Best 5 Lamb Stew With Lemon And Thyme Recipes

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Indulge in the culinary delight of Lamb Stew with Lemon and Thyme, a classic dish that captures the essence of rustic charm and hearty flavors. Originating from the Mediterranean region, this delectable stew showcases succulent lamb pieces slowly braised in a flavorful broth infused with aromatic lemon and thyme. The result is a tender and fall-off-the-bone lamb surrounded by a rich and tangy sauce that tantalizes the taste buds. Served alongside soft, fluffy mashed potatoes or crusty bread, this comforting stew is perfect for a cozy dinner gathering or a special occasion.

In this article, we present you with two enticing variations of Lamb Stew with Lemon and Thyme, each offering a unique twist on this timeless recipe. The first recipe stays true to the traditional Mediterranean roots, featuring a combination of fresh herbs, zesty lemon, and select spices that create a vibrant and flavorful broth. The second recipe adds a touch of Moroccan inspiration with the inclusion of aromatic Ras el Hanout spice blend, offering a warm and exotic flavor profile. Both recipes provide step-by-step instructions, ensuring that you can effortlessly recreate this culinary masterpiece in your own kitchen.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH LEMON



Braised Lamb Shanks With Lemon image

Many of us had our earliest experiences with braised foods not at the pricey restaurants that have recently rediscovered their appeal but at the Greek diners that never forgot it. So it's not surprising that I associate braised lamb shanks with egg-lemon sauce, a Greek staple. But when I set about to recreate this standard dish I found the sauce superfluous. Though a slow-cooked pot of braised lamb shanks and root vegetables becomes so sweet that it begs for something to counter it, it is also so rich that the thick sauce (a primitive form of béarnaise, really) is overkill. Better, it seems to me, is to finish the braised shanks with what you might call lemon-lemon sauce, using both a lemon's zest and a lemon's juice. That little touch converts this dish from a delicious but perhaps one-dimensional stew to something more, a braise that may never look particularly elegant but tastes that way.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories     dinner, weekday, soups and stews, steaks and chops, main course

Time 2h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 lamb shanks, roughly a pound each
Salt and pepper to taste
3 or 4 thyme sprigs
6 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
1 large onion, cut into chunks
4 stalks celery, roughly chopped
4 medium carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
2 cups dry white wine or water
1 1/2 pounds waxy potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 lemon
Chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish

Steps:

  • Put oil in a large, deep skillet or casserole that can be covered later, and turn heat to medium-high. Add shanks, sprinkling them with salt and pepper. When pieces are deeply browned on one side, add thyme, garlic, onion, half the celery and half the carrots, and more salt and pepper to skillet. Continue to brown, stirring occasionally.
  • Add wine, and let mixture bubble for about a minute; cover and adjust heat so that mixture simmers steadily. Cook for about an hour.
  • Add remaining vegetables to pan; zest lemon, and add zest as well. Continue to cook until lamb is very tender and vegetables soft, another 30 to 45 minutes. (You can prepare dish up to this point in advance; let sit for a few hours, or cover and refrigerate for up to a day before reheating and proceeding.)
  • When lamb is done, juice lemon, and add juice to sauce. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve, garnished with parsley.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1137, UnsaturatedFat 32 grams, Carbohydrate 48 grams, Fat 61 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 76 grams, SaturatedFat 26 grams, Sodium 2115 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams

LAMB STEW WITH LEMON AND THYME



Lamb Stew With Lemon and Thyme image

Provided by Moira Hodgson

Categories     dinner, one pot, soups and stews, main course

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 1/2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder
Flour for dredging
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 shallots, sliced
3 leeks, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon thyme
1 cup chicken stock (preferably homemade)
1 cup dry white wine
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Herb bouquet (parsley, thyme and bay leaf tied in cheesecloth)
2 strips lemon peel

Steps:

  • Cut the lamb into one-and-a-half-inch cubes and trim off the fat. Pat the cubes dry with paper towels and sprinkle with flour.
  • Heat the oil in a heavy casserole and brown the lamb cubes on all sides.
  • Remove and add the shallots, leeks, garlic and thyme. Brown lightly and return the lamb cubes to the casserole.
  • Add the stock, white wine, lemon juice, salt, pepper, herb bouquet and lemon peel. Scrape up the cooking juices, bring them to a boil and turn the heat down to medium low. Place the cover on the pan slightly askew.
  • Cook for 45 minutes to an hour, until the lamb is tender. Correct seasoning and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 447, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams, Carbohydrate 17 grams, Fat 30 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 22 grams, SaturatedFat 11 grams, Sodium 628 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams

MOROCCAN LAMB STEW WITH PRESERVED LEMONS



Moroccan Lamb Stew with Preserved Lemons image

This is one of the easiest stews imaginable, because there is no browning of the meat, yet the flavor is very intense. Serve with apricot couscous and a fennel, mint, and radish salad. Preserved lemons must be made several weeks in advance, but they are simple to prepare and add exquisite flavor.

