Persian Lamb and Rhubarb Stew – Khoresh Rivas Recipe

Ingredients (4-6 servings)

• 1 kg boneless lamb meat
• 2-3 tablespoons of butter
• 1 medium onion
• 1 teaspoon chopped ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon  ground black pepper
• 1 cup chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped dried mint
• 2 cloves of garlic
• about 1/2 kg of rhubarb stalks
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• salt to taste

Preparation method:

1. Chop the onion and ginger.
2. Cut the lamb meat off the bones – I used the front leg – and cut into 2 cm cubes.
3. Heat the butter in a larger, add chopped onion, chopped ginger and some salt and saute until golden brown.
4. Add the turmeric and ground black pepper, mix them stirring a wooden spatula.
5. Add the lamb, bring the heat higher and brown the meat on all sides, if needed add a bit more oil or butter to avoid burning the meat.
6. Pour about 2 cups of water, just enough to cover it, bring it to boil. Add the garlic, cover the pot with a lid and simmer over low heat for about an hour, stirring from time to time.
7. Meanwhile, in 2 tablespoons of butter saute the parsley for 2 minutes then add the chopped dried mint and saute for another minute.
8. Add this parsley-mint mix to the lamb pot halfway of its one-hour simmering.
9. Wash the rhubarb stalks an cut them into 2-3 cm pieces.
10. Add the rhubarb to the pot and simmer for 8-10 minutes until the rhubarb is done, mixing carefully.
11. Add one tablespoon of brown sugar, and simmer for a further minute.
12. Serve with some brown rice, which is healthier than the white one.