Brisque Braises: Instant Pot Lamb, Roman-Style
If you're looking for triple-tested recipes from one of the most beloved recipe developers of our time, look no further than New York Times food writer Melissa Clark. Her latest book is a vibrant, diverse collection of recipes for your favorite new toy: the Instant Pot. This Instant Pot lamb makes the succulent Roman-style treat well within reach for anyone with a craving for hearty stews. This ethereally tender lamb has an intense, heady sauce flecked with herbs and sweet green peas. The anchovies add a saline complexity, but aren't at all fishy. Plus, no one will know they are there if you don't tell them. Serve this with something — bread, rice, polenta, or a spoon — to scoop up the sauce. It's quite spectacular and you won't want to miss a drop.Reprinted with permission from Dinner In An Instant
- 3 1/2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder
- 9 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 sprigs thyme (lemon thyme is particularly nice here)
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 leeks white and light green parts only or 1 large onion
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 6 oil-packed anchovy fillets
- pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup shelled peas
- 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon
- 2 scallions
- chopped fresh mint and/or tarragon
- In a large bowl, toss the lamb with the grated garlic, salt, pepper, and thyme and rosemary sprigs. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, and preferably overnight.
- Brush the herbs off the lamb and reserve. Using the sauté function in the pressure cooker (or a skillet over high heat), heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. Once it is hot, add the lamb. Let it brown for 5 to 7 minutes per side, and then transfer the pieces to a plate.
- Add another tablespoon of the oil to the pot (or skillet). When it’s hot, add the leeks and sauté until golden, 3 to 5 minutes (if the pot gets too hot and you can’t lower the heat, turn it off for a few minutes and let the leeks cook in the residual heat to keep them from burning).
- Add the wine to the pot (or skillet) and simmer, scraping up the browned bits, until it has reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the anchovies and red pepper flakes. Return the lamb and reserved herb sprigs to the pot, cover, and cook on high pressure for 50 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the lamb to a serving platter. Use a fat separator to separate the fat from the juices, or just spoon the fat off the top. Taste the sauce, and add more salt and/or a squeeze of lemon as needed. If the sauce is thin, use the sauté function to simmer it down.
- Stir in the peas and tarragon and simmer on the sauté function until peas are tender (1 to 2 minutes for frozen peas, 2 to 5 for fresh peas). Serve the lamb topped with scallions and mint, and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired.