Gulf News' Your Ramadan Table' food show: Lamb tacos with guacamole and pickled onions
Also, Chef John Buenaventura has a recipe for Jalapeno mojitos that pairs well with tacos
Preparation time: 2 to 3 hours
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Serves: 4 to 5
Ingredients
1 kg lamb shanks
2 cups tomato pulp
100 gms onion
20 gms garlic
50 gms carrots
50 gms celery
10 gms cumin powder
10 gms coriander powder
10 gms oregano
5 gms turmeric powder
10 gms chipotle chilli
Corn tortillas
Salt and pepper to taste
Guacamole
2 avocados
30 gms tomato
20 ml lime
20 gms red onions
10 gms coriander leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
Pickled onions
200 gms red onion
100 ml white vinegar
30 gms sugar
5 gms salt
Jalapeno mojitos
2 lime
30 gms mint leaves
1 tbsp brown sugar
200 ml tonic water
20 gms jalapenos (thinly sliced)
Method
First, marinate the lamb shanks by mixing a pinch of turmeric powder, black pepper, salt, chipotle chilli, cumin powder, and corn oil. Rub the mixture onto the lamb shanks and let them rest for 2 to 3 hours, preferably overnight.
After the lamb shanks have rested, heat a cast iron pan over a medium flame and sear them for about 15 to 20 minutes. While searing, add a few crushed garlic pods, chopped jalapenos, onions, carrots, and celery to the pan. Sauté the vegetables and add ½ tablespoon of chipotle to them. Then, add tomatoes, followed by some chicken or lamb stock, to the pan. Cover the pan and cook for a few minutes before transferring it to the oven.
Preheat the oven to 160°C and place the lamb shanks in it for 2 hours, checking periodically for even cooking.
Once the lamb shanks are cooked, remove them from the oven and pull out the fleshy part, including the fat, but keep the bones aside.
Next, sauté the lamb meat in a saucepan with one tablespoon of corn oil over a medium flame. Add some chopped garlic and sauté until golden brown. Then, add the lamb with cooked sauce and simmer it until the meat absorbs all the sauce. Add ¼ teaspoon of cumin powder to the meat and stir. Keep it aside.
Meanwhile, to prepare guacamole, scoop out the avocados into a bowl and mash them. Add chopped tomatoes, roughly chopped coriander leaves, chopped onions, one tablespoon of lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste. You can also add jalapeno to the guacamole if you'd like.
For the pickled onions, take a saucepan and mix 200 ml of white vinegar, 50 grams of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Once it boils, add sliced red onions and simmer for a few minutes. Stir it well. As it heats up, the onions change colour, and the raw smell of the onions dissipates. Remove the onions from the mixture and keep them aside. Refrigerate the pickled onions in an airtight container, and they will last for about one week.
To go with the tacos, prepare Jalapeno Mojitos. In a glass, add a few wedges of limes, a handful of mint leaves, one tablespoon of sugar, and use a muddler to crush the lime and mint. Add tonic water and 2 to 3 slices of jalapeno chillies per glass. Mix it well. Take a serving glass, add some ice cubes, and pour the Jalapeno Mojitos.
To assemble the tacos, heat the tortilla in a pan and spread guacamole on it. Add a spoonful of braised lamb and top it with pickled onions and jalapeno chilli slices (optional). On the side, serve it with a lime wedge.
Tips
Always toast seeds and nuts before using them in any dishes.
Use only tomato flesh and avoid the core to prevent the guacamole from becoming too watery
You can use red or white onions for the guacamole.
To make lamb stock, add peppercorns, lamb shanks, and salt and pepper to taste, and simmer for 1 to 2 hours.
Food is not just about nourishment; it's an expression of love and creativity. This recipe for braised lamb tacos with pickled onions and guacamole is a perfect example of how food can bring people together and create memories that last a lifetime. Even though this recipe takes some time, once you taste it, you will know it's worth it.
Join us for the next recipe tomorrow!
Do you have a favourite Ramadan recipe to share? Write to us at food@gulfnews.com.