Indulge in a culinary journey with our delectable Slow-Cooked Lamb with Prunes and Dried Apricots recipe. This dish tantalizes the taste buds with succulent lamb shanks braised in a flavorful combination of sweet and savory ingredients. As the lamb simmers low and slow, it absorbs the rich flavors of prunes, dried apricots, aromatic spices, and a hint of tangy lemon. The result is a fall-off-the-bone tender lamb dish that will leave you craving for more. Accompany this main course with our complementary recipes for a complete meal. Prepare a refreshing Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vegetables to balance the richness of the lamb. For a side dish that adds a touch of earthiness, try our Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze. And to satisfy your sweet cravings, indulge in our decadent Chocolate Mousse with Raspberry Swirl, a perfect ending to this culinary adventure.
Here are our top 11 tried and tested recipes!
LAMB TAGINE WITH PRUNES, APRICOTS, AND VEGETABLES
Categories Ginger Lamb Braise High Fiber Dinner Dried Fruit Prune Apricot Lamb Chop Spice Saffron Root Vegetable Carrot Sweet Potato/Yam Fall Winter Cinnamon Gourmet Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher Diabetes-Friendly
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Cut lamb from bones, reserving bones, then cut meat into 1-inch pieces.
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a flameproof wide shallow casserole with a tight-fitting lid over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Brown meat on all sides in 2 batches, transferring to a plate as browned. Brown bones and transfer to plate.
- Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to tagine and cook onion, stirring, until softened. Return meat and bones to pot.
- Stir in water, saffron, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, until lamb is tender, about 1 1/4 hours.
- Transfer lamb to a clean plate and add any meat from lamb bones, discarding bones.
- Add carrots and sweet potato to pot, then simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are barely tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add ginger, cinnamon, prunes, apricots, and squash, then simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables and fruits are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Return lamb to stew and add honey. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
PASSOVER-INSPIRED BRAISED LAMB WITH DRIED FRUIT
This is a play on tsimmes, a traditional Jewish casserole. The flavors of North Africa and the Middle East are utilized for this lamb shoulder. Braising the meat in red wine yields a tender cut of meat without a lot of work.
Provided by Mark Bittman And Sam Sifton
Categories dinner, main course
Time 3h
Yield At least 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Season the meat with salt and pepper and put it in a pot that will fit it snugly and can later be covered. Add the spices and a 1/2 bottle of wine. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a slow bubble, and cover. Cook about an hour, then add onion, garlic, ginger and dried fruit, and check to make sure the liquid isn't evaporating too quickly; turn and continue to cook. Add the remaining red wine if the mixture looks dry, but essentially cook this without fuss.
- When the meat is very tender - after about 2 1/2 hours - uncover. Check and adjust the seasoning as necessary, garnish and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 595, UnsaturatedFat 19 grams, Carbohydrate 19 grams, Fat 39 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 31 grams, SaturatedFat 17 grams, Sodium 797 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams
SLOW COOKER LAMB TAGINE
Cook something hearty and exotic for the family when it's cold outside, like our lamb tagine. If you can't get dried cherries, use apricots or prunes instead
Provided by Lulu Grimes
Categories Dinner, Main course, Supper
Time 4h20m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Fry the lamb in the oil in batches and tip it into the slow cooker. Fry the onion in the same pan for 5 mins or until it softens a little. Add the carrots and spices, stir everything together, add the tomato purée, stock and 250ml water and swirl everything around the pan. Tip into the slow cooker. Add the sweet potato, dried cherries, honey and another 500ml water.
- Cook on low for 8 hrs or high for 4 hrs. Stir in the coriander and serve with couscous. Leave to cool before freezing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 649 calories, Fat 45 grams fat, SaturatedFat 20 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 17 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 42 grams protein, Sodium 1.3 milligram of sodium
SLOW COOKER LAMB CHOPS
Tender lamb chops slow cooked in a deep and rich red wine reduction gravy.
Provided by walliser
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Lamb Chops
Time 4h50m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Combine red wine and onion in a slow cooker.
- Whisk honey, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, rosemary, basil, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl until well blended. Add tapioca starch and whisk until well combined. Let sit until mixture is thickened, at least 5 minutes.
- Dip lamb chops in the mustard mixture and massage until fully coated.
- Place chops in a single layer over the red wine and onion mixture in the slow cooker. Pour remaining mustard mixture on top.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on Low until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a chop reads at least 130 degrees F (54 degrees C), about 4 1/2 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 208.8 calories, Carbohydrate 18.5 g, Cholesterol 43.6 mg, Fat 7.7 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 13 g, SaturatedFat 3.6 g, Sodium 550.5 mg, Sugar 9.4 g
LAMB TAGINE WITH PRUNES, APRICOTS, AND VEGETABLES
Steps:
- Cut lamb from bones, reserving bones, then cut meat into 1-inch pieces.
