Description
This Aromatic Lamb with Dates recipe combines tender lamb leg with the sweet flavors of dates and spices like coriander and cinnamon, creating a warm, flavorful dish perfect for a comforting meal. The dish is cooked on the stovetop, allowing the lamb and sweet potatoes to simmer gently in a spiced tomato base, resulting in a rich and fragrant stew served traditionally with couscous.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 500g diced boneless lean lamb, preferably from the leg
- 300g sweet potatoes, cut into small chunks
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 50g pitted dates
- 2 tbsp coriander, roughly chopped (for garnish)
- 425ml boiling water
Instructions
- Heat oil and brown lamb: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and diced lamb leg, then quickly fry until the lamb is lightly browned on all sides to seal in the juices.
- Add sweet potatoes and spices: Stir in the chopped sweet potatoes along with 2 teaspoons each of ground coriander and ground cinnamon. Mix well to evenly coat the ingredients with the spices.
- Add liquids and tomato purée: Pour in 425ml of boiling water and stir in 1 tablespoon of tomato purée. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer: Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Let the lamb and sweet potatoes simmer gently for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and the ingredients to tenderize.
- Add dates and continue cooking: After 5 minutes of simmering, add the 50g of pitted dates to the pan. Continue cooking for the remaining 10 minutes covered, until the sweet potatoes and lamb are tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the roughly chopped coriander over the dish before serving. Serve hot, traditionally accompanied by couscous for a complete meal.
Notes
- Lamb leg cooks faster than tougher cuts like shoulder or neck, so stick to cooking times to prevent overcooking.
- Using boiling water helps maintain the cooking temperature and speeds up the simmering process.
- For a richer flavor, you can marinate the lamb in spices and a little olive oil for 30 minutes beforehand if time allows.
- Dates add a natural sweetness that balances the spices, but you can adjust the quantity or substitute with dried apricots if desired.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with couscous, rice, or crusty bread for soaking up the delicious sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: lamb recipe, aromatic lamb, lamb with dates, Middle Eastern lamb stew, spiced lamb, lamb and sweet potatoes, easy lamb dish
