I was in the mood for lamb stew, which I love and never think to make. After gathering the stuff for a traditional old lamb stew, saw a recipe for lamb and winter vegetables on Allrecipes.com and was laughing that every single review on the site says 'this was a great recipe -- I used X instead of that, left out Y, quadrupled the amount of Z -- it was wonderful' Then I did the same, so here's my version. The prep is pretty easy -- just cutting veggies and sauteeing lamb, then it can either bake for 2-3 hours, or sit in a crockpot for 5-8 hours. Best if reheated and served the next day. This makes enough for 4 people, or freeze portions.
2.5-3 lbs rolled lamb roast, cut in 1 to 1.5 inch cubes
1/2 - 3/4 c flour, salt (~1/2-1 tsp) and pepper (1/2-3/4 tsp)
2 strips bacon
olive oil
thyme - 1 tsp dry rubbed herb or more -should be a strong presence
2 bay leaves
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 - 2 cans beef broth
1 small portobello mushroom, chopped
1-2 large scrubbed yukon gold potato, ~1-inch cubes (or a dozen small red or white potatoes)
1 -2 cup peeled baby carrots, cut in halves
8-12 peeled boiling onions, or 1 sweet onion cut in 1" chunks, or 1 pkg frozen pearl onions
1 smallish peeled sweet potato or yam (or use leftover cooked)
1-2 large parsnips, peeled and cut in 1/2 inch rounds *
1 - 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and 1" cubed
optional: 1 cup dark beer, or red wine
1/2 cup sour cream
large frying pan
large ovenproof covered casserole or slow cooker
Fry bacon until just crisp, to make grease, and set bacon aside. Add olive oil to coat frying pan thickly.
Dredge cubed lamb in flour with 1/2 - 3/4 tsp salt and ~ 1/2 tsp fresh coarsely ground black pepper, and dump in hot oiled frying pan. Saute/sear quickly, stirring, letting flour brown but not burn.
Add 1 can beef broth and deglaze pan. Transfer into a large casserole or slow-cooker. Add crumbled bacon, herbs, crushed garlic cloves, and all veggies except butternut squash. Add ~ 4 cups water, or you can use half beef broth, or use up to a cup of dark beer or red wine in place of some of the water. (The wine is esp good if made with with beef rather than lamb.)
* Parsnip has a sweet, distinctive flavor and I think is important to the aroma and flavor, but you could probably leave it out. If you like turnip or rutabaga, you could also add that in, I imagine. All veggie amounts are subject to availability and preference.
Cover and bake in a 350 oven, or in a crockpot, until meat and veggies are very tender, but at least 2 hrs in oven. Stir once or twice during cooking process if you think of it. An hour before it's done, adjust salt and pepper -- it should have a mild pepper tang -- add in butternut squash and finish cooking. (If you won't have time, add it in at the beginning with everything else, but it's a nice touch to have it identifiable in the stew.) If desired, serve with a small dollop of sour cream on top of each bowl (or blend in sour cream and reheat shortly before serving)
Serve with a crusty bread or garlic bread and a mixed green salad (with oranges and nuts is great).