Instant Pot Mediterranean Lamb Stew
Ingredients:
¼ cup flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 pounds 1-inch cubes lamb shoulder or lamb stew meat
2 tablespoons olive oil or as needed, divided
½ cup sliced leeks
½ cup chopped carrots
½ cup chopped celery
½ cup diced fennel
1 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
2 tablespoons brandy or cognac
1 28-ounce can diced or crushed tomatoes
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cups beef broth
1 bay leaf
Chopped fresh parsley to serve
Directions:
In a large shallow bowl combine the flour, salt, and pepper. Add the lamb meat and toss to coat the lamb.
Place the inner pot into your Instant Pot. Press the Sauté button, and then use the Sauté or Adjust buttons (depending on your model) to select the “Normal” or middle temperature. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the pot, and let it heat for 1 minute. Add the lamb in two batches and brown on at least a few of the sides of the cubes, about 2 minutes per side (if you want to brown all of the sides, go ahead, but it’s not necessary, and often the pieces of meat aren’t really 6 sided “cubes”). Remove the meat with a slotted spoon to a plate, add the remaining tablespoon olive oil if there is not oil in the pan, and repeat with the other half of the lamb.
Add the leeks, carrots, celery, and fennel to the pot and sauté without the lid on for 5 minutes until everything is slightly tender. Stir in the rosemary, then add the brandy to the pot and stir for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, broth, bay leaf and lamb and stir to combine.
Close and lock the lid. Set the valve to Sealing. Press Cancel, then press Manual or Pressure Cook and use the Pressure Level Button to select high pressure. Set the timer for 45 minutes. Note that the timer will not start to count down until the correct pressure has been achieved.
When the Instant Pot beeps, press Cancel. Let the pressure come down slowly for 30 minutes. Release the sealing valve, remove the lid and serve hot in bowls, with parsley sprinkled over the stew.
