Lamb Stew Ingredient Suggestions

I like to add berries (raspberry is nicest), apples, celery, and squash to my lamb stew.  For us, I'll also put in garlic, potatoes, and onion - and sometimes orange or lemon.  For the dogs, I leave that out but add pumpkin if I can get it, or carrots (carrots don't taste very nice with lamb to me, but the dogs love it).  Turnips would also work nicely.  I'm also starting to experiment with ethnic root veggies like maca, jicama, cassava, malanga, etc.  I also like to throw in some beneficial herbs like ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric - not too much and wait until right at the end unless you are using fresh.

I crock pot bone in meat until it's easy to seperate from the bone.  Then you get every bit of meat and cartilage.  This is nice for people meat too, as I actually cook a lot of mutton.  Mutton is adult sheep, not as tender as lamb, and stronger tasting.

It's best to roast/broil/fry lamb quite rare.  Lamb doesn't taste good cooked all the way through, and the stronger the taste of the lamb (for instance, feedlotted American lamb), the ickier it will taste when browned through.  Or, slow cook it with lots of good tasting stuff - the lamb lends a rich broth to  root veggies and other bland vegetables, while sweet fruits like apples, citrus, or cooking apples brighten the taste of the lamb.

Thank you so much for the reply.   

There's a lot of very useful informaion to absorb.

i think I'll go get the crock pot out and cook the meat tonight. 

Nemo says thanks too......

sterlingfan40

I came across a "lamb leg sirloin 1/2" seriously on sale at the gracery the other day and snatched it for Nemo.  Now, what to do with it?  I don't eat much lamb and have never cooked it so, I'm wondering what fruits and vegies might make the most appetizing stew.  I picked up a butternut squash, some turnips and apples at the produce market today as possibilities. I didn't get the turnip greens because the lady said they seemed too bitter to her.  I'll probably steam the meat like I do chickens so I'll have a good broth. 

Suggestions?

 I don't have any useful suggestions (I'm not much of a cook), but I just had to say that your pup in the avatar is SOOO FREAKING CUTE! :)
 

Hey, I make a great Irish Stew and I put my recipe on my website:

http://www.celticandmore.com/northernniche/recipes.html

Go for it!! Lamb is so expensive I always eat it myself!!!!

Wolfie's mom - thanks, I think he's adorable too...just like Wolfie.  It still amazes me that someone decided they didn't want him anymore.  Their loss, my gain as the old saying goes. 

Jeano - I'll check out your recipe.  Lamb is so expensive around here I usually don't look, but this cut was too cheap to pass up. 

Brookcove - Nemo had lamb stew for dinner and licked the bowl clean, so your suggestions must meet with his approval.  Thanks again for the suggestions.  I would have never thought to add fresh ginger and rasphberries.