Spiced Lamb, Aubergine and Mint
This recipe from Samuel & Samantha Clark takes inspiration from Turkey for a stunning lamb shank and aubergine dish. Not forgetting fresh mint and pine nuts!
From the book
Morito
Favourite dishes from celebrated London tapas restaurant, Morito
Inspired by the flavours of Spain and the Middle East
Make innovative tapas and mezze at home
Introduction
We found this Turkish recipe while watching videos on YouTube. It is an excellent way of learning about real, home-cooked food, and as it is a visual medium it doesn’t matter about the language barrier.
Ingredients
| For the spiced lamb: | |
| 600g | lamb shank, off the bone |
| 1 tsp | coriander seeds |
| 1 tsp | cumin seeds |
| 1 | cinnamon stick |
| 1 | onion, halved |
| 2 | sprigs of thyme |
| 3 | bay leaves, preferably fresh |
| For the aubergine: | |
| 4 | aubergines |
| 4 tbsp | strained Greek yoghurt, such as Total |
| 4 tbsp | extra virgin olive oil |
| 1 | small garlic clove, crushed to a paste with ½ teaspoon salt juice of ½ lemon |
| To crisp the lamb: | |
| 50g | butter |
| 1 | large Spanish onion, thinly sliced |
| ½ tsp | cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground |
| 1 tsp | ground cinnamon |
| To serve: | |
| 1 quantity of Chilli Butter | |
| 1 tbsp | shredded mint |
| 1 tbsp | pine nuts, toasted |
| 2 tbsp | pomegranate seeds |
Method
Watch the guys at Morito prepare this gorgeous dish in our video tutorial:
Put the lamb, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, onion, thyme, bay leaves and ½ teaspoon of salt in a saucepan and cover with water. Simmer for 30-40 minutes, skimming off any froth that builds up, until the meat is tender and falls apart when handled. Remove the lamb from the pot. When cool enough to handle, shred the meat, discarding any small bones or fat.
Grill the aubergines, ideally whole over a barbecue for a smoky flavour, or bake for about 45 minutes in a hot oven (240°C/475°F/Gas 9) until soft. Remove and leave to cool. Peel the aubergines and place the flesh in a bowl. Add the yoghurt, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
To crisp the lamb, melt the butter in a saucepan, add the onion with a pinch of salt and cook slowly for 10-15 minutes, until soft, golden and sweet. Add the cumin and cinnamon, fry for 1 minute, then add the lamb and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the lamb is part crispy and part still moist and juicy. Check the seasoning.
To serve, spread the aubergine purée on a plate and sprinkle the hot, crispy lamb on top, followed by the warm chilli butter, mint, pine nuts and pomegranate seeds.