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a flameproof wide shallow casserole with a tight-fitting lid over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Brown meat on all sides in 2 batches, transferring to a plate as browned. Brown bones and transfer to plate.
- Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to the casserole and cook onion, stirring, until softened. Return meat and bones to pot. Stir in water, saffron, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, until lamb is tender, about 1 1/4 hours.
- Transfer the lamb to a clean plate and add any meat from lamb bones, discarding bones. Add carrots and sweet potato to pot, then simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are barely tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add ginger, cinnamon, prunes, apricots, and squash, simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables and fruits are tender, about 5 minutes. Return lamb to stew and add honey. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
SLOW-ROAST LAMB WITH PRUNES & ROASTED GARLIC
Tuck in to slow roasted lamb for Sunday lunch, with a delicious marinade made with prunes, pomegranate molasses and spices. Pair with our boulangère potatoes
Provided by Melissa Thompson - Journalist and food writer
Categories Dinner
Time 5h5m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Remove any loose skin from the garlic bulbs and slightly fan the cloves without removing them from the root. Put on a sheet of foil, then drizzle with the 2 tbsp oil and sprinkle with salt. Wrap in the foil, and roast in the oven for 30-35 mins until soft. Leave to cool.
- For the marinade, put the prunes in a jug with 100ml boiling water for 10 mins until soft. Squeeze the roasted garlic flesh from the skins into the jug, then add the rest of the marinade ingredients. Whizz together using a hand blender until smooth.
- Put the lamb in a large baking dish. Make small incisions with a sharp knife, then pour the marinade over, massaging it into the holes. Cover with foil and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 30 mins or up to 24 hrs.
- Turn the temperature up to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put the lamb in the oven, immediately turning it down to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Cook for 3-4 hrs, until the lamb has pulled away from the bone. Remove from the oven.
- Pour the juices into a jug, then skim off the layer of fat. Turn the grill to high, then brown the lamb for 10 mins. Remove, loosely cover with the foil, and rest for 20 mins before shredding the meat.
- Add 1½ tbsp of the juices to a saucepan over a medium heat and mix in the flour or cornflour. Cook for 3 mins, stirring, until it starts to colour, then add the wine, and simmer to reduce the liquid by half. Stir in the remaining meat juices. Taste for seasoning, then serve with the lamb.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 485 calories, Fat 25 grams fat, SaturatedFat 11 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 13 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 8 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 47 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium
BRAISED MOROCCAN-STYLE LAMB WITH DRIED PRUNES, ALMONDS AND APRICOTS
Provided by Marian Burros
Categories dinner, weekday, one pot, main course
Time 3h
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lay the lamb out, skin side down, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the cumin, 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper and the thyme. Roll and tie well with butcher's string. Sprinkle the outside with 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large oven-proof casserole. Add the lamb and brown on all sides. Remove lamb from pot. Add remaining tablespoon oil. Stir in onion, carrot, celery and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining teaspoon cumin, the rosemary and the red wine. Bring to a boil and cook about 3 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon and scraping browned bits off the bottom of the pot. Stir in the stock, tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Return the lamb to the pot, cover, place in the oven and bake until meat is almost tender, about 1 hour.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and take out the meat. Remove the vegetables from the pot with a slotted spoon and place them in a blender. Blend until smooth. Scrape the mixture back into the pot and stir well. Place over medium heat and cook about 5 minutes to thicken slightly. Return the meat to the sauce and surround with the almonds, prunes and apricots. Cover and bake until meat is very tender and fruit is soft, about 15 minutes.
- Remove lamb from the pot, cut and remove string and cut lamb into thin slices. If sauce is too thick, thin with a little additional broth. Divide the lamb among 8 plates and spoon some sauce over the top. Serve immediately, passing any remaining sauce separately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 284, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 21 grams, Fat 18 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 277 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams, TransFat 0 grams
SLOW-COOKED LAMB WITH PRUNES AND DRIED APRICOTS
This hearty dish features Middle Eastern flavors, including sumac, which has a tangy taste.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Lamb Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Heat oven to 250 degrees. In 7-quart flameproof casserole or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat vegetable oil until hot but not smoking. Sprinkle salt and pepper generously over lamb shanks. Working in batches if necessary to keep them from touching during the initial searing, add shanks to pan (they should sizzle the moment they hit the pan). Cook lamb shanks until well browned on all sides, 10 to 15 minutes each side. Set browned lamb aside in a large bowl.
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the chicken stock to a boil. Add the sumac, and stir to combine; set the mixture aside.
- Add onion to the casserole, and cook over medium heat until softened and golden, 5 to 10 minutes. Add reserved stock mixture, apricot nectar, cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice, parsley, cilantro, tarragon, mint, and paprika; stir to combine.
