Lamb En Daube Recipes

Steps:

• Put the lamb slices in a deep pan with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon basil, and 1 teaspoon thyme, small chopped onion, carrot, 2 finely chopped cloves garlic, and enough red wine to cover. Marinate for 2 hours.
• Arrange one half of the lamb slices on the bottom of a terrine or casserole. The meat must be packed in to fit together tightly, so be sure select the right size casserole. Add a layer of the chopped onion, bacon or salt pork, and remaining garlic with the parsley and a little thyme and basil, all mixed together. Top with a few pieces of orange rind. Arrange rest of meat in casserole, packing it tightly on top of the layer of seasoning. Strain the marinade and add enough of the liquid to barely cover the meat. Put strips of larding pork on top, cover and bake in a 325°F oven for 2 hours. Reduce heat to 300° and cook for another 1 1/2 hours. Finally, reduce heat to 275°F and cook for 1 hour.
• This dish can be served either hot or cold. Serve it with boiled potatoes and a crisp green salad. With this, drink a red wine such as Château Cos d'Estournal.

Steps:

• In a large non-reactive bowl, combine beef, Cognac, cloves, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, bay leaf, sage, thyme, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, orange peel, wine, and mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for up to 2 days, stirring from time to time.
• Bring the meat and vegetables to room temperature. Drain, reserving the marinade.
• Blot the beef and veggies dry with paper towels.
• Preheat oven to 325F/175°C.
• In a large heavy oven proof dish (such as a cast iron dutch oven or Le Creuset), fry the bacon over medium heat until it renders its fat, about 3-5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to paper towels and reserve.
• Working in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan, add the meat and vegetables to the fat in the pan, and brown them on all sides over medium heat, seasoning with salt and pepper as they brown, about 7 minutes per batch.
• Transfer to a platter. Add the marinade to the pot, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced by one-third, about 8 minutes. Skim off the foam from the surface. Add the stock or consomme, and simmer another 8 minutes, until reduced again by one-third. Stir in the pinch of sugar and the tomato paste, (and add the diced tomatoes and green olives now, if using).
• Return the meat, vegetables and reserved bacon to the pot. Cover and bake in the oven until the meat is tender, 2 1/2-3 hours. -OR- alternately, at this stage you can cook in the crock-pot on LOW heat 8 to 10 hours, or on HIGH heat 4 to 6 hours.
• Serve with a rustic bread for mopping the juices, along with a green salad and a platter of cheeses.
• Freezes and reheats beautifully. Leftovers will make a lovely Cottage-Shepherd's Pie a la Provencale, see my recipe #355446.