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Spiced couscous with crispy lamb shoulder and mint

Spiced couscous with crispy lamb shoulder and mint

Irish Times10-05-2025

Serves
:
4
Course
:
Lunch, Dinner
Cooking Time
:
3 hrs 30 mins
Prep Time
:
20 mins
Ingredients
500g approx piece of lamb shoulder, off the bone
Sea salt
400g couscous
1tbs turmeric
2tbs ras el hanout spice
1tsp sea salt
600ml chicken stock
200ml lamb juice (including fat)
2tbs vegetable oil
1tbs ground cumin
Sea salt
Handful of fresh mint leaves
4tbs fresh pomegranate seeds
100g feta cheese
Preheat the slow cooker to high. Season the lamb shoulder piece with some salt, place in the slow cooker, and cook on high for 3½ hours.
Remove the lamb from the slow cooker and allow to cool for 15 minutes, being sure to keep all the juices from the slow cooker. Tear or cut the lamb into smaller pieces and set aside, ready for frying.
To make the couscous, place the couscous, turmeric, ras el hanout and salt in a large bowl and stir to combine evenly. Boil the chicken stock, then add the hot stock and 200ml of the leftover lamb juices to the bowl of couscous. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave for 10 minutes.
When you cover the couscous, start to fry the lamb. Heat a large nonstick frying pan. Add the oil, and when hot, add the lamb pieces. Season with the cumin powder and sea salt and fry for seven to eight minutes on a medium-high heat until crispy, then remove from the heat.
Remove the cover from the couscous after 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Spoon the couscous into a large serving dish and add the fried lamb on top. Garnish with some thinly sliced mint, pomegranate seeds and some crumbled feta.

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