Nazarean Lamb Stew

Backcountry Notes ^ | July 28, 2010 | Jay Henderson

[jay1949]

I developed this recipe in 2002 while reading a book about the life of Jesus in the context of Nazareth two millennia ago. The author mentioned foods and spices that would have been available in that place and time and I was inspired to experiment with ingredients as authentic as possible -- this recipe is the result.

[NMEwithin]

Thanks! I am going to make this, sounds good

[Dan B Cooper]

Lamb Stew With Spinach & Garbanzo Beans

2 pounds lamb shoulder or stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces

Garlic powder

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, coarsely chopped

1 cup 1/2-inch pieces peeled carrots

1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 10-ounce package ready-to-use spinach leaves

Lemon wedges

Instructions: Sprinkle lamb with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add lamb and sauté until brown, about 10 minutes. Add onion and carrots and sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add garbanzo beans, broth, tomato sauce, and lemon juice and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pot and simmer gently until lamb is tender, about 1 hour. Add spinach to stew. Cover and cook until spinach wilts, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Season stew with salt and pepper. Serve with lemon wedges. Serves 4. This recipe can be doubled

Serving Size Makes 4 servings

[Grunthor]

I’ve tried lamb on several occasions and it doesn’t turn out right. Because if that is how it is supposed to taste, it’s pretty gross. I cooked lamb chops once that turned out ok, but I cooked a leg of lamb back around easter and it tasted horrible.

[Hank Kerchief]

It may have been lamb, but I suspect if it were stew being made in those days, it would have been mutton. Personally I much prefer mutton stew, but it is very difficult to find mutton today. Sad!

Hank

[I Buried My Guns]

I agree that lamb can be very gamey. Maybe it's all the shoelaces and tin cans they eat. No wait, that's goats.

Maybe it's all the ivy they eat.

[4mer Liberal]

Yummm ping

[US Navy Vet]

LAMB YUCK! I think that if Jesus and the Boys would have had access to good old fashion Iowa Corn Fed BEEF they would have themselves a good grilling session!

[Bulwinkle]

Boneless leg of lamb has been $4.99 a pound at Safeway (atleast in N. Va.)

[SumProVita]

Sounds great and I have a beautiful herb garden that will provide me with everything (except the lamb, etc.). Thanks...

[Pessimist]

The problem is probably the butcher you’re using.

Lamb can be funky if improperly butchered. I think it’s something about not letting the wool ever touch the meat or soemthing like that.

Anyway, here in NE Ohio, we are blessed with a phenomenal lamb butcher (Foster’s, in the West Side Market) and I have consequently become as lamb lover!

Ask around in your locale. I bet you can find good lamb somewhere.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Be sure to trim all the fat you can from the leg, especially the grey gland. That will solve the gaminess.

[Amerisrael]

No spinach!

[jimt]

Try lamb shanks. The key is to cut holes into the meat you can stuff garlic cloves (or part cloves) into, prior to roasting.

But it assumes you like garlic.

[Grunthor]

I adore garlic.

Vampires weep at the mention of my name.

[jay1949]

I have had a recipe very much like this, without the spinach. Very good, but Nazareans didn’t have tomato sauce.

[Dan B Cooper]

Tomato Nazareth PA
A favorite of home gardeners in Nazareth, tomatoes are easy to grow, and just a few plants will supply an abundant harvest. With hundreds of varieties to choose from, and more being introduced every year, there is a tomato for every garden situation and every personal taste.