With sweet dried apricots, bright lemon, and fragrant spices, this braised lamb is the perfect way to bridge the gap between winter and spring.
I thought I was headed to Morocco with this recipe, but I took a wrong turn somewhere along the way and ended up somewhere closer to India. No matter, it was still delicious even if it wasn’t traditional. This recipe takes a little longer than most of my dinners, but it’s mostly inactive time. You probably won’t want to make it on a weeknight unless you don’t mind eating late (I’m ready for dinner at 5:30… which doesn’t usually work out well since I don’t get home until closer to 6!), but it’s the kind of recipe that can easily be made ahead of time and reheated when you’re ready for it. I made this on a Sunday with plans to eat it on Tuesday, and it was so nice to come home and not have to worry about cooking. I just moved the pot from the fridge to the stove and, in the time it took to boil some rice, dinner was ready.
I teamed up with RiceSelect™ to create this recipe, which is all about bringing global flavors to the dinner table. I was excited to work with them, since I’ve actually been buying their rice for a few years. It’s very affordable and I love that it comes in screw-top canisters rather than flimsy cardboard boxes – it’s easier to store, stays fresh longer, and I don’t have to worry about any potential creepy-crawlies getting into it (a recent battle with pantry moths left me extra-wary of how things are packaged.) I have their Jasmati®, Brown Texmati®, and Sushi Rice in my cabinet right now, and I’m almost never without their Royal Blend® Texmati Brown and Wild Rice.
I pair this braised lamb with the Jasmati, a long grain American grown jasmine rice. Jasmati has a delicate, tender texture and subtle floral aroma that makes it perfect for pairing with curries and other richly-spiced dishes like this one.
Braised Lamb with Apricots + $100 Giveaway
Ingredients
- 1 pound Lamb Shoulder
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Red Onion, sliced
- 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 cup Ground Tomatoes
- 1 can Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans), undrained
- 1 Lemon (unpeeled), sliced into thin rounds
- 10 Dried Apricots, quartered
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 1/2 teaspoon Coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon Cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon Whole Cloves
- Salt
- 1 cup RiceSelect Jasmati Rice
- 2 cups Water
- 1/4 cup loosely packed Fresh Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Trim the lamb and cut it into approximately 1-inch cubes.
- Heat the olive oil in a medium Dutch Oven or other heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the lamb and cook until browned on each side, about 5 minutes. Add the onion; cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
- Deglaze the pan by pouring in the balsamic vinegar, which will loosen any browned bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan. Stir in the next 8 ingredients (through the cloves). Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook, covered, for 60 minutes, or until lamb is fork-tender. Season with salt. Remove cover and simmer 15 minutes, or until liquid has reduced to a thick sauce.
- Combine rice and water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
- Serve the braised lamb over the rice. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 730kcal Calories from fat 281 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 31g | 48% |
| Saturated Fat 11g | 55% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 82mg | 27% |
| Sodium 1172mg | 49% |
| Carbohydrate 82g | 27% |
| Dietary Fiber 10g | 40% |
| Sugars 18g | |
| Protein 31g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
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RiceSelect is generously offering a $100 Visa Card for one of you! To enter, just leave a comment on this post telling me how you’ll use RiceSelect to spice up your family meals.
Sweepstakes Rules: No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a: Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b: Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c: Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d: For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 4/15/2013-5/15/2013
Be sure to visit the sponsor’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers reviews and find more chances to win!
Rice Select would be great for stir fry.
tweet
https://twitter.com/itsjustme62613/status/334868594364133376
winz135 at gmail.com
we use rice to make our own stir fry
winz135 at gmail.com
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/334857271630778368
I would love to use this when making stir fry or Dal – (Indian dish)
I would like to use RIce Select to create some more meatless meals in our house — this way they’d be filling and “bulked” up without all the fat and calories and all that other yucky stuff! Maybe some beans and rice? Rice with veggie chili? Burritos with rice? Yummm!
I tweeted about the giveaway here: https://twitter.com/tinylittlebows/status/334839457788338178
I would make some fried rice! 🙂
Sounds like it would be good in a burrito.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/daveshir2005/status/334815847732359168
I would make chicken stir fry over rice
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/334793673055301634
I would use it to make a chicken and veggie stirfry
I would use it to make meat loaf with tomato sauce
Tweeted https://twitter.com/happeegirl/status/334763466579640320
I’ll use this when I make homemade sushi rolls.
I would love to try it in a paella recipe.
I would use it with chicken.
I’d use it with a veggie stir fry
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/BriellePrincess/status/334738803120017408
I would use RiceSelect to make my famous bell peppers with my homemade tomato sauce.
