Dark, sticky stew | Jamie Oliver lamb stew recipes (2024)

FAQs

Which part of lamb is best for stew? ›

The best cuts for stewing are shoulder, leg or neck fillet – it needs to quite a hard-working muscle with some fat marbling through it that will break down during the slow cooking to create tender meat. It's also best with economical cuts that are boneless – keep saddle, rack and lamb chops for roasting.

1) Buy the best meat you can afford. We believe that you should buy the best you can afford, so if you can, use the best-quality lamb leg or shoulder from a reputable butcher. Both of these cuts are perfect for stews and casseroles as they are deliciously, melt-in-the-mouth tender when cooked slowly.

Irish stew is considered a national dish of Ireland. Irish stew is a celebrated Irish dish, yet its composition is a matter of dispute. Purists maintain that the only acceptable and traditional ingredients are neck mutton chops or kid, potatoes, onions, and water.

Do you really have to brown meat intended for the stew pot? If it's beef or lamb, then yes, even if it goes into the slow cooker. Browning produces the famous Maillard reaction, which gives you that delicious meaty tang. Without it you get gray, sodden meat and a markedly less tasty stew.

Yes, it's possible to overcook lamb stew. If you cook it for too long, the meat will start to fall apart, and it will actually lose moisture and begin to toughen. Cook the stew just until the meat is fork tender but still intact.

The leg and rack of lamb are perfect for herb-crusting and oven-roasting; since the shank and shoulder are a bit tougher, they fare well in stews or braises—the long cook time allows them to significantly break down and become fork-tender.

Tips for slow cooking

Brown the lamb first, in batches if necessary. This will maintain a high heat in the pan and caramelise the juices, which will improve the colour and flavour of the meat. Although lamb is a little more fatty than other meats, don't trim all of it away before cooking.

Slow cooking in liquid transforms tougher cuts of lamb into fork-tender meat.

A leg of lamb is naturally quite tough, since the muscle has had to work so hard, so benefits from being cooked low and slow in a slow cooker. This recipe is cooked in lamb stock and red wine to create a delicious gravy to serve your lamb with.

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

What is Liverpool stew called? ›

Scouse is our city's traditional dish. A stew often made with lamb, beef, or both, it originates from the word 'lobscouse', which was a stew often eaten by sailors throughout Northern Europe, popular in port cities such as Liverpool.

Scouse is a type of stew - typically made from chunks of meat (usually beef or lamb) with potatoes, carrots and onion. It is particularly associated with the port of Liverpool, hence the inhabitants of that city are often referred to as "scousers".

The secret to tender and flavorful potatoes in your stew lies in low and slow cooking. Here's how you can achieve the best results: Add the potatoes to the stew during the last hour of cooking. This timing will prevent them from becoming mushy.

And when you have a gorgeous cut, like a rack of lamb, you can cook it the good ol' Gordon Ramsay way—which is to say, lightly pan-sear it first, then baste it with an herby, garlicky butter, and finally finish it off in the oven until it's still pink and juicy in the middle.

The flour helps to thicken a stew as it cooks. Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil.

You can cook the lamb straight away, but if you have time, cover and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour, or even overnight. Preheat the oven to 160°C/Gas 3. Heat a large casserole dish on the hob and add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil.