Xai amb Prunes i Pinyons
A rich and flavorful lamb stew slow-cooked with sweet prunes and toasted pine nuts. This dish reflects the hearty mountain cuisine of Andorra, balancing savory lamb with the sweetness of dried fruit and the nutty crunch of pine nuts.
🧂 Ingredients
- 800 g Lamb shoulder(cut into 1.5-inch cubes)
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 2 medium Onions(chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 150 g Prunes(pitted)
- 50 g Pine nuts(toasted)
- 500 ml Chicken or lamb stock
- 150 ml Red wine
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 1 Bay leaf
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season the lamb cubes generously with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the lamb in batches until golden brown on all sides. Remove the lamb and set aside.
- 2
Add the chopped onions to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 3
Pour in the red wine and scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze, loosening any browned bits. Let the wine simmer and reduce slightly for 2-3 minutes.
- 4
Return the browned lamb to the pot. Add the chicken or lamb stock, pitted prunes, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 1.5 hours, or until the lamb is tender.
- 5
Stir in the toasted pine nuts. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for another 15-20 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf before serving.
- 6
Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can brown the lamb in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- ✓If the sauce is too thin, you can thicken it by making a slurry of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stirring it into the simmering stew.
- ✓Toasting the pine nuts enhances their flavor and texture.
🔄 Variations
- Add a pinch of ground cinnamon or a dash of nutmeg to the stew for extra warmth.
- Include other root vegetables like carrots or parsnips, chopped into bite-sized pieces, during the last hour of cooking.