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Archive for February 2013

Braised lamb chops with stewed okra

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Monday 11 February 2013



Lamb shoulder slices were on sale so I decided to give them a try.  I wanted to go to yoga before dinner so I started them off in the slow-cooker and finished them in the oven.  For complete oven cooking see the note below.


Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 3 hours (2.5 in oven alone)
Serves: 2



Ingredients

Lamb
2 lamb shoulder chops
1 carrot, thickly sliced
1 celery rib, thickly sliced
1/2 onion, diced
1 cup beef stock
4 cloves garlic, pressed
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tbsp flour
pinch of sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Stewed okra
2 cups of okra
1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 can tomato paste
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tbsp olive oil



Directions

  
   1.  Grind rosemary and thyme with a mortar and pestle.  Add to a small          
        bowl with garlic, lemon zest, half the lemon juice and half the oil.  Add          
        salt and pepper and mix well. Rub the mixture on both sides of the          
        lamb chops.  



     2.  Heat the remaining oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.  Brown the          
          meat, about 5-7 minutes per side, until a slight crust forms.  Set chops
          aside.



     3.  Turn down the heat to medium and add onions.  Sauté until          
          translucent, about 4 minutes.  Add stock to the skillet and scrape off         
          brown bits.      

     4.  Add meat, onion mixture, remaining lemon juice, carrots and celery to         
          the slow-cooker, over high heat.  Cook for 2 hours.       

     5.  Meanwhile, cut off the tops of the okra and slice lengthwise.  Soak in         
          cold water for 10 minutes.       

     6.  Sauté onions and garlic with 1/2 tsp of olive oil over medium heat for 5 
          minutes.  Add cumin and cinnamon.  Add drained okra and cook for 10        
          minutes, stirring frequently.         

     7.  Add tomato paste and 1/2 cup of water and simmer over medium-low         
          for 15 minutes. Add additional water if necessary.      

     8.  Remove lamb from the slow-cooker and place in a small pyrex dish with
          1/2 of the liquid. Bake at 300 °F for 1 hour.      

     9.  To make gravy, add the remaining liquid and vegetables from the slow          
          cooker to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add balsamic vinegar and          
          allow the liquid to reduce for 10 minutes. Add flour and whisk until
          smooth.  Cook for an additional 5 minutes until sauce thickens.      

     10. Remove lamb from oven and plate with gravy and okra.       

     11. Savour it!




Note: If you only want to use the oven, place chops, onion mixture and stock to a roasting pan and bake with a lid on for 2 hours at 300 °F. Increase heat to 350 °F, remove the lid and cook for an additional 30 minutes.


Asian Salmon Tartare

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Monday 4 February 2013



I`ve always wanted to try and make this dish.  Salmon was on sale at the grocery store so I gave it a shot.  It turned out great!


Preparation time: 25 minutes
Chill time: 2 hours
Serves: 4 


Ingredients



1 8-oz boneless salmon fillet, skin removed 
1/4 cup cucumber, finely diced 
1/4 cup minced cilantro 
1/2 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced 
2 green onions, finely diced 
1 tsp ginger, grated 
1 1/2 tsp olive oil 
1/2 tsp sesame oil 
Juice of 1 lime 
Zest of 1 lime 
pinch of red chili flakes 
pinch of salt and black pepper 
Tortilla chips


Directions


     1.  Place salmon in the freezer for about 20 minutes. 

     2.  Thinly slice salmon into small cubes. Place in a medium-sized bowl

          with remaining ingredients. Toss to combine. 

     3.  Refrigerate the mixture for 1-2 hours before serving. 


     4.  Savour it!





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