Mains - non veg
Braised Lamb Shoulder With Dried Chilies and Dates Recipe
8 servings
servings5 hours 30 minutes
total timeIngredients
8 dried guajillo chiles (about 1 1/2 ounces; 45g total)
3 dried morita chiles (about 1 ounce; 30g total)
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
1 pound tomatillos (about 8 medium tomatillos; 450g), husked and quartered
4 medium cloves garlic (about 1 1/2 ounces; 45g total)
8 pitted dates (about 2 ounces; 60g total)
1 1/2 tablespoons (18g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt, divided; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight
6 pounds (2.7kg) bone-in lamb shoulder roast, with fat cap
Warm tortillas or rice, for serving
Diced cucumbers, diced avocado, sliced radishes, and/or Cotija cheese, for serving (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C) and adjust rack to lowest position. Using kitchen shears, cut guajillo and morita chilies into strips, discarding all seeds and stems. Toast chilies in a dry skillet until fragrant. Transfer to the canister of a blender.
In the same dry skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds and add to the blender canister.
Add tomatillos, garlic, dates, 1 tablespoon (12g) salt, and 1/2 cup (120ml) water to the canister and blend until smooth. Set chili purée aside.
Using a chef's knife , deeply score the fat cap on the lamb shoulder, cutting all the way through the fat but not into the meat below. Season lamb with remaining 1/2 tablespoon (6g) salt and place in a Dutch oven, fat side up.
Pour chili purée over lamb shoulder, spreading it to coat evenly. Cover Dutch oven and bake until lamb is tender and falls easily from the bone, about 5 hours. Carefully lift lamb from Dutch oven and transfer to a work surface. Skim fat off the sauce in the Dutch oven. Pull meat off bones, discard bones, then return meat to pot and mix with sauce. Serve with tortillas or over rice, with garnishes such as diced cucumbers, diced avocado, sliced radishes, and/or Cotija cheese, as desired.
Nutrition
Serving Size
Serves 6 to 8
Calories
498 kcal
Total Fat
15 g
Saturated Fat
5 g
Unsaturated Fat
0 g
Trans Fat
-
Cholesterol
122 mg
Sodium
1275 mg
Total Carbohydrate
45 g
Dietary Fiber
5 g
Total Sugars
9 g
Protein
45 g
8 servings
servings5 hours 30 minutes
total time