Spicy Lamb Stew With Date, Mint And Parsley Gremolata

• For the Lamb Stew
• 1 1/2 pounds lamb shoulder, cubed
• salt and pepper
• extra virgin olive oil
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 4 cardamom pods
• 5 coriander seeds
• 1 dried chile de arbol
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 cup spicy tunisian olive brine
• 1/2 cup whole peeled tomatoes with juice, crushed by hand
• 2 cups chicken stock, or water
• 1 strip, lemon zest
• 1/2 cup dried apricots
• 1/2 cup spicy tunisian olives
• 1 box, cous cous
• For the Gremolata
• 1/2 cup dried dates, finely chopped
• 1/2 bunch fresh mint, chopped
• 1/2 bunch fresh italian parsley, chopped
• zest and juice of 1 lemon
• a generous pour of extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper

1. Heat a large dutch oven over high heat, and add the olive oil. Salt and pepper the lamb and sear until it is golden brown on all sides. I do this in 2 batches in order to give the lamb room to sear and not steam. Remove from pot.
2. Add the onion and celery, and saute until golden brown, scraping up any brown pieces from the bottom of the pot. Season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic, cardamom, coriander and chile and saute for another minute. Add tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring continuously, until paste has turned to a deep maroon.
3. Add olive brine and cook until it's reduced by half. Return meat to pot and add tomatoes, stock, dried apricots and lemon rind. Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for an 1 hour and half, or until meat is tender. Add the olives during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
4. Make the gremolata by combining all the ingredients together. Season with salt and pepper.
5. To finish and serve: Pour the cous cous into an empty casserole dish. Pour the stew on top, do not stir, and cover with aluminum foil. Cous cous should be cooked after five minutes. Serve stew topped with a healthy heaping of gremolata.

lamb shoulder, salt, extra virgin olive oil, red onion, celery, clove garlic, cardamom pods, coriander seeds, arbol, tomato paste, olive brine, tomatoes, chicken stock, lemon zest, apricots, tunisian olives, dates, fresh mint, fresh italian parsley, lemon, olive oil, salt

Taken from food52.com/recipes/995-spicy-lamb-stew-with-date-mint-and-parsley-gremolata (may not work)