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/334729522626834432
I would use it to make a stirfry with chicken and veggies
I will use use RiceSelect to spice up my family meals by branching out and trying new things!
https://twitter.com/tlcfromtn/status/334712417638576128
I’d make Red Beans & Rice
veg curry ty.
i’ll use it on the side of a stir-fry
I’d use it to make rice pudding
https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/334662109189251072
id make a Spanish Chicken & Rice Bake
http://www.food.com/recipe/spanish-chicken-rice-bake-31516
I’d use the rice in sausage gumbo.
I will use it to finally put to test a chicken fried rice recipe I have been dying to try!
I would add it to my chicken stir fry dishes
chicken stir fry
I would add it to my teriyaki chicken!
I’d make homemade fried rice!
I Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/334480020477190145
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I’ve never tried Rice Select but I think it would be a great way to kick up my Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe.
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I would add it to our black bean & chicken burritos.
i’d use it to jazz up my stir frys!
I would spice up my family dinners by using this rice in an amazing side dish. I know it’s cliche but stir fried rice is deliciously amazing when done properly. I like to add cilantro, onion, seafood, chicken, corn, carrots into my dish and my family loves it. I even use rice to make dessert sometimes.
I followed you on twitter and tweeted
https://twitter.com/kissxmonkeybutt/status/334453633116667904
and a tweet: https://twitter.com/AnnaZed/status/334450134094053378
I am from Louisiana so I am comfortable using rice with many different things; gumbo, Indian food, Mexican food. I always keep several varieties; jasmine, brown, short grain Chinese and I’m pretty sure that I have some RiceSelect Texmati in my pantry. The plastic jars are distinctive. Your recipe looks divine by the way!
I would use this rice in my cheesy beef rice casserole.
Tweeted this promotion: https://twitter.com/Thabal628/status/334414982416592897
I tweeted https://twitter.com/FloydSara/status/334414530086047744
I use rice all the time and the rice select would be wonderful. I use it with a lot of veggies and beans
Being an Indian, we eat rice a lot of times in a week. I also use a lot of spices to flavor up most of the rice dishes – cumin powder, tumeric powder, coriander powder, dried ginger powder and ofcourse chilli powder 🙂 The recent one I tried and it was yum: http://www.sruthiskitchen.com/2012/08/14/mushroom-pulao/
i’d use it in a burrito
We eat a lot of stir fry dishes with rice and I want to try some of these varieties instead of our plain white rice.
I like making spanish rice.
I love using jasmine rice– it just has a flavor and aroma that adds so much to curries and Thai-styled foods. I use it in Tex-Mex as well, but it is a bit too perfumey at times. I haven’t tried it with North African/Mediterranean dishes, but that lamb and apricots looks really interesting. So far we’ve stuck to harira and flatbreads on the side to add in the starchiness we crave. Serving something Moroccan-style with jasmine-flavored rice might be neat. 🙂
https://twitter.com/sweeper785/status/334340129760096257
I want to use riceselect to make some rice pilaf
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/334305320195219456
We so often have corn or potatoes as a side dish for meals, that it would be fun to change things up and try a rice side dish instead!
My family loves this rice with grilled shrimp and veggies on top!
My tweet
https://twitter.com/sparkedcat/status/334281105446412288
I would make rice and beans with it.
I would use it for fried rice.
austma7@aol.com
We make a lot of stir fry so I would use the rice with that!
I’d use it to make Red Beans and Rice.
chicken & veggie stir fry
twitter.com/Kismetchris/status/333903542819639297
I will use it with grilled chicken and veggies which is a much loved entree of mine.
My husband loves rice, so he would be delighted to have me use more varieties for our meals.
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/333651031848275968
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I would use it with some chicken and veggies or make a pork free jambalaya
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/tnshadylady/status/333597058307067904
I’d use it in gumbo
I use it as a side dish a lot, and try to add various flavorings to vary it a little bit.
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/333380701690945537
I would make a delicious stir-fry.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
I want to learn to make sushi so would love to use their Sushi Rice with that
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/333325144732876800
I love using this to give my fried rice a delicious new flavor.
I would use it in stir fry! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Recipe sounds yummy! I would add this rice to paella or to my green curry
https://twitter.com/ajoy1332/status/332864965004365825
ajoy1332 at yahoo dot com
I’d use Riceselect to make chicken and rice!
ajoy1332 at yahoo dot com
I’d like to use it to make chicken and rice burritos.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I would use the Jasmati Rice to make my cilantro-lime rice for my Pork Carnitas Burritos!
would provide more dinner inspirations
http://twitter.com/imprfctbutloved/status/332496476758474752
I love their wild rice mix! I use it in chili.
I’D LOVE TO TRY THE “ROYAL BLEND TEXMATI WHITE, BROWN & RED” RICE SELECTS IN THEIR “ROYAL SEAFOOD BAKE” RECIPE!
