Break Up Boring Dinners with Lamb and Hummus!

towpath_canal-High-Quality

Have you been cooking the same handful of meals over, and over, and over again? We’ve all been there– life gets busy and your creativity in the kitchen is one of the first things to go. Well, we’re here to break you out of that boring dinner rut with this tasty recipe for Crispy Lamb with Hummus, Caramelised Onions, Pinenuts & Parsley! It’s the perfect way to elevate a Saturday night in.

The following is an excerpt from Towpath by Lori De Mori and Laura Jackson. It has been adapted for the web.

Want to listen while you cook? Then check out episode 3 of the Towpath podcast for more information on this recipe and to hear great stories from the  authors. 


This is a lovely dish to use with any leftover lamb shoulder. I often braise lamb shoulders when we host private dinners and since I serve the shoulder whole on a platter, there are invariably leftovers. This is the perfect way to use up all those pieces of lamb that people are too polite to really dig into at the dinner party.

If you want to make this dish and don’t have any braised lamb shoulder, you can substitute with some minced lamb. Of course, you can also cook a lamb shoulder from scratch.

At Towpath I always make a big batch of caramelised onions at the beginning of the week – they seem to come in useful in so many different ways and you can store in the fridge up to 10 days.


Serves 4

For the caramelised onions

6 brown or red onions, halved and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil

For the lamb

2 tablespoons olive oil 600g/11/4lb lamb shoulder, torn into big shreds or minced lamb
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 100g/31/2oz caramelised onions 50g/2oz unsalted butter 200g/7oz hummus (see page 55) 40g/11/2oz pine nuts, toasted
2 handfuls of chopped parsley salt and pepper


On a high heat, cook the onions in the olive oil until they start to brown. Turn the heat down to medium and cook until softened, sweet and fully brown. This should take about 20 minutes. Season with salt at the end. Remember to keep stirring the onions as they often catch. If they do, pour in a little bit of water as that unsticks all the yummy caramelisation on the bottom of the pan.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and when it’s smoking hot, add the lamb. Let the meat get super crispy and brown before turning over.

Season with salt and pepper and add the cinnamon. The lamb shoulder will only need to crisp and warm up as the meat is already cooked. This should only take about 3 minutes on each side. The minced lamb will take a bit longer to cook – turn after 4–5 minutes and cook for another 4–5 minutes. If the meat is too crowded, cook in batches as you don’t want the meat to steam.

When the meat is almost cooked, add the caramelised onions and stir to mix well. Check seasoning, turn off the heat and add the butter. Let it melt and give it a good mix.

On a platter, first spread the hummus, then the lamb and onions. Scatter over the toasted pine nuts and
the parsley. Drizzle over the melted butter from the saucepan to create delicious juices.

Serve immediately with bread or flatbread.


Recommended Reads

Making Amazing Amazake Rye Bread

The Fundamentals of Stocks and Broths

Read The Book

Towpath

Recipes and Stories

$34.95

Recent Articles

broccoli frittata

The Whole Broccoli Frittata: A Wild Boost To Your Brunch Menu

Introducing…your new favorite brunch dish! This whole broccoli frittata is packed with fresh, wildcrafted flavors that are bound to help you start your day off on the right foot. The following is an excerpt from The Forager Chef’s Book of Flora by Alan Bergo. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE: Whole Broccoli Frittata…

Read More
hedges

Hedges: A Haven for Wild Greens

Wondering where to forage for greens this spring? Look no further than hedges, which serve as natural havens for wild greens and herbs! The following is an excerpt from Hedgelands by Christopher Hart. It has been adapted for the web. Food from Hedges: Salads and Greens Let’s start by looking at all the wild foods…

Read More
koji

Koji Kitchen: 6 Recipes to Get You Started

There’s a whole new world out there when it comes to koji. It doesn’t matter if you’re making bread, cheese, or ice cream, koji helps you pump up the flavor! Growing Koji in Your Own Kitchen Koji, the microbe behind the delicious, umami flavors of soy sauce, miso, fermented bean sauce, and so many of…

Read More
nightcap mocktail

Calming Herbal Nightcap Mocktail to Mix Before Bed

Whether you’re looking to replace your end-of-the-day cocktail, relax before bed, or want something new to add to your tea, this non-alcoholic mocktail syrup base will do the trick. Delicious and all-natural, take a sip of this nightcap mocktail and feel your troubles melt away. The following is an excerpt from Herbal Formularies for Health…

Read More
einkorn bread

Einkorn Bread: A Simple, No-Knead Recipe

Want to enjoy bread without worrying about gluten? With Einkorn bread, a light bread with the lowest glycemic index, you can still enjoy all of the delights of bread. without any of the allergic reactions! The following is an excerpt from Restoring Heritage Grains by Eli Rogosa. It has been adapted for the web. Einkorn…

Read More