for the rice, see home page for instructions on how to cook perfect rice every time)
1 Garlic Press

The Good Bit

1. Mix together the lemon juice, yoghurt, salt, half the crushed garlic and ginger then add the lamb and leave to marinate over night.
2. Heat a splash of oil in your wok and fry the cumin seeds for 2 minutes, then add the bay leaves and cardamom pods and fry for another 2, next add the onion and the remainder of the garlic and fry for a further 5 minutes.
3. Now add the coriander, ground cumin, and chilli and fry for 2 minutes before adding the lamb and marinade, cook this for 5 minutes, stirring all the time to prevent it burning to the bottom of the pan.
4. Add in the tomatoes, water and tomato purée, bring to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for 1 hour 15 minutes. Serve with rice (start preparing the rice after the meat has been simmering for an hour)
   

Serves 4