Lamb Stew with Turnips and Swedes
- 3 pounds boneless lamb shoulder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 medium onions, peeled and quartered, or 12 baby onions
- 1 leek, white and light green, coarsely chopped
- 5 swedes (rutabagas), peeled and quartered
- 2 turnips, peeled and cut into eighths
- 2 1/2 cups lamb stock or water
- 12 baby redskinned potatoes
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
- Cut the shoulder meat into 1 1/4-inch cubes and trim off the large chunks of fat.
- Place the fat in a heavy pan or Dutch oven over mediumlow heat and cook until the fat runs out, about 5 minutes.
- Discard any solid bits of fat that remain.
- Season the meat with salt and pepper and add to the hot fat.
- Brown meat on all sides, working in batches if necessary, about 5 minutes per batch.
- Transfer browned meat to a casserole.
- Add the onions, leeks, swedes, and turnips to the pot, season with salt and pepper, and brown lightly in the fat.
- Add the vegetables to the casserole.
- Pour the stock into the pan, bring to a boil, and stir to dissolve the caramelized bits.
- Pour into the casserole.
- Lay the potatoes over the vegetables in the casserole, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil over the stove.
- Cover the casserole, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the lamb is tender and vegetables are cooked, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
- When stew is cooked, pour off cooking liquid into a clean saucepan.
- Skim off any excess fat and bring liquid to a simmer.
- In another saucepan, make a roux by melting the butter, then whisking in the flour until it forms a smooth paste.
- Cook roux over low heat for 2 minutes.
- Add roux to cooking liquid, whisking until thickened slightly.
- Add parsley and chives, taste for seasoning, and pour back over casserole.
- Bring casserole back up to a simmer and serve immediately.
lamb shoulder, salt, onions, swedes, lamb stock, potatoes, unsalted butter, flour, freshly chopped parsley, fresh chives
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/lamb-stew-with-turnips-and-swedes-recipe.html (may not work)