Lamb and fenugreek dumpling stew
This slow-cooked lamb stew is impressive enough for a dinner party and you can make it the day before.
Ingredients
For the stew
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 600g/1lb 5oz lamb, cleaned and cut into small pieces, fat trimmed
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 5 large garlic cloves, peeled
- 4cm/1½in piece root ginger, peeled
- salt, to taste
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼-½ tsp red chilli powder, to taste
- 3 tomatoes, blended to a purée in a food processor
- 300ml/½ pint water
- 400ml/14fl oz coconut milk
- 1-2 tsp lemon juice, to taste
- 1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
- 250g/8oz canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
For the fenugreek dumplings
- 100g/3½oz chapati flour (or wholemeal flour)
- 45²µ/1½´Ç³ú gram flour (chickpea flour)
- 2 tbsp chopped dried fenugreek leaves, or 4 tbsp chopped fresh fenugreek leaves
- 1½ tsp freshly grated ginger
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp sugar
- pinch ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/3 tsp baking powder
To serve
- handful chopped fresh coriander
- 1¼ tsp garam masala
Method
For the stew, heat the oil in a non-stick pan over a medium heat. Add the lamb and fry for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside on a warm plate.
Add the mustard seeds to the same pan and fry for 30 seconds, or until the seeds start to pop. (CAUTION: keep the pan well away from your face and eyes.) Add the onion and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until golden-brown.
Meanwhile, in a food processor, blend the garlic and ginger to a paste, adding a splash of water to bind the mixture.
Add the garlic and ginger paste to the fried onions and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the water has evaporated from the paste and it has turned golden-brown.
Add the salt, sugar, ground coriander, ground cumin, ground turmeric and red chilli powder and cook for a further 20-30 seconds.
Add the puréed tomatoes and 100ml/3½fl oz of the water, stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring well, or until the volume of liquid has completely reduced and the sauce has almost dried out.
Meanwhile, for the fenugreek dumplings, mix all of the fenugreek dumplings ingredients together in a bowl until well combined, then bring the mixture together to form a semi-soft dough.
Using your hands, roll the mixture into three sausage shapes, then pinch off six pieces from each sausage. Roll the pieces into smooth balls. Set aside.
When the sauce has reduced, add the coconut milk, lemon juice and the rest of the water. Continue to simmer for five minutes. Add the sweet potato to the stew and bring back to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and after six minutes, add the dumplings. Cover the pan with a lid and continue to simmer for 6-7 minutes, or until the potato is tender.
Add the reserved lamb and the chickpeas to the pan, cover again and cook for a further 4-5 minutes, or until the lamb is cooked to your liking.
Stir in the fresh coriander and garam masala just before serving.
