Make Ahead

Spiced Lamb à la Garden and Grove

January 30, 2011
5
1 Ratings
  • Serves 8-10
Author Notes

This delicious recipe is a recreation of what Governor Nehemiah might have served his royal guests, and one can see why: an elegant lamb dish; it has all the best of garden and grove. From our book "Cooking with the Bible: Recipes for Biblical Meals." —Anthony Chiffolo

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Ingredients
  • 4 onions, diced
  • 6 large green peppers, quartered
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 2 pounds lamb, ground
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon thyme leaves
  • 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 4 limes, halved
  • 4 teaspoons cardamom
  • 4 sticks cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon zaatar
  • 3 cups cooked rice
  • 1/2 cup seedless raisins
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 pinch dried lemon thyme
Directions
  1. In a large skillet, saute´ the onions and peppers in butter over medium heat until brown, taking care not to let them burn. Add the lamb, lemon thyme, tomatoes, garlic, salt, and 1 cup water in which the bouillon cubes have been dissolved. Simmer over a low-to-medium heat until the lamb is tender (about 1–1½ hours). Add the limes, cardamom, cinnamon, and zaatar and bring to a boil.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  3. Remove from stovetop and stir in the rice, raisins, and slivered almonds. Pour into an ovenproof casserole dish and cook for 30 minutes or so until heated thoroughly. Sprinkle a small amount of dried lemon thyme over meat just prior to serving.

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