Recipes>Lamb Recipes

Lamb Dhansak

by Mary Berry from Mary Berry Cooks

Serves 6

A flavoursome lamb dhansak recipe from Mary Berry. This rich, comforting curry combines diced lamb and lentils with fragrant ginger root, Indian spices and sweet honey.

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Introduction

Dhansak is a popular Indian curry made from meat and lentils, flavoured with spices including cumin and ginger. It is mild, sweet and rich with just enough heat to satisfy most tastes. And best of all it benefits from being made a day in advance as it tastes even better the next day. I like to serve this with Raita and Fresh Tomato Relish, as well as hard-boiled eggs, poppadoms, rice and, of course, mango chutney.

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Ingredients

3 tbspsunflower oil
1kg (2lb 2oz)diced lamb (shoulder or leg, or a mixture)
2onions, diced
25g (1oz)fresh ginger root, peeled but left whole
4garlic cloves, peeled but left whole
1red chilli, deseeded and chopped
10green cardamom pods
1½ tbspground cumin
1½ tbspground coriander
1½ tbspground turmeric
1 x 400gcan chopped tomatoes
200ml (7fl oz)beef stock
75g (3oz)dried red lentils
3 tbspclear honey
salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Raita:
1small cucumber, peeled
350g (12oz)Greek yoghurt
5 tbspchopped mint
For the Fresh Tomato Relish:
1red onion, finely chopped
6ripe tomatoes, skinned, deseeded and chopped
2 tbspchopped coriander leaves
Juice of ½ lemon
½ red chilli, chopped (optional)

Method

PREPARE AHEAD

Make 1–2 days ahead, keep in the fridge, then reheat thoroughly.

FREEZE

Transfer to a freezer-proof container and freeze for 1 month. Don’t freeze for longer as the flavours will intensify and the dish may become too spicy.

1 Preheat the oven to 150°C/130°C fan/Gas 2.

2 Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan. Add half the lamb and fry until browned. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside, then brown the other half of the lamb andset aside.3 Add the remaining oil to the pan.Add the onions and fry for 4–5 minutes until beginning to soften.

4 Meanwhile, place the ginger, garlic and chilli into a small food processor and whizz until finely chopped.

5 Bash the cardamom pods with the end of a rolling pin to split the husks, then remove the seeds and grind them to a fine powder in a pestle and mortar.Add to the pan along with the remaining spices and the garlic and ginger mixture.

6 Add the remaining ingredients to the pan and add the lamb. Bring to the boil, then cover and place in the oven to simmer for 1–2 hours until tender. Check the seasoning and serve.

Keeps for 2 days in the fridge.1 small cucumber, peeled350g (12oz) Greek yoghurt5 tablespoons chopped mint

RAITA

PREPARE AHEAD

Keeps for 2 days in the fridge.

1 Cut the cucumber in half lengthways, scoop out the seeds and cut the flesh into small cubes. Place in a bowl with the yoghurt and mint and chill for up to 2 days before serving.

FRESH TOMATO RELISH

PREPARE AHEAD

Keeps for 2 days in the fridge.

1.Mix all the ingredients together and chill for up to 2 days before serving.

Reviews

5 out of 5 stars

8 Ratings

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Ingredients
Method

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