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Sunday 14 October 2012

GREEK STYLE STIFADO



Good Morning to you,

What a relief, National Chocolate Week is almost over.  As you know, my relief is not because I dislike chocolate, it's quite the opposite, it's because I love chocolate and if I'm honest with you, I think I allowed myself to indulge, just a little too much this week. All in the name of National Chocolate Week.  Will I ever learn!

So today, I am returning to my normal eating routine and I have chosen something which is easy to make, but at the same time full of flavour. A Greek style Stifado.




Doesn't this Stifado look inviting, couldn't you just get a spoon and dive right in! Sorry, I'm not really promoting bad habits!
  

THE INGREDIENTS

1.5 kg lamb cut into cubes
3 onions, sliced
3 cloves of garlic (less if you prefer)
1x 400g tin of tomatoes, chopped
or 6 ripe tomatoes skinned and chopped
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
2 cinnamon sticks
3 dried bay leaves
200ml red wine
3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon of sugar
5 tablespoons of olive oil
1 pint of vegetable stock


 Using a large, wide pan, add  three tablespoons of olive oil and add the sliced onions to the pan. 


Cook the onions on a low heat until golden brown. This will take about 20 to 25 minutes.


Add the garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes. Remove the onions and garlic from the pan and set aside.
  

Using the same pan, add two more tablespoons of olive oil and brown the lamb, a little at a time.  Don't overload the pan with the cubed lamb as it will boil rather than brown. I found browning six pieces of lamb each time worked for my pan. As each batch is browned place on a plate and continue browning with the next batch of lamb.

When you have finished browning all the lamb, return it to the pan and add the onions and garlic and stir.
  

 Add the red wine
  

Add the chopped tomatoes

 Add the cinnamon, bay leaves, salt and pepper
  

Add the tomato paste
  

Add the sugar

 

Add the red wine vinegar and vegetable stock and stir well.
Place a lid on the pan and simmer gently for 1 hour 45 minutes or until the lamb is nice and tender.
If you want to reduce the sauce, remove the lid, raise the heat to medium and cook for a further 15 minutes until you reach the consistency that suits you.  Taste at this point to see if you need to add more seasoning.



...and here you have it a delicious, warming Stifado.
I sometimes serve Stifado with mashed potato and broccoli. 
Other times I serve with couscous.  It all depends on your fancy for that day. However you decide to serve this dish, I know you will enjoy it.
Just as an added note, Stifado is usually made with pickling onions.  I find they are too fiddly and time consuming, I prefer sliced onions.  Remember what I said about adapting a recipe to your own taste.
If you would like to  make Stifado with pickling onions, then you will need 1 kg of onions.  You will also need to brown the onions before adding them to the lamb mixture.
Have fun cooking this recipe.
Take care and I will see  you later in the week.
This week I will be joining,
Best Wishes
Daphne xxx

24 comments:

  1. It looks lovely Daphne
    definitely one for a cool autumn day.

    Have a lovely Sunday

    x Fiona

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Fiona, Your absolutely right Stifado is perfect for autumn/winter weather. It's raining and it's cold today so this dish is perfect. Have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  2. Hello Daphne, this looks a really good heart warming recipe,which could be one for my other half to add to his culinery dishes to make for me. So this one will be a must do. I'll have to print off the recipe for him. Here in France I do find it difficult to find Lamb cut to make a dish like this. The French seem to prefere to roast a whole leg of Lamb. I can't wait to try it now that the weather has turned a bit chilly.
    Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
    Best wishes Barbara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Barbara, Your hubby will love this recipe as once the prep has been done, there really isn't much to do but sit back and wait. You mentioned the problem with lamb. You could ask your butcher to cut the leg of lamb into cubes or as an alternative, I have seen Stifado made with chuck steak with the fat trimmed. Have a lovely Sunday. Best Wishes Daphne

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  3. I think every week should be chocolate week :)
    Your recipe looks great. It is damp and chilly here today so I'm making some lentil soup.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good Morning Linda, Yes I'm inclined to agree that every week should be chocolate, but I would look like the Michelin Man if it were so. Any excuse and I reach for a bar of chocolate ....do you know I should know better at my age! Love lentil soup, that is a real Northern soup. Enjoy. Best Wishes Daphne

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  5. Hallo Daphne!The recipe is just like i cook stifado!What a great resipe!I serve it with fried potatos!It is for a chily day!You remind me to prepare it this week!Im not closing my blog!I celebrate 4 months blogging!The tranclate is tarrible i know!Wish you a lovely week my dear!
    Dimi..

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  6. Kalispara Dimi, Happy News, I'm so pleased to hear you are not closing your blog. I read the post twice and felt sure that was the translation. So it was a celebration of 4 months of blogging, congratulations to you. Stifado is a lovely meal isn't it, all my family enjoy this dish. Enjoy the rest of Sunday, I know I will now that I know you are staying with blogland. Best Wishes Daphne

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  7. This looks so tasty - I just wish I liked lamb! Thanks for visiting Pandora's Box!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Patti, It is a tasty dish. If you don't like lamb try using steak which has been cubed. It has a slightly different flavour, but one you would enjoy if you don't like lamb. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  8. That looks delish, and you went to an amazing amount of work to photograph it...

    Now I am hungry, and I just ate breakfast.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Jen, Oh dear, sorry about that, nothing worse than having a "fancy" for something when you have just eaten. It is such an easy dish, as once the meat is browned the rest is pretty quick. It could also be cooked in a slow cooker and then forgotten until it's ready. Have a good day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  9. I used to work at a Greek Restaurant and I've really missed the food there. This recipe looks delish!

    ~Lynn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Lynn, So you know all about Greek food and their wonderful flavours. As you can see from my blog, Greek food is also a hit with me. Give this recipe a try and your memories of working in Greece will come flooding back. Have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  10. Daphne...wonderful to meet you! And with such a lovely recipe, too. Marvelous flavors in you Stifado; love the cinnamon addition. It looks like a comforting meal for a cold evening.
    (I'm following you, too!!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Barbara, we must have been on-line at the same time. Thank you for your kind comments about my Stifado. The cinnamon gives this dish quite a distinctive flavour and yes great for winter days. Thank you so much for following me, that was very kind of you. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  11. Daphne love this and love your photos look yum!!
    thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Gloria, Thank you for your kind comments and for taking the time to stop by and read my blog. It's much appreciated. Have a good day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  12. How did you know I love Greek food? I am pinning this one for sure. Thank you for sharing at Foodie Friends Friday.

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  13. Good Afternoon Angie, Fancy that, we share the same love don't we. I adore Greek food. I love the fact that you can take simple ingredients and create a beautiful dish. Do try it and I can assure you that you won't be disappointed. Best Wishes Daphne

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  14. You had me at lamb! LOL! Your dish looks delicious. Perfect comfort food for all the chilly weather we've been having lately. Thank you kindly for stopping by my blog, Daphne. I appreciate your comments on my pillow covers. Enjoy your Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Brandi, Nice to hear you enjoy lamb as there are a lot of people who don't. It really is comfort food and it fits the kind of day we are having here today in England, cold, wet and miserable. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  15. Un gran estofado de cordero luce espectacular muy buena elaboración,abrazos hugs,hugs.

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    Replies
    1. Good afternoon Rosita, I'm so pleased you like the Stifado, it tastes and smells lovely. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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Dear Friends,

It is so wonderful to know you enjoy reading Ivy, Phyllis and Me! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment. I really do appreciate it.

Best wishes to you.

Daphne

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