Editorial sample recipeIranianintermediateGluten-FreeDairy-FreeHalal

Iranian Sour Cherry And Apricot Braised Lamb

Name: Iranian Sour Cherry And Apricot Braised Lamb
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Iranian
Ingredients: 500 g Lamb shoulder, boneless, cut into 1-inch cubes; 2 large Yellow onion, thinly sliced; 0.5 cup Dried sour cherries, pitted; 0.5 cup Dried apricots, halved; 0.25 tsp Saffron threads, steeped in 2 tbsp hot water; 0.5 tsp Ground cinnamon; 0.25 tsp Ground cardamom; 2 tbsp Fresh lemon juice; 2 tbsp Ghee, or vegetable oil

A sweet-sour Persian lamb stew cooked with tart dried sour cherries, chewy dried apricots, and aromatic saffron.

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 60 min
Total: 75 min

AI-generated illustration of Iranian Sour Cherry And Apricot Braised Lamb

AI illustration

Technique to learn

Sweet-Sour Braising

Balancing rich savory proteins with dried tart fruits and acidic juices during a gentle stewing process.

Instructions

Step 1: Melt ghee in a heavy saucepan over medium heat and cook sliced onions for 10 minutes until deep golden brown.
Step 2: Add cubed lamb shoulder, ground cinnamon, and ground cardamom, searing the meat for 7 minutes until well browned.

Step 3: Pour in steeping saffron liquid and 2 cups of hot water, then lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Step 4: Soak dried sour cherries and halved dried apricots in warm water for 5 minutes, then drain thoroughly.

Step 5: Stir drained fruit and fresh lemon juice into the lamb pot, mixing carefully to distribute evenly.

Step 6: Leave pot uncovered and simmer for 15 minutes until gravy reduces slightly and lamb becomes fully tender.

Cooking tips

Soaking dried fruits before adding them ensures they rehydrate evenly without absorbing all the gravy from the pot.
Grind saffron threads with a tiny pinch of sugar before steeping to extract maximum color and aroma.
Original home-cooking adaptation inspired by Iranian; regional versions vary.
Use halal-certified meat, poultry, stock, sauces, cheese and other processed ingredients. Check labels and avoid cross-contamination. Recipe screening is not halal certification.

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