HERE’S MY TWITTER ENTRY!!! https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/332336140659064832
I’d use it to make rice pudding since my family loves it.
https://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/332317885563293696
I love cooking with lamb (although it’s hard to find at markets in my area). Yummy recipe. I also love rice topped with teriyaki chicken.
There’s an orange chicken crock pot recipe I really want to try. I would love to try it with RiceSelect!
https://twitter.com/channynn/status/332219102108205056
We love bacon, rice, and peas! Simply delish!
I would use it for stir fry
I’d use it for my chicken fried rice.
groogruxking40 at gmail dot com
Tweet
https://twitter.com/MsCarolsueA/status/331961021633794048
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I would make Jambalaya using rice, chicken, shrimp, sausage — plus spices like Cajun spice and red pepper flakes.
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
https://twitter.com/ky2here1/status/331948213756125185
I’ll make I’m making I’m going with Pineapple Panang Curry with Jasmati Rice.
https://twitter.com/MomOF2Boysz/status/331838328284528640
I can use the rice for so many things. I like adding different seasonings, meats, and/or vegetables to make different meals
tweet
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/331620078229536769
I would use it to bring a variety of chicken meals to the table. we love chicken fried rice! and my kids love rice in general! I would also love to make orange chicken and rice!
tweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/331588867247452161
i like chicken stir fry
I would make cilantro rice
I would use RiceSelect to make a Rice Pudding.
I’d use RiceSelect to make mustard rice with grilled chicken
https://twitter.com/mrs_puddle/status/331285559936946177
I am going to use RiceSelect to make Gołąbki (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls) with my Mother in Law! It is one of my husband’s favorite dishes and I’ve never tried making them.
i tweeted here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/331230495205650433
i would put it in a casserole
I would use it for jeweled rice instead of Basmati.
Thanks for the chance to win!
mmmm this is great to hve new recipes for lamb
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/330788151574528000
i love to add to everyday meal to made then different by adding herbs
https://twitter.com/misaacmom/status/330679524243161088
I would use this to make roasted veggies and rice! yum 🙂
I’m a vegetarian, so rice is nearly a staple. Using any of these varieties can enhance a tofu dinner.
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/330222503484067840
amy [at] utry [dot] it
I will use RiceSelect in different recipes and pair with different spices and fresh herbs to spice up my family meals.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/329480724279336960
dolniaks at consolidated dot net
I think I would use it with Polynesian Chicken.
dolniaks at consolidated dot net
Tweet: https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/329429493506772992 onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
I would use it to make fried rice. I used to make that all the time with stir-fried veggies, but I haven’t tried it in ages. It’s so delicious I should dig that recipe out and try it again.
https://twitter.com/Merle0304/status/329327354704965633
I’d like to add this to curry
I like this rice brand very much and would use it for a main dish of rice and marinated chicken with sauteed mushrooms.
I’d use it in my home made rice pilaf!
tweet https://twitter.com/prizepuzzle/status/328983658318934016
It would go well in stuffed green peppers.
I’d use it for the main entree at dinner, possibly with shrimp and some veggies.
i serve it with red beans
I will use it when I make stuffed peppers.
i would use this in tilapia with rice on top and use this to spice it up
https://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/326869280421462017
id make taco rice wraps!
I would use it to make our favorite persian rice lentil pilaf with almonds!
Delicious! SO flavorful. Loved the mellowed flavor of the lemons and the delicate sweetness of the apricots. Will have to increase the lamb next time. My husband and son love meat and devoured practically all of it. Served with crusty baguette. Prepared it the night before and heated it up for dinner the next day. Will definitely make this again!
Thanks for sharing.
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know that you made it. 🙂
I tweeted – https://twitter.com/Lyndadawinda/status/326773111825506305
I like to use their Arborio rice to prepare my sushi!
I’d use it in my Asian cooking — stir-fry, as a side dish.
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/326188554290089984
I would use RiceSelect to make Takikomi Gohan (flavored rice), my family loves it.
This looks great! I tend to add rice to soup. It is easy and fills up our belly a little more than plain broths.
I’d love to add this rice to a chicken soup.
I would use it to make Thai Cashew rice
Tweet @JalapenoMama
https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/325830756091965442
I’d try new recipes doing a google search.
Chinese and Greek recipes.
Thank you.
I’d make a chicken and rice casserole, yum!
The rice would be perfect for a favorite family dish: it is a baked casserole with rice, cheese, and shredded carrots and is so good!
This lamb recipe sounds great!
Tweeted here: https://twitter.com/LifesDeepColors/status/325753434647187456
I’d put it in stir-fries, especially with shrimp!
My family loves risotto
I would use RiceSelect to make my rice, bean, and tuna burritos.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/325361736469315584
I would use RiceSelect in my chicken and vegetable stir fry.
My family loves jasmine rice. We could use RiceSelect in stuffed peppers.
