Provençal braised lamb with lentils Recipe

Provençal braised lamb with lentils Recipe

  • ½ leg of lamb
  • 2 onions, sliced
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 24 cherry tomatoes
  • small bunch of thyme
  • olive oil
  • 3 bay leaves
  • black olives, stoned
  • ½ bottle good red wine
  • 150ml/5fl oz lamb stock
  • 150g/5oz puy lentils
  • 200g/7oz of carrot, onion and celery, finely diced
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 500ml/17fl oz chicken stock
  • 12 cherry tomatoes
  • 1 lemon
  1. For the lamb, sear in a casserole dish in the olive oil until well browned.
  2. Remove and add the onion and garlic and tomatoes.
  3. Cook for a minute or two and add the lamb.
  4. Add the stock, red wine, bay leaves and olives and thyme.
  5. Cover and cook in the oven at 180/350/Gas 4 for two hours. The lamb should be almost falling off the bone.
  6. Meanwhile, fry the carrot, onion and celery with the olive oil for a few moments then add the chicken stock and tomatoes, bay leaves and lentils.
  7. Simmer until the liquid has gone and the lentils are tender. Add a splash more oil and the lemon juice.
  8. Take the lamb out, reduce the stock for a moment and flake off some big chunks of lamb.
  9. Place a pile of lentils in a rustic dish and pile the lamb on top. Spoon the sauce around and over and serve.