Lamb Fesenjan – Lamb with Pomegranate Walnut Sauce

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This recipe is courtesy of Saad Fayed. A restaurateur with an avid interest in preparing Middle Eastern cuisine, he has lived and traveled in many Middle Eastern countries, experiencing the flavors and specialties of each region. Saad is currently writing a cookbook that features his family’s favorite dishes. Pomegranate syrup (also known as pomegranate molasses) can be purchased online from The Spice House.

Ingredients

large onion, sliced

1/4 cup olive oil

2 pounds lamb, cut into 1-inch cubes

1/4 cup pomegranate syrup

1 1/2 cup chicken stock

2 cups walnuts, crushed

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon tumeric

1/2 teaspoon cardamom, ground

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

In a large frying pan, sauté onions in olive oil. Once onions begin to brown add lamb cubes. Simmer on low and allow to cook for about 25 minutes.

In the meantime, prepare pomegranate sauce by combining the chicken stock, pomegranate syrup, walnuts, and sugar in saucepan over low heat. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes.

Once lamb is done simmering, drain fat and juices. Add spices and mix well. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

Add pomegranate sauce and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes.

Serve immediately with white rice. Sprinkle toasted walnuts on top for garnish.

Heat scale: mild

Roast Duck Breasts with Pomegranate-Chile Sauce

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The pomegranate component in this dish is provided by another popular product: Pom brand bottled pomegranate juice. This can be made with chicken breasts instead, but be sure to roast them until cooked through. Recipe courtesy of Selma Brown Morrow of Bon Appétit.

Ingredients

Sauce:

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 cups refrigerated pomegranate juice (such as Pom)

2 cups low-salt chicken broth

4 large dried New Mexican chiles, stemmed, seeded, torn into 1-inch pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons adobo sauce from canned chipotle chiles in adobo*

1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1/8 teaspoon ground cumin (not toasted)

Coarse kosher salt


Duck:

8 5-to 6-ounce boneless duck breast halves, skin and fat trimmed to size of breast

Coarse kosher salt

Ground coriander

Fresh pomegranate seeds

Instructions

For sauce:
Stir sugar and 1/2 cup water in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil until syrup is deep amber color, swirling pan occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add juice, broth, and California chiles. Boil until sauce is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat; cool. Puree in tightly covered blender until smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Whisk in adobo sauce, vinegar, and cumin. Season to taste with generous amount of coarse salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over low heat before using.


For duck:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Score skin of duck (don’t cut into flesh) with 5 cuts in 1 direction; repeat in opposite direction, making diamond pattern. Sprinkle duck all over with coarse salt, pepper, and ground coriander. Place 2 large ovenproof skillets over medium-high heat. Add duck, skin side down, to skillets, dividing equally. Cook duck until skin is crisp and deep brown, about 7 minutes. Turn duck over; cook 1 minute. Pour off fat. Transfer skillets to oven. Roast duck until cooked to medium-rare, about 5 minutes.

Transfer duck to cutting board. Let rest 5 minutes. Thinly slice each breast crosswise on slight diagonal. Arrange slices on plates. Spoon sauce over. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.

Heat scale: medium

*Dried, smoked jalapeños in a spicy tomato sauce called adobo; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Latin markets.

Red Homefries for Breakfast

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For years I’ve been trying to duplicate the homefries served since the early 1960s at Monroe’s Restaurant in Albuquerque. This version is the closest I’ve come to it. Don’t let the bacon fat or lard worry you—this is a very special exception to all the rules and you don’t need that much of it. Serve topped with New Mexico Red Chile Sauce.

Ingredients

8 small red potatoes

Water to cover

2 teaspoons New Mexico red chile powder

Bacon fat (preferred) or lard as needed


Instructions

In large pot add the potatoes and water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are easily pierced by a fork, but not too soft. Drain the potatoes and return to the pot. Using a hand potato masher, crush the potatoes but do not turn them into mush.

Heat a comal, griddle, or cast iron skillet, and add about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat or lard and distribute evenly over the botton. Add the potatoes and fry until the bottom is browned. Using a large skillet, turn the potatoes and fry until the other side is browned.

Refried Beans of Choice

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I’m not so fond of pinto beans and prefer to use black beans, but hey, the choice is yours. Be sure to soak them overnight and change the water before you cook them. Again, bacon fat or lard is the preferred fat for frying, but if the food police have brainwashed you, use vegetable oil. “Refried” is a misnomer since the beans are only fried once, but I’m not going to quibble and call them “Recooked Beans.” Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

2 cups black or pinto beans, sorted and rinsed clean

Water to cover

1/4 cup chopped serrano or jalapeño chiles, seeds and stems removed

Bacon fat, lard, or vegetable oil as needed for frying


Instructions

Cover the beans with water and soak overnight. Drain the beans.

Cover the beans with fresh water, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the beans are done, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Add the chiles during the last 1/2 hour. Drain the beans completely.

In a large skillet, using a large fork, mash the beans as completely as possible. Move the beans to one side of the skillet and add about two tablespoons of the cooking fat of choice. Fry the beans in the fat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.

Huevos Uxmal (Uxmal-Style Eggs)

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All the flavors of Yucatán are found in this dish. The cilantro, habanero chiles, and epazote all come together here and the diner has a choice of green or red sauce or both over the poached eggs. Cook the sauces first, so that they are ready when the eggs are done.

This recipe appeared in the article Chile-Spiced Brunch Ideas for Mother’s Day on the Burn! Blog.

Ingredients

Green Sauce:

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

4 epazote leaves, chopped

10 tomatillos or 8 green tomatoes, coarsely chopped

3/4 to 1 cup water

1 habanero chile, seeds and stems removed, halved

4 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 green bell pepper, roasted, peeled, seeds and stem removed, quartered

2 teaspoons coarsely chopped epazote


Red Sauce:

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

8 tomatoes, roasted and peeled and quartered

1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion

1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 habanero chile, seeds and stem removed and cut in half

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro


The Eggs:

12 fresh eggs, poached in molds, or in a large skillet with 2 tablespoons vinegar added to the water

Instructions

To make the green sauce, heat the oil in a small skillet and saute the epazote and the tomatillos for 1 minute, or until the tomatillos are softened. Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes, and then place it in a blender with the water, habanero chile, cilantro, salt, bell pepper, and the epazote and puree the mixture. Return this mixture to the skillet and keep it warm.

To make the red sauce, heat the oil in a small skillet and add the tomatoes, onion, cilantro, salt, and the chile and saute for 1 minute. Allow the mixture to cool slightly and then pour it into a blender and puree. Return this mixture to a small saucepan, add the 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, and keep the sauce warm.

Place 2 poached eggs on a warm plate and serve with the red and or green sauce (or both) over them.