Lamb and Apricot Stew

The dried apricots in my cupboard have persuaded me to do something with them and catching my attention amongst potential recipes is a Lamb and Apricot Stew. There are a few ingredients which I need to pick up, so I coincide this forging activity with an afternoon walk. Most of these are store cupboard classics like tomato puree, but one of these is a spice mix that I am less familiar with called Ras El Hanout (which I’m guessing is essential to the dish), which leads me to follow my nose to the Al Amin store on Mill Road, a veritable treasure trove of spice and suchlike. I listen to the whole of Loveless on the way, but my despite picking up the other items here, my search for REH is fruitless. Sainsbury’s in town also seems equally fruitless at first, but between the returning students I manage to find a pot of REH on the bottom shelf. I celebrate by listening to Suck It and See on the way home.

The resulting stew is well balanced between the heat of the spices, the sweetness of the apricots and savoury of the lamb. It is very moreish when soaked up with couscous. And at 45 minutes from worktop to table, it’s a good addition to the arsenal.

Lamb and apricot stew