Name: Azerbaijani-style lamb with apricots & chestnuts
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: pinch of saffron -; 2 tbsp sunflower or groundnut oil -; 800g braising lamb (such as shoulder), trimmed of excess fat -; 2 large onions, roughly chopped -; 4 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped -; 2 garlic cloves, chopped -; ½ tsp ground cinnamon -; ½ tsp allspice -; 250ml lamb or chicken stock -; 100g dried apricots -; 125g cooked chestnuts (canned or vacuum-packed) -; ½ lemon, juiced -; ½ tsp sumac -; 15g coriander, leaves picked and roughly chopped -

Ingredients for - Azerbaijani-style lamb with apricots & chestnuts

1. pinch of saffron

2. 2 tbsp sunflower or groundnut oil

3. 800g braising lamb (such as shoulder), trimmed of excess fat

4. 2 large onions, roughly chopped

5. 4 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped

6. 2 garlic cloves, chopped

7. ½ tsp ground cinnamon

8. ½ tsp allspice

9. 250ml lamb or chicken stock

10. 100g dried apricots

11. 125g cooked chestnuts (canned or vacuum-packed)

12. ½ lemon, juiced

13. ½ tsp sumac

14. 15g coriander, leaves picked and roughly chopped

How to cook deliciously - Azerbaijani-style lamb with apricots & chestnuts

1 . Stage

Put the saffron in a heatproof cup and pour over 75ml boiling water. Leave for 30 mins, or until the water is a deep yellow colour.

2 . Stage

Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, and brown the lamb all over – you’ll need to do this in batches. Transfer the browned lamb to a bowl using a slotted spoon as you continue cooking the rest.

3 . Stage

Fry the onions in the residual fat in the pan over a medium-low heat for 10-12 mins until golden and soft. Add the tomatoes and garlic, and continue to fry until the tomatoes have softened. Stir in the spices and cook for a few minutes, then return the lamb to the pan with some seasoning. Pour in the stock and infused saffron water. Bring to just under the boil, then add the apricots, chestnuts, and a little more seasoning. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook over a very low heat for 1 hr-1 hr 15 mins until the lamb is tender. At this stage, the lamb can be frozen. Leave to cool completely first, then transfer to a freezer proof airtight container. Will keep in the freezer for up to three months.

4 . Stage

To serve straightaway, stir in the lemon juice, sumac and coriander. Alternatively, if you have frozen the lamb, defrost in the fridge overnight, then transfer to a saucepan and heat gently. When it is piping hot, add the lemon juice, sumac and coriander. Taste to check for seasoning, then serve.