Paula Wolfert’s Recipe for Anatolian Purslane, Lamb and Lentil Stew

by Yvonne | Sep 9, 2010 | Book Reviews, Dinner, Eid, Iftar, Lamb, North African, Red Meat Dishes

Paula Wolfert, an expert in Moroccan cooking and the award-winning author of cookbooks about Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine has honored us with her summer’s end recipe for Anatolian Purslane, Lamb and Lentil Stew. It’s just perfect for the last iftar meal of this Ramadan or to serve up to guests during one of the three days of the upcoming ‘Eid celebration.

Among her many interesting cookbooks are Mediterranean Clay Pot Cooking: Traditional and Modern Recipes to Savor and Share and Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco, which has been in print since 1973!

She’s won the James Beard Award and the Julia Child Award, among other honors, for her cookbook writing. I’m eagerly waiting for her latest cookbook on Moroccan cooking due out in 2011. I’ll let you know about when it publishes. I can’t wait to try the recipes!

Be sure to make this sensational dish, as Paula’s recipes are known for their taste, interesting flavors and incredibly accuracy in recipe writing.

If you don’t have purslane (widely available at farmer’s markets towards the end of summer), you can substitute watercress or spinach instead.

Anatolian Purslane, Lamb and Lentil Stew

Recipe by Paula Wolfert

In late summer, use bulky bunches of purslane for this recipe.

Serves 6

• 1/2 cup dried black-eyed peas, soaked overnight and drained
• 1/3 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight and drained
• 3/4 cup mini brown lentils, picked over and rinsed (See box)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 5 ounces boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons Turkish red pepper paste (See Note)
• 1 1/2 pounds purslane, thick stems discarded and leaves coarsely shredded
• 1/2 cup coarse bulgur
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Salt
• 1 tablespoon dried spearmint, leaves crushed to a fine powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Turkish red pepper flakes (see Notes)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Trimmed scallions and lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

1. Rinse the black-eyed peas and chickpeas. Pour them into separate medium saucepans and cover with several inches of water. Cover and cook over moderate heat until tender, about 20 minutes for the black-eyed peas and 1 hour for the chickpeas. Drain the black-eyed peas and discard the liquid. Drain the chickpeas; reserve 1/3 cup of the cooking liquid.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the lentils with 4 cups of water, cover partially and cook over moderate heat until tender, about 40 minutes. Drain; reserve 2 cups of the cooking liquid.
3. In a large, enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the lamb and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the onion, cover and cook until softened but not browned, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, red pepper paste and 1/2 cup of water and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring once or twice, until the mixture begins to caramelize, about 20 minutes.
4. Add the purslane, bulgur and the reserved chickpea and lentil cooking liquids to the casserole. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add the chickpeas, black-eyed peas, lentils, garlic and enough water to barely cover. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the lemon juice and season with salt.
5. In a small skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the spearmint, Turkish red pepper flakes and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. When the oil begins to sizzle, give it a stir and drizzle it over the stew. Stir once and let stand for 30 minutes. Serve the stew at room temperature or let cool, then refrigerate and serve chilled the following day. Pass the scallions and lemon at the table.

Notes

Turkish red pepper paste and Turkish red pepper flakes are available at Middle Eastern groceries or from Kalustyan’s (800-352-3451).