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Stifado Recipe

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1- and- 1/2-inch pieces

  • 1/4 cup Bartenura Olive Oil, divided

  • 2 medium onions, chopped (about 2 cups/8 ounces)

  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 2 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes

  • 1 cup Alfasi Cabernet Sauvignon or other dry red wine

  • 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick

  • 3 whole allspice

  • 3 whole cloves

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 bay leaf

  • about 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

METHOD

  1. Pat meat dry with paper towels.

  2. Heat three tablespoons oil in a large casserole dish over medium-high heat. In several batches, add lamb and brown on all sides (about five minutes per batch). Remove lamb.

  3. Add remaining tablespoon oil.  Stir in onion and garlic and sauté until soft (about five minutes). 

  4. Add tomato paste and stir until darkened.

  5. Return lamb and add tomatoes, wine, vinegar, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, cumin, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. 

  6. Bring to a boil, cover pot, and cook in a preheated 350°F in your wood fired oven (make sure your saucepan is oven-safe) and cook for 1.5 hours until tender.