Braised Lamb Shanks with Qabili Palao Rice
- Level: Advanced
- Total: 10 hr (includes soaking time)
- Active: 45 min
- Yield: 6 servings
- Level: Advanced
- Total: 10 hr (includes soaking time)
- Active: 45 min
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
Lamb Shanks:
Qabili Palao Rice:
Rice Topping:
Seven-Spice Mixture:
Directions
Special equipment:
a pressure cooker- For the lamb shanks: Place the lamb in a pressure cooker and cover with water by about 2 inches. Add the coriander, garlic, turmeric, plum tomatoes, onions, cilantro and 1 1/2 teaspoons each salt and pepper. Cook at 250 degrees F for about 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
- Release the steam in the pressure cooker, then carefully open it and transfer the lamb to a large pot along with about 2 1/2 cups of lamb juice. Reserve the remaining juice for the rice.
- Add the canned tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, crushed red pepper, paprika and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper; mix thoroughly. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, adding lamb juice as needed so it doesn't dry out.
- For the qabili palao rice: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Boil the rice in water until tender, about 10 minutes. Strain and return to the pot.
- Mix together the reserved lamb stock, oil and saffron water in a bowl and pour over the rice. Add the Seven-Spice Mixture, cardamom pods and saffron; mix thoroughly. Cover with foil and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- For the rice topping: Meanwhile, bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a pan. Add the carrots and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the raisins, almonds and pistachios if using, oil, sugar, ground cardamom and saffron; mix well. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Place about half of the rice on a platter and arrange the lamb shanks on top. Cover with the remaining rice and top with the carrot mixture.
Seven-Spice Mixture:
- Mix together the black pepper, black cardamom, green cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander and cumin in a bowl.
