Slow cooked lamb doused in a scrumptious sauce, that has been reduced is served over fregola sarda to soak up the flavors and brightened with lemon slices.
By Linda Schneider
Lamb neck is considered scrap cut by most. In fact, the woman in line in front of me was buying some to cook for her dog (a well fed [lucky] dog, to say the least). As with any meat that you cook on the bone (e.g., oxtail, short rib), it’s extremely flavorful, not to mention inexpensive.
I went with what I would do for any long braise — sear the meat, add the aromatics, red wine, and stock, and let it cook slowly, until fall-off-the-bone tender.
I cooked the lamb neck for a good two hours in the oven. It created the most scrumptious sauce, which I then reduced and drizzled over the meat. I served the lamb neck over fregola sarda (a Sardinian toasted pasta), which acts like a sponge to soak up the flavors (use Israeli couscous if you can’t find fregola).
Added thinly sliced preserved lemons (refer to this post for making preserved lemons), which added a really nice brightness to the dish. Garnish with chopped mint or parsley if you like.
And, thank you reader, for introducing me to lamb neck. Am now a big fan and will most definitely be incorporating this under-appreciated cut of meat into my cooking repertoire.
Braised Lamb Neck with Italian Fregola
Slow cooked lamb doused in a scrumptious sauce, that has been reduced is served over fregola sarda to soak up the flavors and brightened with lemon slices.
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of lamb neck (4 slices)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup carrot, medium dice
- 1/2 cup celery, medium dice
- 1/2 cup white onion, medium dice
- 5 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 8 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- Fregola sarda
- Preserved lemon peel, thinly sliced, for garnish
- Chopped mint or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F.
- Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a deep, heavy-based Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the lamb neck in a single layer and sear on both sides until well browned.
- Remove the lamb neck, wipe the pan, and add more oil to coat. Add the carrot, celery, onion, and garlic, and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until nicely browned 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add the red wine and vinegar, and cook, stirring and scraping any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot until the liquid is reduced by half. Add the tomatoes, chicken stock, thyme and rosemary. Return the lamb neck to the pot, bring the liquid to a boil, cover, and transfer to the oven. Cook, turning the lamb once, until fall-off-the-bone fork tender, about 2 hours.
- Remove the lamb from the cooking liquid. Strain the liquid and add to a pot. Skim off any fat (my lamb neck had very little fat). Cook over medium-high heat until somewhat reduced and becoming thicker and more flavorful.
- Serve the lamb (2 slices per plate) over fregola sarda. Drizzle with the reduced sauce. Garnish with preserved lemon. Sprinkle with fresh mint or parsley.
Thank you… out of all the recipes I chose yours. I’ve been a lamb fan for as long as I can remember… I love your presentation, the photos the rustic wood table the wine the lamb necks and the sauce fantastic… I had a gentleman from Pasadena CA tell me one time he said ” you like lamb right? Right! You like wine… when you cook and eat lamb you should, preferably, use a Pinot Noir! It doesn’t have to be expensive I choose cheap… but when you combine the two… it’s a taste straight from heaven!” And he was right in fact I am enjoying my lamb necks done with your recipe paired with a Pinot Noir and I’m in Heaven… Thank you again
Enjoy
Cheryl Jepsen.
jepsencheryl@gmail
★★★★★
This was absolutely delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It goes into my Cookbook as a ‘must make again’.
★★★★★
Hi — this recipe looks delicious and I’m hoping to make it this weekend — do you have any recommendations for making this in a slow cooker, if I don’t have a Dutch oven or heavy bottomed pan?
Thanks!!
Delicious! Served over try-colored quinoa with steamed broccoli.
★★★★★
Delicious! Served with polenta and added mushrooms. Have made twice so far
★★★★★
I was very disappointed with this recipe. I love lamb and eat it very often. I also like vinegar in dishes and was particularly attracted to this recipe. I just didn’t like it!
★★
Sooooooooooo nice! Thanks I’ve just made your reicepie and it is orgasmic ;-)
Easy, nice & tasty and a fiver a head, cant be argued with!
★★★★
Thank you so much Linda. It was a great success. In the UK cuts like neck of lamb are very fashionable at at high end restaurants. This is the food I grew up with. This is the sort of food we could afford. Lots hungry growing children. Thank you so much for connecting me with my heritage xxx
★★★★★
Loved it. Easy, simple and tastie. Will definitely be making again. Thank you
★★★★★