Best Lamb With Tomatoes And Olives Recipes

ROAST ILLABO LAMB WITH TOMATO, OLIVES AND AïOLI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
• To make the Tomato Jam, place the tomatoes on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Put the tomatoes through a food mill. In a food processor or bar mix (blender) purée the onion, garlic and ginger with 100 ml (1/2 cup) of the olive oil. Add the ground fennel, coriander and cumin to the onion mix.
• Place a heavy-based pot on the stove and pour in the remaining olive oil. Add the paste, and cook for 30 minutes over low heat or until the paste caramelises. Put in the palm sugar and allow to caramelise. Add the fish sauce and reduce slightly. Add the vinegar and cook for 1 minute, then the tomato juice. Stir, and cook slowly for 2 hours. You should be left with a thick, spicy and sweet jam with no liquid. To store, place in a sterilised jar, cover with a film of oil and refrigerate.
• To make the Aïoli, first combine the olive oils. Crush the garlic and salt together in a mortar and pestle. Whisk in the egg yolks, add the lemon juice and continue whisking while adding the olive oils in a thin stream until the emulsion thickens. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• To make the Braised Vegetables, peel the eggplant and cut the skins into 0.5 cm (1/4-inch) cubes (reserve the flesh for another use). Pour the olive oil into a heavy-based saucepan. Add the eggplant skins and fry until golden brown. Remove, and add the basil and parsley. Fry until dark green and crisp. Remove and strain the oil, reserving it for another use. Pour the extra-virgin olive oil into the pan and heat. Put in the onion, garlic and sea salt, and cook until soft. Add the capsicums (bell peppers) and anchovies, and cook for a further 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, herbs and capers, and return the eggplant to the pan. Add the lemon juice and taste for seasoning. Cook for 1 minute, then remove and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
• Trim any excess fat off the lamb legs, leaving the shank on. Rub all over with sea salt and olive oil, and place in a roasting pan in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Turn the lamb and add the potatoes. Cook for a further 15 minutes. Turn off the oven, remove the potatoes and cover the lamb loosely with foil. Leave the oven door open, and rest the lamb for 15 minutes.
• In a pot combine the braised vegetables with the tomato jam in a 3:1 ratio. Add the olives and potatoes. Heat through, but don't boil.
• Remove the lamb from the oven. Divide the vegetables and potatoes between 6 large white plates. Carve the lamb and place on top of the vegetables. Spoon over the aïoli, and grind over some pepper. Serve immediately.

LAMB SHANKS WITH TOMATO & OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan forced.
• Toss the lamb in combined flour, salt & pepper mixture. Shake away excess flour.
• Heat oil in a 3 litre capacity flameproof casserole or baking dish. Cook lamb shanks in batches until well browned all over. Remove from dish and drain on absorbent paper.
• Add garlic and wine to the dish, bring to the boil. Add stock, undrained tomatoes, anchovies, chilli and basil and stir to combine. Return lamb to dish and bring to the boil. Remove from stove top.
• Cover the lamb dish with lid or tightly with foil and place in over. Cook for 2 hours, turning lamb halfway through cooking. Remove lamb from dish and cover to keep warm.
• Add the olives and vinegar to the tomato mixture in dish, simmer on stove top, uncovered over a medium heat for about 5 minutes or until thickened slightly. Remove basil sprig.
• Sprinkle extra basil leaves over lamb and sauce.
• Serve hot.

LAMB LEG STEAK WITH OLIVE RELISH AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Prepare the lamb: Season lamb generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with rosemary, olive oil and garlic, smearing with hands to coat. Set aside at room temperature. Season cut sides of tomatoes, if using, with salt. (Light the grill now, if using charcoal.)
• Make the olive relish: Stir together chopped olives, olive oil, lemon, garlic and red pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Have a charcoal grill ready or heat a ridged stovetop grill or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Grill or sear the lamb steak on one side for about 5 minutes, until nicely browned. Flip steak and cook on the other side for about 5 minutes more, until juices appear on the surface. Set aside to rest.
• Place tomatoes, if using, seasoned with salt and pepper, cut-side-up on grill, pan or broiler, and cook for about 5 minutes, until heated through, but still firm.
• To serve, slice lamb into 1/8-inch slices and arrange on a platter. Surround with tomatoes and arugula. Pass olive relish separately.