Moroccan Style Lamb

This was an attempt to come up with a long cooked taste on a busy weeknight. Jamison Lamb from Pennsylvania sells at my local farmstand and their shoulder meat (from happy grass fed sheep) is precut into chunks perfect for this dish.

Lighter and more brothy than what we typically imagine when we think of lamb stew, healthierkitchen's one-pot dish packs a lot of flavor without being a rib-sticker. The butternut squash soaks up the spiced broth and is a subtle counterpoint to the rich, meaty lamb and sweet, tender prunes. The spice mixture brings the lamb to life (make sure to go for a nicely marbled shoulder), and the lemon zest and green olives lift the dish with bright hits of acidity. We cooked our lamb for a little longer than 30 minutes, until it was nice and tender -- the squash started to break down, which we didn't mind Ginsberg Chan, but if you prefer the chunks whole, just cut them a little bigger.

Serves 4 - 6

1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon turmeric 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon raz el hanout (optional - some of the flavors duplicate what's in here, so don't worry about leaving it out if you don't have it) 2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups homemade or low or no sodium chicken stock 1 cup pitted prunes, halved if large 2 cups cubed butternut or acorn squash 1/2 cup Spanish green olives, pitted 2 teaspoons lemon zest, about one lemon (if you have preserved lemon, you can use the skin of 1/2, rinsed and minced) 3 teaspoons chopped parsley

Combine the salt, pepper and other spices in a large bow. Add the lamb pieces and toss to coat.

Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and brown the lamb chunks in batches, using additional oil as needed. Remove the lamb chunks to a plate as cooked. Remove some of the fat from the pan if a lot has rendered, leaving only a light coating.

Lower the heat to medium and add the onion and garlic, cooking until the onion has softened and become translucent, about 4 or 5 minutes.

Add the stock to the pan and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of pan.

Return the lamb to the pan, along with any juices, and add the prunes, squash, olives and lemon zest.

Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer, partly covered, for 30 to 45 minutes, until the lamb is tender.

Taste for salt and pepper and garnish with the parsley. Serve with whole wheat couscous.