Author Notes
We've been making this lamb stew for years, but we were inspired to share it when we saw the exact same recipe described recently in the Hunger Games books and movie. Katniss can't get enough of it and neither can we. This sweet, savory and tender stew is perfect for fall, winter and spring holidays, and it's one of our favorite things we make. And like most stews, it's better when prepared a day or two in advance! —Fig Test Kitchen
Ingredients
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1 cup
sliced almonds
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2 1/2 pounds
onions (yellow or white) coarsely chopped
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1/2 cup
plus 2-4 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
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3 tablespoons
honey
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2 teaspoons
cinnamon
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2 1/2 tablespoons
sugar
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4 to 4 1/2 pounds
lamb cut into 1 ½ inch cubes (trim excess fat before measuring)
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2 teaspoons
kosher salt
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1 1/2 teaspoons
pepper
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1 1/2 cups
red wine
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2 cups
chicken stock
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2 pounds
dried plums (prunes)
Directions
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
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Place almonds on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 5-7 minutes, or until they are light brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
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Pour 1/2 cup of oil into a 6-8 quart pot and heat until the oil starts to bubble.
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Add the onions to the oil and reduce to a simmer. Stir occasionally so the onions don’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Cook until onions are caramelized and very dark brown but not black, about one hour.
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Add the honey, cinnamon, and sugar. Stir well and set aside.
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Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a 12-14 inch pan. Heat until oil bubbles. Add about half the lamb (make sure the pan it not too crowded) and sautée until meat is light golden brown. Repeat until all the meat is browned (you will probably be able to brown all the meat in two batches, but it will depend on the size of your pan)
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Once all the meat is lightly browned, add the lamb to the onion mixture, along with the wine and chicken stock.
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Simmer over a very low heat for 60-90 minutes until the lamb is tender but does not fall apart (if you cook it too long, the meat will be stringy). Stir occasionally in order to assure the meat does not stick to the bottom of the pot.
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Taste and adjust salt and pepper seasoning if needed.
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Serve with basmati rice and top each plate of stew with toasted almonds (you may also add the almonds into the stew, but we like to preserve the crunchy texture of the almonds by adding the nuts to the top of each serving).
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