Easter Sunday main Lamb stew with flu y rosemary & cheddar dumplings
Stretch your Easter lamb a bit further by using it in a stew that’s bulked out with pearl barley and cheesy dumplings. Or, swap lamb for mutton, hogget or goat, which are more sustainable options (see p80). Cassie Best
SERVES 4 PREP 35 mins COOK 2 hrs EASY ❄
600g boneless shoulder or leg of lamb, goat, mutton or hogget, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 3cm pieces
2 tbsp plain lour
2 tbsp neutral-tasting oil
75g smoked bacon lardons
or pancetta
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, cut into 2cm chunks 2 celery sticks, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
75g pearl barley
2 rosemary sprigs, needles picked
and inely chopped
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp redcurrant jelly 650ml chicken or lamb stock
2 bay leaves
For the dumplings
175g self-raising lour
1 tsp baking powder
2 rosemary sprigs, needles picked
and inely chopped
50g cheddar, grated
100g full-fat natural yogurt
1 Season the lamb pieces and toss in the flour. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish over a medium-high heat and brown half the lamb pieces, ensuring they’re deeply coloured before turning over to brown on all sides. Remove to a bowl. Repeat with the remaining oil and the rest of the lamb pieces. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan, or the lamb will steam rather than brown.
2 Fry the bacon in the pan for a few minutes, then tip in the veg and garlic. Cook for 3-4 mins more until the veg has just started to soften, then stir in the browned lamb, the pearl barley, rosemary, tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce, redcurrant jelly and stock. Season well, then tuck the bay leaves into the sauce. Bring to a simmer.
3 Cut out a circle of baking parchment that’s large enough to cover the stew (this is called a cartouche, and it helps keep the meat submerged in the stew). Put this directly on the surface of the stew, then cover with the lid and turn the heat to low. Simmer for
1 hr 30 mins-2 hrs, or until the meat is tender but not falling apart.
Alternatively, transfer to a slow cooker for 6-8 hrs on low. Once cooled, will keep frozen for up to six months.
4 Meanwhile, make the dumplings. Weigh the flour out into a bowl and add the baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Stir in the rosemary and half the cheddar. Make a well in the centre and tip in the yogurt, then mix to firm but pliable dough, adding a splash of water if it feels too dry. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll into balls. Chill until needed.
5 Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Remove the stew from the heat, discard the cartouche and arrange the dumplings on top of the stew. Cover with the lid, transfer to the oven and cook for 20 mins. Remove the lid and sprinkle the rest of the cheddar over the dumplings. Cook for 10-15 mins more, uncovered, until the dumplings have browned and pued up.
GOOD TO KNOW calcium • iron • 1 of 5-a-day PER SERVING 900 kcals • fat 44g • saturates 18g • carbs 69g • sugars 11g • ibre 5g • protein 53g • salt 2.6g