Lamb and lentil stew

This is a really tasty stew that you can spice up or down to suit your family. With a little bit of prep during your once a week food preparation, you can have the meat pre-cooked so that the stew itself will take under thirty minutes to put together at meal time. Another way to prepare the meat is to put it in a crock pot early in the morning and cook it on low all day. When you get home and are ready to put the stew together, the meat will be tender and falling apart. Good for this particular stew!
We like curries and spicy food a lot, so I’ve included the spices that we add, but with the optional designation. You could add rosemary or bay leaf if you prefer milder tastes.
Lamb and Lentil Stew
1 lb lamb
1 qt water
Olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, mashed
2 T fresh ginger, grated
1-2 T curry paste, or your favorite mix of Indian spices (optional, my mixture is below)
2 c lentils, pre-soaked if possible
10 oz frozen spinach
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 lb carrots, sliced
Pre-cook the lamb in a crock pot with a quart of water. When it’s time to make the stew, add enough water to bring the liquid back up to one quart. Pre-soak the lentils too, 2 c lentils in 4 c water. Drain before using.
In a heavy stockpot, saute the onions, garlic, and ginger in olive oil. Add the curry paste or spice mixture of choice and heat through. Add the stock water from the lamb and the lentils and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. [Note - some varieties of lentils cook faster than others.] Add the spinach, tomatoes, carrots and lamb, and cook until carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.
Suggested Spice Mixture (optional)
2 t cumin powder
1/2 t tumeric
1/2 t coriander
Cayenne pepper to taste
Dash of cinnamon
Image: Cyndi Lavin

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Tags: easy recipes, family meals, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy recipes, meal planning, quick recipes, recipes, Thirty Minute MealsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Beans, Lentils, & Peas, Crock Pot Cooking, India, Lamb, Main Dishes, Soups & Stews, Thirty Minute Meals
63 opinions for Lamb and lentil stew
loralie
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:47 am
Stew sounds good!
Susan K
Oct 7, 2008 at 11:06 am
We are vegetarian in our household but this stew sounds like it would be delicious with a meat substitute for the lamb, even some cubed tofu - thank you!
~Lana B~
Oct 7, 2008 at 11:21 am
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Jocelyn
Oct 7, 2008 at 11:48 am
Thanks for the contest!
Aimee
Oct 7, 2008 at 11:58 am
Love the blog. Thanks for the chance to win!
Cyndi Lavin
Oct 7, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Susan, try rough-chopped cauliflower instead of lamb :-)
Melanie @ MelADramatic Mommy
Oct 7, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I’ve never done lentils before. This sounds pretty flavorful. Thank you!
Francine
Oct 7, 2008 at 12:55 pm
With the weather quickly changing, this sounds like great comfort food. I love both lamb and lentils.
Janelle
Oct 7, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Lentil stew is so good for the cold days coming. Thanks.
Cami
Oct 7, 2008 at 2:15 pm
This is perfect… my husband just informed me that he likes lentils, but I’ve never made anything with them before! I don’t know that I’ll do lamb but maybe the cauliflower will work as a substitute!
Kamber
Oct 7, 2008 at 3:05 pm
That looks good. I’ll have to try it sometime. Maybe without the lamb.
Tabitha
Oct 7, 2008 at 4:06 pm
looks yummy!!
Lindley
Oct 7, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I never think of cooking lamb when I am shopping, but this sounds like a great fall meal. Thanks!
Jen
Oct 7, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Oh, wow, that sounds yummy.
Noreen
Oct 7, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I have not had lambin years and I have never cooked it myself, I want to try this!!
Tina
Oct 7, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I’ve actually never had lamb but I think this would be good with a different type of meat substituted. That’s a quick and easy meal.
Elizabeth M.
Oct 7, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I think I’d like to try this, minus the meat.
sara l.
Oct 7, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Wow! This sounds like some yummy comfort food to me!
sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com
Jess
Oct 7, 2008 at 9:29 pm
That stew sounds delicious!
Jillish
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:05 pm
mmmm… Stew….. Considering how cold it has been here, that looks wonderful…
Huguette E.
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Sounds very yummy!
Chandrea Scranton
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:56 pm
This is so much fun! Not only have I gotten the chance to read some really great blogs, but I also have a chance to win something, too!!
Desiree
Oct 7, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Giving this recipe a try next week…it sounds delicious…and thanks for the chance in the giveaway ;)
Nicole (ikkinlala)
Oct 7, 2008 at 11:59 pm
This sounds great, but I’ll have to try the cauliflower version (or substitute beef) as I don’t have lamb right now.
Brianne
Oct 8, 2008 at 12:19 am
I’m ALL about crock-pot recipes, but lamb kind of scares me. Maybe I could use the same recipe with just plain beef?…
Amalia Zents
Oct 8, 2008 at 1:51 am
As a singer-songwriter and busy music teacher I love to find great recipes for our household.
