Moroccan Lamb Stew with Quince Sambal

Many North African dishes include somewhat astringent fruits, such as quince, to act as a foil for rich meats like lamb. Serve leftover sambal over grilled chicken.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 cup stew and about 1/4 cup sambal)

Ingredients

• Stew:
• 1  tablespoon  all-purpose flour
• 1  pound  boneless leg of lamb, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2  teaspoons  canola oil
• 1 1/2  cups  finely chopped onion
• 1/2  cup  finely chopped carrot
• 1  tablespoon  grated peeled fresh ginger
• 2  tablespoons  tomato paste
• 1  teaspoon  dried oregano
• 1  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground coriander
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground cardamom
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2  cup  water
• 1  teaspoon  grated lime rind
• 1  teaspoon  grated orange rind
• 2  (14-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1  (15 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
• 
  Sambal:
• 2/3  cup  finely chopped Poached Quinces (about 2 quince quarters)
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh mint
• 1  teaspoon  Sambal oelek (ground fresh chile paste) or chile paste with garlic
• 1/2  teaspoon  grated peeled fresh ginger
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1  garlic clove, minced

Preparation

To prepare stew, combine flour and lamb in a medium bowl; toss well to coat. Heat canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add lamb mixture; cook 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Add onion and the next 10 ingredients (through 2 garlic cloves); sauté 5 minutes. Stir in water, lime rind, orange rind, and broth; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 55 minutes or until lamb is tender. Stir in chickpeas; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

To prepare sambal, combine Poached Quinces and the remaining ingredients, tossing well. Serve over stew.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

342 (27% from fat)

Fat:

10.1g (sat 2.3g,mono 4.3g,poly 2.2g)

Protein:

27.5g

Carbohydrate:

35.9g

Fiber:

7.2g

Cholesterol:

65mg

Iron:

4.2mg

Sodium:

747mg

Calcium:

88mg