Lamb and barley stew.

Lamb & Barley Broth

This is the inspiration for this recipe: http://www.cuisine.com.au/recipe/lamb-and-barley-broth

My sister loves recipes, food, taste and sometimes she reads a recipe and thinks "Hey! Frillypants could do this one!!" Sister made it for my Failsafer when she went for a sleepover. I tend to stick to the recipe, with the necessary FS amendments (eg spring onions for onions; Canola oil) but last night I 'beefed' it up a little with some potato. It became a little Irish Stew-ish I suppose. I'm thinking that Failsafe eating is easier in Winter with the nourishing one-pot stews and so on.

Ingredients:

• 750g - 1 kilo diced lamb
• 100g pearl barley (or buckwheat for gluten-free)
• 1 tsp salt
  
• 2 litres cold water (2.5 if you want it more brothy) (or homemade vege stock)
  
• 2 leeks, finely quartered and sliced
• 2-3 Spring onions
• 2 carrots finely diced
• 1 swede, finely diced
• 200g savoy cabbage, finely shredded
• 1 tab parsley leaves, finely chopped

Method:

• In a large, heavy pot, combine lamb, barley, salt and water
• Slowly bring to the boil, skimming of the froth as it accumulates on top
• Cover and gently simmer for 1 hour
• Clean up kitchen and then chop vegies (this is more a note for myself)
  
• Add the vegies and simmer for another hour
• Add parsley in last minutes, stir through.
• Serve on a bed of rice or with steamed veg.

Verdict: 'Nom nom nom nom' is all I heard at the dinner table. Then I heard 'Is there more?'
I feel so extraordinarily relieved when this is how it goes. Incredible how much my personal happiness relies on dinner going well.

Tweaks: This was originally a soup, albeit a very substantial soup. It has swede and cabbage in it which would go beautifully in this stew. Unfortunately I didn't have swede and I ran out of room in the pot anyway. The leftovers have gone into the freezer and will feed the whole family again if I add rice and veg. Hmmm, maybe even pasta??  

Tweeks:  25/02/11  Today I am sick with a cold *pouts* and my FACE is killing me.  I don't normally get colds.  I am known in these parts as "Last Man Standing".  So,  having defrosted some diced lamb I had to cook it and I was after something nourishing and comforting.  But when I looked in the pantry,,  NO BARLEY.  Not even soup mix.  So...  I washed some green and red lentils and chucked them in.  

Essentially, I am saying that this recipe is sooooo easy to change around.  I chucked it all in the cast-iron pot at about 10am, no pre-cooking;  just threw it in,  covered it with ample water and put it in the oven at approx 160degC until we came home from the last Milo Cricket session for Ms C&D at about 6:30pm.  (They got certificates and medals!  They were thrilled!!!  The cricket assoc sure knows the way to a kid's heart... medals!  Maybe I should start awarding them.  On the other hand....  maybe not.)