I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/arjorjorian/status/325276272454422529
I would use it to go with some yummy curries! I have been loving curry lately!
I would use it with greens and salmon
Thanks! Janna JOhnson jannajanna@hotmail.com Janna johnson on GFC
I would use it as a side dish with stirfrys I make.
I would make it with Shrimp Creole served over it! But some of these other ideas sound really good too!
We’re a rice eating family so I would use it to include in my gumbo!
Using the rice for stuffed Cabbage
I’m not a big fan of Lamb, but you’ve convinced me to try it one more time
i would use it for sweet and sour chicken with rice
Making rice is not something we do all that often so this might help us bring some new flavors into our evening meals.
I would use it to add some spice to my dinners and breakfast eggs. I like to make it with funky spices 🙂 Makes it fun!
tweet
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/324589241747255296
I would use it to create my favorite, sesame chicken over rice.
I like good old chicken and rice casserole. Simple and comforting. 🙂
chambanachik at gmail dot com
I would make rice with ground beef and seasonings.
I tweeted this giveaway on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/LIDARKSIDE/status/324511163977179136
To spice up my rice I blend varities, white, brown, red, black, and wild.
It would be a help with Rice Pilaf or with Rice Florentine.
https://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/324301692071989249
That looks yummy! I’d use it with sweet and sour chicken
Looks yummy!
I can’t tell you how much I love this recipe. So much yum!
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/324224348753899520
I would use it in my rice pilaf recipe.
Great with both Mexican and Asian inspired dishes, would give me the opportunity to experiment with more recipes!
I use rice with my stir fry.
I wouold use rice with chicken….the recipe looks really good
i’d use it on chicken
I would use it for dinner with a curry dish.
Add it on the side to an herb chicken
OMG that sounds delicious and my mouth is watering.
Rice is a great side dish for spicy foods, keeping the heat a little lower! It’s great for indian and southern fare. Tonight I had rice with jambalaya.
I’d use it in a casserole. 🙂
I haven’t tried this rice yet,but will buy it and make fried rice with orange chicken.
i use rice all the time in combination with various beans/legumes and veggies. it is basic component of my kitchen.
I would use the Rice Select to make chicken tikka masala.
My husband would love this recipe!! We eat rice a few times a week mostly with veggies or beans…yummy!
ENGLAND
LAYERED RICE PUDDING sounds lovely!
I would use this to spice up my chicken and rice stirfry!
I would use it to make a side dish to have with chicken
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/323930531018440707
Thanks again.
I would use this rice with cooked chicken. I think the combo would be delicious.
Thanks so much.
tweet, tweet: https://twitter.com/girlichef/status/323923436835577856
First of all – wowza, this lamb sounds amazing! I want a bottle of white wine and a bowl of it and the rice and I’ll be a happy camper.
Now, hmmm…I would use the rice to make a big ol’ batch of my hubby’s favorite arroz con leche! 🙂
I would make homemade veggie soup and pour it over
rice, my family would love it.
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/323916770001956866
I would add it to stir fry.
I’m ready to make some (more) stir frys! My husband loves them.
tweeted!
https://twitter.com/Khadijah1782/status/323876157546192896
We eat rice several times a week, which I serve with Middle Eastern and Asian dishes. I would like to try the texmati brown rice and also change things up a bit with the royal blends. I also would use the Arborio for rice pudding!
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/wimpyvegetarian/status/323869693779779585
First, this recipe looks fantastic. I’m always looking for dishes I can made that can be vegetarian (for me) or include meat (for my husband). I have some lamb in the fridge for him right now, and I’ve now got this on the menu for tonight. Second, I love biryani dishes, and would use Rice Select for that!
2nd entry tweet – https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/323868726640394240
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
I would use it for a chilli and rice dish for dinner.
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
I can’t tell you how many ways I love this! We eat a lot of rice dishes and this is going to happen soon!
I’d use it as a base for chicken saag
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/323850191138607104
I will use it to make Thai Cashew Rice
all rice pudding, all the time!
I would use it for stir fry or fajitas!
I will serve RiceSelect with my entrees to soak up the sauces!
We use fragrant rice for so many things….stirfry and every one of our asain meals, braised lamb dishes, bibimbap- I could go on and on. Once you have it, you’ll never go back!
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/dbcurrie/status/323812012096372739
Rice is great as the base for stir fry!
most of the time i just use regular ol’ white rice, but when i want to make a special dinner, i reach for the rice select. you’re right – it’s so fragrant. i never really understood what “fragrant” meant about rice until i tried it. mmm!!!
I’m enjoying eating rice plain as a side dish lately!
I would put it under my stir fry recipes!
Rice Select would be great for paella 🙂
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/323789460158439424
I would use the Rice Select to make stuffed peppers served over tomato sauce for a family dinner.