I would also love to win the Blogtoberfest book because I journal a lot (trained by Julia Cameron’s admonitions in her book “The Artist’s Way,”) and I live in a very, very German Town.
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Amalia Zents
Blogtoberfest update!
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:35 am
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chris swanson
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:43 am
Stew always sounds great when the weather turns cool. I have never cooked lentils before but I know they are filling so it might be time I tried it. Thanks for the entry and recipe
Cathy
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:47 am
Once the temperature outside drops, I love to have something cooking in the kitchen all day to keep the home warm and yummy smelling.
Jules Mohr
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:02 am
I love lamb. This sounds fabulous especially for winter.
Juanita
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:10 am
This looks so good. I have not found lamb in my area, but can I substitute beef, pork, or chicken?
Cyndi Lavin
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:23 am
Sure, Juanita! Or tofu or cauliflower too :-)
Kristen M.
Oct 8, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Yum… I too am a lover of crock-pot recipes and this sounds delicious (I can’t resist curry dishes!). I might also try tofu as a substitute for the lamb. What about adding cabbage as well, for fun?
Cyndi Lavin
Oct 8, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Cabbage? Why not! I wouldn’t add it until near the end though, because I like my cabbage to have a bit of “tooth” :-)
Bebemiqui
Oct 8, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Sounds like something I ate in Turkey.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
reeva
Oct 8, 2008 at 2:27 pm
mmm! This looks delicious. Great blog — thanks for sharing some awesome recipes.
Kamber
Oct 8, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Yum yum yum
TinaJewel
Oct 8, 2008 at 4:46 pm
That stew sounds wonderful on this chilly rainy Fall day!
Theresa Shafer
Oct 8, 2008 at 8:14 pm
looks good. Thank you for being part of the fest. Hope you get lots of traffic.
Cindi
Oct 8, 2008 at 8:30 pm
This Blogfest is such fun! Please enter me in your surprise drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
Carol Henley
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I have been eating lamb stew for three days this week. I have never tried it with the curry etc. I will next time. I am in a stew about the secret gift and hope I win!
Brenda
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I love lentil stew not too sure about the lamb though…Thanks for the drawing
Jessi
Oct 9, 2008 at 9:04 am
Oh I hope I am not to late!!!
Cyndi Lavin
Oct 9, 2008 at 10:10 am
Nope!!
Kris
Oct 9, 2008 at 12:00 pm
This stew sounds delicious! So does the prize!
ellen cunningham
Oct 10, 2008 at 9:35 am
I’ve never cooked with lentils but I might have to try this recipe.
Abby
Oct 10, 2008 at 2:44 pm
YUMMMO
Jennifer Reda
Oct 10, 2008 at 8:39 pm
oh wow a recipe after my own heart. it sounds absolutely delicious.
Ellen Ring
Oct 10, 2008 at 10:53 pm
We love stews & this sounds like a great one. Ill have to try it.
Cori Westphal
Oct 11, 2008 at 12:36 am
I haven’t ever cooked lamb but this recipe is pretty interesting. Thanks for the surprise contest, I can’t wait to see what it is!
Deanne
Oct 11, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I have never trie lamb before but this makes me want to try it, it looks delicious!
tiffany pettey
Oct 16, 2008 at 4:30 pm
lamb is soooooooooooo good period!
Cyndi Lavin
Oct 16, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I agree…I absolutely love lamb :-)
Peggy Gorman
Oct 16, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I like the lentil stew but I’ll pass on the lamb and make it a meatless stew night
Tammy Kennedy
Oct 16, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Thank you again for another contest and a chance to win a great prize. Also without you and the hard work the contest would not be possible so a hats off to all your hard work.
Thank you.
camper223@live.com
Juanita Lanaux
Oct 17, 2008 at 10:02 am
I tried the dish with tofu and it was delicious!! Thanks for the tip, Cyndi!
Cyndi Lavin
Oct 17, 2008 at 10:41 am
Fabulous, Juanita! I’m so glad you enjoyed it :-)
missdenise
Oct 17, 2008 at 11:07 am
My grandmother was a big fan of lamb. This stew brings back memories.
Heather C
Oct 17, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I just don’t use much lamp. With a recipe like this, I might start pretty soon. :-)
Deborah
Oct 17, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I love recipes that let me cook a large piece of meat one time and then use portions in different dishes later. Kudos!
Samantha Pruitt
Oct 17, 2008 at 5:56 pm
i’ve been looking for a good lentil soup recipe, this sounds awesome!
kathy pease
Oct 17, 2008 at 6:13 pm
PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY :)
Diana Corlett
Oct 17, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I love lamb stew! Delicious recipe!
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