Recipe - French Lamb Stew

I know. I've given those of you who don't care for lamb too many lamb recipes already. I need to move on. And I intend to. But, as I was preparing dinner tonight, I couldn't resist sharing my recipe for an authentic French Lamb Stew. Winter is making its departure. We're all going to be craving much lighter food in the near future, so how about enjoying a wonderful, hearty stew while the weather's still "right" for it? I promise you won't be disappointed.

Navarin d'Agneau, a French Lamb Stew

Ingredients:

3 lbs. of boneless lamb for stew cut in about 1" squares
2 onions sliced
2 T. butter
1 T. flour
2 T. tomato paste
2 T. olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 lbs. potatoes
2 turnips (optional, but advised)
3 bay leaves
2 pinches of thyme
2 pinches of cumin

Directions:

1. Melt butter into a large sauce pan and brown the pieces of lamb.

2. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Remove the pieces of meat but leave the gravy in the sauce pan.

4. Add the sliced onions to the pan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.

5. Sprinkle with the flour, add olive oil and tomato paste.

6. Cook over low heat for 3 minutes, stirring all the time.

7. Put the pieces of lamb back into the sauce pan and add enough water to cover the meat.

8. Add salt, pepper, bay leaves, thyme, and cumin and stir the whole mixture.

9. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 20 minutes.

10. Cut raw turnips and potatoes into cubes and add them to the sauce pan.

11. Cook covered over medium heat for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Enjoy!