Explore the flavours of the Pyrenees region, in support of Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka.
On the way to, and while in Lourdes, travelling through the Pyrenees (24, 25, 26 and 27 July)…
The Pyrenees range of mountains forms a natural border between France and Spain, and is home to mouth-watering Pyrenean lamb! Prepare it with sherry and paprika and serve it with rosemary-roasted potatoes.
Pyrénées-style slow-cooked lamb
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
3 bay leaves (fresh, if possible)
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
3 red peppers, seeds removed, finely chopped
4 large tomatoes, about 800 grams, blanched, peeled, seeds removed, coarsely chopped
500 ml dry sherry (fino)
30 grams (¼ cup) sweet paprika
2 cups of hot water
1½ kilograms lamb shoulder, trimmed and cut into 3-cm cubes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 150˚C.
Heat the olive oil in a large casserole over medium heat. Sauté the onion, garlic, bay leaves and half of the thyme leaves until the onion is soft (10 to 15 minutes). Reduce the heat to low medium, add the red pepper, cover with a lid, stir occasionally, and sauté until soft (10 minutes). Add the tomatoes and stir until the sauce thickens and start to catch on the bottom of the pan (25 to 30 minutes). Add the sherry and bring to the boil over medium heat (3 to 5 minutes). Add the paprika and the hot water and return to the boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook, skimming the scum from the surface (10 to 15 minutes).
Spread the lamb in a single layer in a roasting pan. Scatter with the remaining thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon over the sauce, cover with aluminium foil, and roast until the meat almost falls apart (2 ½ to 3 hours). Serve the lamb with its sauce and rosemary-roasted potatoes (see below).
Rosemary-roasted potatoes
Ingredients:
¾ kilogram medium red or white potatoes
5 tablespoons good olive oil
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 tablespoons finely-chopped rosemary leaves
Instructions:
Cut the potatoes in half or quarters and place in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Slow-roast it until crisp, on a lower rack while the lamb is cooking, or in a separate oven. Flip twice with a spatula during cooking to ensure even browning.
There is ultimately only one really compatible match with roast lamb that has been seasoned with rosemary and/or thyme, and that is Cabernet Sauvignon or blends comprising Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Nederburg’s The Winemasters Cabernet Sauvignon has the perfect weight for this dish.
