January – Lamb Soup/Stew with Garbanzos and Winter Squash

My family is very fond of what I call soup/stew. It’s not really a stew, more like a very substantial soup. it’s a soup that is a full meal, and it perfectly describes this Lamb Soup/Stew with Garbanzos and Winter Squash. You could serve it with a salad or throw in some baby spinach to wilt just before serving. Ta Da greens., nothing more needed.

This is a phase 3 dinner, 2 cups equal one serving.

Lamb Soup/Stew with Garbanzos and Winter Squash

4 servings – 8 cups

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons ground cumin or cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamon, or cardamon seeds
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander or coriander seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper plus more to taste
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt plus more as needed for taste
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 2 teaspoons grape seed oil
• 1 medium red onion, half diced and half sliced into thin rounds
• 2 large cloves of garlic, finely diced
• 1 red or orange bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large delicata squash, peeled, seeded and diced into 3/4 inch cubes; or other winter squash – about 4 cups
• 1 can of garbanzo (chickpea) beans drained and rinsed
• 3 cups of chicken or vegetable stock, low sodium
• optional – handful of golden raisins or roughly chopped dried apricots
• For garnish – chopped cilantro, flat leaf parsley, mint, or chives…or combination of all

Directions:

1. Combine the cumin, cardamon and coriander in a small heavy skillet and toast until slightly brown. This will happen quickly if using ground spices. Watch carefully. If whole spices, cool and grind in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. 
2. Heat the grape seed oil in a large skillet or pot on medium heat, add the ground lamb and brown (drain if there is a lot of fat and return to the skillet or pot).
3. Add the onion, garlic, and spices. Stir until blended and smelling aromatic, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the bell pepper, squash, garbanzo beans and stock.
5. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes until the vegetables are cooked and flavors blended. Add the optional dried fruit, taste for salt, and simmer an additional 5 minutes.
6. If not on the Fast Metabolism Diet, I would recommend the optional dried fruit.
   

   Lamb Soup/Stew with Garbanzos and Winter Squash

This recipe is adapted and modified from one in the NY Times.