Slow Cooked Lamb with Black Tahini and Quinoa Salad
Aw, if you know me you will know that if you show me Black or Purple in anything I am likely to buy it. That’s what happened with this Tahini. I thought I had seen a lot of ingredients in my time but apparently there are still some things that are new and exciting that I haven’t come across . I love that the label says….Magical treat !
Welcome to May, with all kinds of slow cooking to come as it gets colder! I know that everyone has seen Quinoa ( keen-wah) by now. But, if not, here is white Quinoa in a salad, ready to be dressed and finished. I have taken to it instead of rice. You can mix it into anything sweet such as muffins or cakes or savoury in patties and salads. If you are not already a convert give it a try. It is a little expensive by comparison to rice or grains ( 500gm x approx $7.50) but it goes long way.I’m going to use the Quinoa and the Black Sesame in a delicious “In My Kitchen” dish.
Slow cooked Lamb with Black Tahini and Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
Lamb
- 1.5 - 2 kg Lamb Shoulder on the bone
- 3 Tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 100 ml olive oil
- 1 piece preserved lemon of chopped
- 2 Tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 Tablespoons Zaatar or Dukkah
- salt and pepper
Quinoa Salad
- 90 gm quinoa cooked in boiling water and drained ( cool, measure 1 cup cooked)
- 100 gm tomato finely diced (1)
- 50 ml lemon Juice 1/4 cup
- 1 bunch mint chopped
- 1 bunch flat leaf parsley chopped
- 100 gm Spanish onion finely diced
- 80 ml olive oil I like 4
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
Black Tahini Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Black Tahini
- 50 ml lemon Juice or to taste
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 40 ml water
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160 C / 320F
- Put all of the spices, preserved lemon, seeds, zaatar and olive oil into a bowl and mix into a loose paste. Rub this all over the lamb and spread the rest on top.
- Put the lamb shoulder into an oven dish . Add a cup of water and cover well with a lid or foil. Put into the oven. Check at 2 hours but 3.5 to 4 hours will be the point where the lamb is soft and falling from the bone.
- For the Salad. I like to make sure the onion in the salad is soft and delicious and not over powering. I rinse it in boiling water ( poured over and left to sit 30 sec and then drain)
- Put the chopped onion in a bowl and add the lemon juice and tomato ( with all of the juice). Mix in the quinoa, mint and parsley and olive oil. Mix together and taste, seasoning with salt, pepper and more lemon juice if needed.
- Put the tahini , garlic, lemon juice and cumin into a bowl and start to mix. The mixture will become firm. Add a tablespoon of water at a time as you stir until a nice smooth sauce is formed. You will need salt . Taste and add more seasoning or lemon to bring out the flavours.
- When the meat is ready. Put onto the top of the stove and rest. Once I have cut the Lamb I turn on the stove top and reheat the juices and the bits of spice crust and juices left in the dish and left over when cutting. If you wish to add a little more stock and mix around you will have a lovely sauce.
- Serve the lamb with the Quinoa salad and tahini. This would also go with roast pumpkin, sweet potato or boiled or mashed potatoes.
Here’s how to make Quinoa Salad
Feel curious about what others are doing in their kitchen this May? Ok, why not visit Celia www.figjamandlimecordial.com (Link no longer active)
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
Brrr you feel that weather too? This is perfect for the chill (and I took out my pressure cooker the other day :P).
Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy
I have never seen black tahini before but I know I need to get my hands on some. Gorgeous dish Tania!!
Suzanne Perazzini
Great looking dish. Black anything is a bit scary – it usually stains. I use quinoa but I find it a difficult flavour – a little too bitter. Maybe it’s an acquired taste.
Lizzy (Good Things)
Tania, that slow cooked lamb looks yummy! Do you deliver?
Martine @ Chompchomp
Never HEARD of black tahini, looks a little scary I have to admit, does it have a more potent taste?
MyKitchenStories
A fraction more bitter
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts
I’ve heard of black tahini but never seen it – it sounds like a very, very fun ingredient to play with! I’d take the tahini and quinoa salad and let you keep the lamb 😉
lizzie - strayed from the table
I like to use unhulled tahini instead of the regular stuff but I would love to try the black stuff it looks good. This dish looks really stunning and looks so healthy.
MyKitchenStories
The black is unhulled Lizzie
Celia
Honestly Tan, if you lived just a few minutes closer, I reckon I’d camp out at your house. That dish has made me drool at 6am in the morning, and I’m not even a huge fan of lamb or quinoa. And black tahini – now THAT’S a new one, going to have to hunt for that! See you soon, darling! x
Angie@Angie's Recipes
I like black sesame paste. Very nutritious and addictive. Lamb and quinoa…a perfect combo.
Lisa the Gourmet Wog
I’ve never tried black tahini Tania, thanks for showing us something new!
InTolerant Chef
I saw that at the supermarket this week and was so tempted to buy it! Now I wish I did just so I have an excuse to make your yummy meal 🙂
I adore finding new and weird ingredients, it’s so exciting finding the best way to put them through their paces! x
MyKitchenStories
Wow you found it in the supermarket?. I got it at the health food store!
dedy oktavianus pardede@Dentist_Chef
Never had or seen any black tahini,
literary my next obsession: homemade black tahini…
i like black sesame evn more than the regular ones, it had deply nice sesame hint when toasted compares to regular sesame…
great and beautifully plated too….
The Life of Clare
This looks delicious! I love the use of quinoa!
Eha
Black tahini is new to me too: thus, quite obviously, I am curious! Lovely outcome: love your quinoa salad – yes, am substituting it for rice quite often also!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
Why does the love of black not surprise me? 🙂
I’ve never tried the black tahini either but I’m definitely going to get some.
Hotly Spiced
What a lovely looking lamb shoulder. I will definitely be cooking this. Is it difficult to find black tahini? xx
Claire @ Claire K Creations
I’ve never heard of black tahini but I don’t think I could resist anything that said magical treat on the label. I love slow cooked meat! I imagine this one is meltingly-tender.
yummychunklet
Black tahini? Never heard of that!
cityhippyfarmgirl
I LOVE tahini. It’s ridiculously tasty on pretty much everything. I’ve had that brand of the black and the inky blackness is very appealing. (Slapped on toast with honey, yes please!)
Have you tried the black quinoa? I haven’t seen any for sale to try…but you could do a whole plate of black 🙂
MyKitchenStories
Great idea Brydie lets pass that on to Lorraine for Halloween
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
Hi Tania! Lamb is my most favorite meat, and your recipe and photos are making my mouth water. I’ve never seen black tahini, wonder if I can find it here. Quinoa is lovely and a great accompaniment to your lamb. Yummy recipe and photos! Thanks for sharing:)