LITMIR.BIZ

      SPICED LAMB PILAF

       This Moroccan-inspired pilaf is fantastic – fragrant and spicy with plenty of different textures and tons of flavour. Most importantly, the slow cooking leaves the lamb neck irresistibly tender.

      Preparation time: 15 minutes

      Cooking time: 8½–9½ hours

      Serves 4

      ½ tbsp olive oil

      500g (1lb 2oz) lamb neck fillet, cut into 3cm (1¼in) pieces

      2 red onions, peeled and finely sliced

      ½ tsp dried red chilli flakes

      2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

      50g (2oz) pine nuts

      1 tsp ground coriander

      ½ tsp turmeric

      1 tsp ground ginger

      1 tsp ground cinnamon

      400ml (14fl oz) white wine

      Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

      200g (7oz) basmati rice

      Warm half of the oil in a frying pan over a high heat. When hot, add the lamb and cook until browned on all sides. Spoon into the slow cooker dish.

      Return the pan to the heat and add the remaining oil. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions, chilli, garlic, pine nuts, coriander, turmeric, ginger and cinnamon and cook for about 5 minutes or until the spices are wonderfully aromatic and the onion is softened. Reduce the heat during cooking if the spices or pine nuts start to burn.

      Add the wine to the pan and mix well. Bring to the boil, then pour this over the lamb. Season generously with salt and pepper. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 8–9 hours.

      When you get back from work or 30 minutes before you want to eat, place the rice in a sieve. Pour a kettle full of freshly boiled water over the rice and drain. Fold the wet rice into the lamb mixture.

      Cover with the lid again and cook for a further 30 minutes or until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the cooking liquid. Season to taste.

      PROPER BOLOGNESE

       Our friend Neil lived and worked in Italy for a while, and as a result makes the best bolognese ever! Here’s my version, using some of his top tips, and a few of my own ideas, to make a slow cooker ‘spag bol’ that I hope he will love.

      Preparation time: 10 minutes

      Cooking time: 8¼–10¼ hours

      Serves 6

      2 tbsp olive oil

      250g (9oz) pancetta or streaky bacon, cut into cubes

      1kg (2lb 4oz) coarse ground beef mince

      250ml (9fl oz) red wine

      2 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped

      500g (1lb 2oz) onions, peeled and finely chopped

      2 celery sticks, trimmed and diced

      1 large carrot, peeled and diced

      1 x 400g (14oz) tin chopped tomatoes

      250ml (9fl oz) tomato passata

      1 beef stock cube, crumbled

      2 bay leaves, broken

      Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

      Warm the olive oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. When hot, add the pancetta or bacon and cook for 2–3 minutes or until it becomes opaque. Add the mince in batches and cook for 5–10 minutes or until browned, spooning the cooked batches into the slow cooker dish with a slotted spoon as it cooks.

      Return the pan to the heat and add the wine. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to scrape any tasty bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour into the slow cooker. Add the garlic, onions, celery, carrot, tomatoes, passata, stock cube and bay leaves to the mince and mix well. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 8–10 hours or until thick and rich.