Category: Shoulder

Mediterranean cooks certainly know their way around lamb and combine it with spices that their Northern counterparts would never dream of using.   The results are often revelatory flavors that not only bring out the best in lamb, but also bring out the best flavor in some of the least flavorful cuts of lamb, such as the shoulder.   This is a great dish on a warm summer evening.

Ingredients

Time:   1:30

• 4 pounds lamb shoulder chops cut 2 inches thick
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cups diced red onion
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Pinch of saffron
• 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint

Preparation

Season chops generously with salt and pepper. Put olive oil in a wide deep skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly brown lamb on both sides, then remove and set aside. Lower heat to medium, add onion to pan and season with salt. Cook, stirring, until softened and lightly colored, about 5 minutes.

Stir garlic, saffron and tomato paste into onions and cook 1 minute. Add wine and simmer for 2 minutes, then return lamb to skillet. Add 4 cups water, just to cover meat, and bring to a boil. Put on lid, turn heat to low and simmer gently for about 45 minutes, until quite tender.

Remove lid and raise heat to a rapid simmer. Simmer until juices have reduced by nearly half and sauce has thickened somewhat (may be prepared ahead to this point). Taste and adjust seasoning. Just before serving, reheat and stir in chopped mint.

YIELD 4 to 6 servings

This one takes a bit of effort, but it’s  great flavorful way to use the lamb shoulder, which is an often neglected cut of the lamb.   A fantastic stew for a cold winter’s evening.

Ingredients

• 1 lamb shoulder (3 1/2 lbs) cut into 2″ cubes (check “kebob style” on our order form)
• 6 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
• 4 twigs of fresh rosemary, stripped
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tsp. sweet paprika
• 3 roasted bell peppers, cut into 1/2″ strips (canned are easiest)
• 1 large ripe tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 5 sprigs of parsley
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup of what ever red wine you’re serving for dinner
• 1/2 cup chicken stock

Preparation

Combine lamb, 3 of the crushed garlic cloves, rosemary, and white wine in a medium bowl, mix well and cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to marinade for at least 2-3 hours (can be left overnight). Drain meat and discard marinade.

Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot (use one with a tight fitting lid). Working in batches so as not to crowd the pot, add the lamb, and brown on all sides (about 10 minutes per batch). Let juices accumulate in the pot. Once all the meat is done, return it all to the pot. Add onions, crushed garlic, and salt and pepper to taste and cook until onions are soft (about five minutes). Scrape the pot bottom with a wooden spoon while doing this to avoid sticking. Stir in paprika, and add roasted bell peppers, tomatoes, parsley, bay leaf and red wine. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce heat to a simmer until the mixture thickens (about 10 – 15 minutes).

Pour in the chicken stock, cover and put under low heat, stirring occasionally until the meat is very tender (about 2 – 2.5 hours). Adjust seasonings according to taste.