Ingredients
- 1-1,2 kg lamb stew meat (boneless leg or shoulder), cut into ca. 4cm cubes
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 shallots, diced
- 4 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- generous grind of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (Ceylon)
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 60 ml red wine vinegar (good quality)
- 2 tablespoons soft brown sugar (I recommend GEPA organic mascobado raw cane sugar)
- 400 ml vegetable stock
- 40 g pitted kalamata olives (ca. 25 olives)
- 25 g dried cranberries
- 1 x 400 g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 25 g pine nuts lightly toasted
- Seeds from half a pomegranate
- Fresh herbs I like chopped mint and cilantro
- Couscous, millet, bulgur, short-grain brown rice, or flatbreads
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 330°F / 165°C.
- Heat the oil in an oven-proof Dutch oven over a medium heat. Add the shallots and fry for 5 minutes, until beginning to color. Add the garlic, all the spices, and tomato paste and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Season the lamb with salt and pepper, then add it to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly to ensure all sides are lightly browned.
- Add the vinegar, brown sugar and vegetable stock and bring to a light simmer. Cover with the lid, transfer to the oven and cook for 2 hours. For the last 30 minutes of the cooking time, add the olives, cranberries, and chickpeas.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve scattered with pine nuts, pomegranate seeds and fresh herbs along with your grain of choice or flatbreads as an accompaniment. Enjoy!
