LAMB AND WHITE BEAN STEW WITH SPINACH, PARSLEY, AND DILL

Lamb and White Bean Stew with Spinach, Parsley, and Dill image

Provided by Sheryl London

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2/3 cup finely chopped leek, white part only (about 1 medium leek)
1 1/4 cups thinly sliced scallions (about 5 or 6 large scallions)
2 teaspoons finely minced garlic (2 large cloves)
2 pounds fresh crinkly leaf spinach, stems trimmed, or two 10-ounce packages or 1 1/4 pounds frozen spinach
2 cups coarsely chopped fresh parsley (about 4 ounces)
2 tablespoons coarsely snipped fresh dill
1 pound lean lamb, cut into 3/4 inch cubes and dried on paper towels
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoon ground turmeric
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice (about 1/2 large lemon)
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 cups cooked white cannellini beans (about 4 ounces dried beans cooked or one 19-ounce can, rinsed and drained)

Steps:

In a 5-quart heavy-duty Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the butter and 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Add the leek, scallions, and garlic, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach, parsley, and dill, and stir constantly until the greens are just wilted. Remove the Dutch oven from the heat and set it aside.
In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, add the remaining butter and olive oil. When hot, add the lamb, a few pieces at a time, and brown on all sides. Season with salt and pepper, and transfer the lamb to the Dutch oven with the greens. The meat may be seared in 2 batches.
Add the turmeric to the same skillet and stir for a few seconds, Add the chicken broth, scraping up any brown bits, and bring to a boil. Pour over the meat and greens mixture. Cover the Dutch oven, bring to a boil over medium heat, then turn the heat to low. Add the lemon juice and zest and simmer for 1 hour.
Stir in the cooked beans and continue to simmer 10 to 15 minutes more, until the beans are hot and the meat is tender. Spoon over a bed of orzo or rice if you wish.