- Return the reserved browned lamb shanks to the casserole. Place over medium-high heat, and bring the liquid in the casserole to a boil. Cover the pan, and transfer the casserole to the oven. Cook the mixture until the meat is tender, about 2 hours. Check the casserole in the oven occasionally to ensure a gentle simmer of the sauce, adjusting the heat of the oven or the height of the oven rack as necessary. The actual cooking time will vary depending on the size of the lamb shanks you started with. The meat should be very tender but should not fall off the bone, yet. Add the dried apricots, prunes, and chopped red bell pepper to the casserole, and continue to cook in the oven until the fruit has softened, about 1/2 hour more.
- Remove the cooked lamb shanks, apricots, prunes, and bell pepper from the casserole, and place them in the bowl with the lamb. Cover them with aluminum foil to keep warm, and set aside.
- Place the casserole over medium heat, and simmer until the liquid is thickened and reduced, about 15 minutes. Return the reserved lamb shanks, apricots, prunes, and bell pepper to the casserole just long enough to heat them through again, and stir them lightly to coat them with the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Serve lamb shanks and sauce with couscous with mint and lemon.
SLOW-COOKED LAMB CHOPS
Chops are without a doubt the cut of lamb we like best. I usually simmer them on low for hours in a slow cooker. The aroma is irresistible, and they come out so tender they practically melt in your mouth! -Sandy McKenzie, Braham, Minnesota
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 4h10m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place onion in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Combine the oregano, thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper; rub over the lamb chops. Place chops over onion. Top with garlic. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until the meat is tender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 201 calories, Fat 8g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 79mg cholesterol, Sodium 219mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 26g protein.
SLOW COOKER LAMB STEW WITH APRICOTS
We saw the basis for this recipe at a 4-H presentation. We adapted it to our taste and love it. The coriander, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, clove, and dried apricot mixture really makes this lamb stew extra special.
Provided by Dari Bailey
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Stews
Time 4h35m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Mix flour, paprika, and 1 teaspoon black pepper together in a bowl. Pour over lamb meat and mix. Place in the bottom of a slow cooker.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion in the hot oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Add jalapeno and garlic; continue to cook and stir until onion starts to brown, about 5 minutes more. Mix in apricots. Add remaining 1 teaspoon black pepper, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, and clove. Cook and stir, 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and brown sugar. Mix well.
- Pour mixture over the lamb in the slow cooker. Add potatoes and carrots; stir well. Pour in 1 cup beef broth, or 2 cups for a soupier consistency. Season with salt.
- Cover and cook until carrots and potatoes are tender and lamb is no longer pink, on Low for 8 to 9 hours, or High for 4 to 6 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 326.5 calories, Carbohydrate 45.2 g, Cholesterol 49.4 mg, Fat 7.9 g, Fiber 6.2 g, Protein 20.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 351.1 mg, Sugar 12.5 g
LAMB TAGINE WITH PRUNES AND CINNAMON
Steps:
- Toss together lamb, onion, 3 tablespoons oil, spices (except saffron), 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot.
- Lightly toast saffron in a dry small skillet (not nonstick) over medium heat until just fragrant, 15 to 30 seconds. Crumble into wine and let stand 1 minute. Add wine to pot, then add enough water to just cover lamb. Gently simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, 1 1/2 hours.
- Stir in prunes and honey and simmer until meat is tender and sauce has thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt.
- Toast sesame seeds in dry small skillet over medium heat, stirring, until pale golden, then transfer to a small bowl.
- Heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in same skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then fry almonds until golden. Drain on paper towels. Serve tagine sprinkled with sesame seeds and almonds.
Tips:
- Choose the right cut of lamb: Lamb shoulder or leg are the best cuts for slow cooking as they have a good amount of fat and connective tissue, which helps to keep the meat moist and tender.
- Brown the lamb before slow cooking: Browning the lamb in a hot pan before transferring it to the slow cooker helps to develop flavor and color.
- Use a variety of dried fruits: In addition to prunes and dried apricots, you can also use raisins, cranberries, or cherries. The sweetness of the dried fruits helps to balance out the gaminess of the lamb.
- Add some vegetables: Vegetables such as carrots, celery, and onions help to add flavor and texture to the dish. You can also add some herbs and spices, such as rosemary, thyme, or cumin.
- Cook the lamb on low heat: Slow cooking the lamb on low heat for 8-10 hours helps to tenderize the meat and develop the flavors.
Conclusion:
Slow-cooked lamb with prunes and dried apricots is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. The lamb is fall-off-the-bone tender and the dried fruits add a touch of sweetness and tanginess. Serve the lamb with rice, mashed potatoes, or your favorite side dish.
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