Instant Pot Leg Of Lamb Stew with Dates & Cinnamon
Ingredients:
About 2 lb / 850-900 g leg of lamb (bone in or out)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander seed powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 red onion, sliced
4 slices of fresh ginger root (or 1 teaspoon ginger powder)
6–7 dried dates
7–8 medium garlic cloves (peeled, left whole)
1 cinnamon stick (or 1 teaspoon cinnamon)
1 cup water
1 chicken stock cube
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar (lemon juice is also fine)
1 tablespoon tapioca flour/arrowroot flour/corn flour (for thickening)
Rice or couscous to serve with
Directions:
Rub the leg of lamb (or shoulder) with salt, pepper, cumin, coriander seed and turmeric powders. Turn the Instant Pot on and press the Sauté function key (it should say High, 30 mins).
Add the coconut oil and once hot add the lamb. Fry for 2-3 minutes on top and bottom, then turn on its sides and add the onions and ginger around the lamb. Cook for 1 minute on each of the sides, and stir the onions and ginger a couple of times.
Remove the lamb and add the rest of the ingredients to the pot. Stir through and bring to a boil. At this stage, press Keep Warm/Cancel and return the lamb back to the pot, nestling it in the broth.
Place and lock the lid, make sure the steam releasing handle is pointing to Sealing. Press Manual (High Pressure) and set to 80 minutes. After 3 beeps the pressure cooker will start going. Once the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then use the quick release to let off the rest of the steam.
Remove the lamb carefully to a cutting board. Press the Sauté function key and let the broth bubble away for 10 minutes, stirring it a few times. This will reduce the liquid slightly. In the meantime, cut the lamb meat away from the bone and shred it into bite-size pieces.
Add the lamb meat back to the broth. Dissolve the starch of choice in a few tablespoons of water or the broth (I used tapioca flour as I wanted to keep this gluten-free), whisking it with a fork, and add into the pot. Stir through the broth, which will thicken it and make it nice and glossy. Turn the pressure cooker off and serve with rice or couscous.