Provided by Food Network

Time 2h46m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

3 pounds boneless lamb stew meat, from the shoulder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch saffron threads
1 orange, zested and juiced
1/2 bunch cilantro, stems removed
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 yellow onions, finely chopped
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup water
1 cup pitted green Moroccan (or other) olives, chopped
Minced peel of 1 preserved lemon, recipe follows, optional
10 to 12 organically grown lemons, preferably Meyer lemons
Kosher salt
2 fresh or dried bay leaves, preferably Mediterranean

Steps:

  • Trim excess fat and gristle from meat and cut lamb into 1-inch cubes. Place meat in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix the cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and saffron; sprinkle over the meat and set aside.
  • On a cutting board, mince together the orange zest, cilantro leaves, garlic, and salt until you have a paste. Add to the meat along with the orange juice and stir well to coat. Cover the bowl and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours, or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
  • Transfer the mixture to a heavy pot, add the onions, tomatoes, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer (or bake in a preheated 350 degree oven) until the meat is very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add olives and, if using, preserved lemon to the pot. Cook about 10 minutes more, then serve.
  • Wash a 1-pint glass-canning jar and its lid with hot soapy water; rinse and dry thoroughly.
  • Cut 6 of the lemons, 1 at a time, into quarters through 1 end without cutting all the way through the other end. You want the lemon to open out like a flower, but not to separate. Place the lemon on a large piece of parchment or waxed paper, spread quarters open and sprinkle flesh with a heaping tablespoon of kosher salt; put the lemon into the jar. Continue with remaining lemons, sprinkling salt on each. Pack the lemons in the jar tightly, filling it to the top (you may need more or less than 6 lemons, depending on their size). When you reach the top, lift the parchment and pour the excess salt from it into the jar of lemons.
  • Slide the bay leaves down opposite sides of the jar. Juice the remaining lemons 1 by 1, adding juice to the jar, until it reaches the top. Seal jar, shake well, and let stand at room temperature, shaking well every 12 hours, for 1 week. After 1 week, transfer jar to the refrigerator, continuing to shake every day. Lemons are preserved after 3 weeks and keep up to several months in the refrigerator.
  • To use lemons, pull out as needed and scrape away pulp. Dice peel and use as a condiment.

LAMB STEW WITH LEMON AND FIGS



Lamb Stew with Lemon and Figs image

Categories     Soup/Stew     Garlic     Lamb     Onion     Tomato     Stew     Yogurt     Lemon     Fig     Mint     Winter     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 1/2 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup warm water
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled
1 2 1/2- to 3-pound boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed, cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons (or more) olive oil
2 onions (about 1 pound), thinly sliced
1 small lemon (preferably Meyer), ends trimmed, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 rounded teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
1 cup dried figs, stems trimmed, quartered lengthwise (about 4 ounces)
2 1/2 cups (or more) low-salt chicken broth
Crispy Noodle Cake

Steps:

  • Set strainer lined with double layer of cheesecloth over medium bowl. Place yogurt in strainer; cover and chill 3 to 5 hours to drain. Transfer yogurt to small bowl. Stir in mint; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill.)
  • Place 1/2 cup warm water and saffron in small bowl; let stand at least 20 minutes to infuse.
  • Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook lamb until brown on all sides, adding more oil as needed, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb to large bowl. Pour all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot (or add 1 tablespoon oil if dry); heat pot over medium heat. Add onions; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add lemon, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne. Stir 1 minute. Add saffron mixture; stir, scraping up browned bits. Add tomatoes with juice, figs, and lamb with any juices to pot. Stir to coat. Add 2 1/2 cups broth.
  • Bring stew to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, then cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer until meat is tender, stirring occasionally and adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls as needed if dry, about 1 1/2 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and chill.)
  • Bring stew to simmer, thinning with more chicken broth if necessary. Divide stew among 6 plates; top each serving with dollop of minted yogurt. Place wedge of Crispy Noodle Cake alongside each and serve.

LAMB STEW WITH LEMON AND THYME



Lamb Stew With Lemon and Thyme image

This stew can, surprisingly, be made in just over an hour if you're efficient. Adapted from a recipe by Nick Kindlesperger at Serious Eats. http://bit.ly/fkGQ5w

Provided by DrGaellon

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h10m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 1/2 lbs boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
3 leeks, thinly sliced, white and light-green parts only
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup dry white wine
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 pieces lemon zest, each 3-inch x 1-inch
salt
ground black pepper
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

Steps:

  • Pat lamb dry with paper towels. Toss lamb cubes with flour in medium-sized bowl. Shake off excess flour and set aside on a wire rack.
  • Pour oil into Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. When oil is shimmering, add lamb. Cook lamb until browned on each side, about eight minutes total. Remove lamb to a plate and set aside.
  • Add shallots, leeks, garlic, and thyme to Dutch oven. Cook, stirring often, until leeks are lightly browned, about four minutes.
  • Add stock, white wine, lemon juice, and lemon zest to pot. Scrape up any browned bits from bottom of Dutch oven with wooden spoon. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and return lamb to Dutch oven.
  • Turn heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and partially cover. Cook, stirring frequently, until lamb is very tender, 45 minutes to an hour.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with boiled potatoes.

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality lamb: Opt for lamb with a good amount of marbling, as this will result in a more flavorful and tender stew.
  • Brown the lamb before stewing: This step helps develop flavor and color in the meat.
  • Use a variety of vegetables: This will add flavor, texture, and nutrients to the stew. Some good options include carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, and parsnips.
  • Add some herbs and spices: These will help to enhance the flavor of the stew. Some good choices include thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, garlic, and black pepper.
  • Use a good quality stock: This will help to create a flavorful base for the stew. You can use chicken stock, beef stock, or vegetable stock.
  • Simmer the stew for at least 1 hour: This will allow the flavors to develop and the meat to become tender.
  • Serve the stew with crusty bread or rice: This will help to soak up the delicious sauce.

Conclusion:

Lamb stew with lemon and thyme is a delicious and comforting dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. With its tender lamb, flavorful vegetables, and rich sauce, this stew is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a hearty and satisfying meal, give this lamb stew a try. You won't be disappointed!

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