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Preview: Portuguese Lamb in Red Wine

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Videos

Print Recipe
Portuguese Lamb in Red Wine

Preview: Portuguese Lamb in Red Wine

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Videos

Braised in red wine, this mild and rustic lamb dish takes 5 minutes to put together.

Serves
4 to 6
Active Time
15 mins
Total Time
6 hrs 30 mins

Step 1: Marinating the Meat

Marinating the Meat
  • 1 large onion
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 6 lamb shoulder chops (1 1/2
  • 2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 tsp freshly cracked pepper
  • 6 cups (1.5 L) full-bodied red wine

To marinate the lamb, first dice the onion and smash the garlic. Gather the bay leaves and paprika.

Using a large Dutch oven, place 2 cloves of garlic and 2 bay leaves on the bottom of the pot and sprinkle with about 1/3 of the onion. Set half of the lamb shoulder chops into the pot, making sure the layer is somewhat snug. Season generously with salt, freshly cracked pepper, and half of the paprika. Add a bit more garlic and bay leaves, and another 1/3 of the onion. Place the remaining chops on top and season again with salt, pepper and the remaining paprika. To finish, pour in red wine to cover, pushing the chops down into the liquid if needed.

Cover and let marinate for 3 to 4 hours.

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Step 2: Cooking the Lamb

Cooking the Lamb
  • 2 large pieces orange zest
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (approx.)
  • 1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley

To cook the dish, preheat your oven to 400º degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove two large pieces of zest from an orange and trim off any of the bitter, white pith. Add the zest to the pot and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Submerge the parsley into the liquid, cover the pot and place into the oven.

Braise for at least three hours, until the meat is fork tender.

Step 3: Checking the Lamb and Serving

Checking the Lamb and Serving

To check if the lamb is done, the meat should easily fall off of the bone. If it doesn't, return to the oven for an additional half an hour or so, and check again.

Once the lamb is cooked, you can serve it with the sauce as is. To remove excess fat from the sauce, remove the pieces of meat and pour the sauce into a fat separator.

Alternatively, you can cool the sauce then refrigerate it. Once the fat hardens, you can easily remove it from the surface. Just reheat the meat and fat-free sauce and serve. Either way it’s up to you.

This rustic dish is excellent served over your favorite pasta and a nice big salad.

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Notes

This is the perfect dish to make for a dinner party. It can even be made the day before, whether it's for 2 people or a small group. Cooking times will vary, but it's a simple dish to put together.

Comments

I´m portuguese and I used to add fresh chillis as well.

by Teresa P | Mar 8, 2008 1:45am | Permalink
Looks great!

This recipe looks fantastic. I can't wait to try it.

by Chuck F | Mar 9, 2008 7:06pm | Permalink
piri-piri

Piri-piri are wonderful Portugese peppers, not hot perhaps a 30,000 to 50,000 scoville units, but have a wonderful flavour.

by Mary-anne D | Mar 9, 2008 8:28pm | Permalink
delicious

I just made a similar recipe with beef short ribs that cooked in the dutch oven for 7 hours. They were so tender and the final sauce was outstanding.
I am going to try this one with lamb next week.

by Kevin W | Mar 12, 2008 3:50pm | Permalink
Wine?

What's a good wine to use for braising? Would a Madeira be too much?

by Aaron W | Mar 13, 2008 11:07pm | Permalink
Wine answer for Aaron W

Madeira, along with Marsala, Sherry, Vermouth, and Port are all fortified wines.
Fortified wine is wine in which additional alcohol has been added, the most common additive being brandy. The end result is a fuller, richer, tasting wine with higher alcohol. Personally, I've used fortified wine in recipes (see my Osso Bucco recipe in the test kitchen) with great success and I usually reduce the quantity by about a third if standard red wine is called for. However, since the Portuguese Lamb in Red Wine recipe consists of wine only (no stock or broth), and due the large quantity required, I wouldn't use a fortified wine for this application as it would be too intense and dominate the other flavours. What you would want to use is a medium bodied red wine with decent acidity. The acid will tenderize the Lamb and add a nice balance to the flavours. Best suggestions include a Chianti, Rioja, or Pinot Noir and stay away from the big fruit bomb new world Cabernets and Shiraz. Also, use a decent quality product. My rule of thumb is "if I can't drink it, I won't cook with it". Another thing, if you want to keep this dish truly regional, us a Portuguese red wine from Dão or Douro. They can offer great value so you can buy 3 bottles, 2 for the Braise, and 1 to drink with the meal. Good luck and let us all know how you make out!

by Patrick O | Mar 14, 2008 4:17pm | Permalink
Why?

Why would you not sear the meat first? Is there a reason for that? Wouldnt you just be adding another layer of flavour if you did that?

by John F | Mar 15, 2008 1:14am | Permalink
Searing First

You could certainly sear the meat first and yes, this caramelization would add some additional flavor to the dish. This recipe was adapted from a classic portuguese recipe - one that is quick, simple and delicious. Searing adds a bit more work but as with many recipes, feel free to adapt. This is a great idea.

by Joe G | Mar 15, 2008 5:21pm | Permalink
thanks Joe

I just got some lamb, dident now that to do with it, but like. now i can make it up.

by Sharon W | Mar 20, 2008 2:24am | Permalink
Important Note for Sharon

Keep in mind Sharon that this recipe is for tougher cuts of lamb like shoulder chops or lamb leg. As you will learn in the cooking school, for tougher cuts, you use a moist heat method of cooking and cook for a much longer period of time. Just wanted to make sure that you weren't going to use a lamb rack or loin here as this would be best made using another cooking method. Cheers, Joe

by Joe G | Mar 20, 2008 2:51am | Permalink
Thanks, Patrick!

Everything turned out great, I wound up using a Chianti and the sauce tasted marvelous. This is a great, easy entree for a lazy Sunday dinner.

by Aaron W | Mar 20, 2008 3:55pm | Permalink
So Yummy

I can still taste how delicious it was. Went to a friends house for dinner last night and they made this lamb. It was really so good. They served it with the gnocchi which went very nicely. rouxbe.com/recipes/117/preview

by Dawn T | Mar 29, 2008 7:36pm | Permalink
Outstanding

Well I have ad this twice in the past week and I love it. Easy and so good, it really takes no time and the end result is a rich, tender dinner that your friends and family will love. I served it with gnocchi but next time will try a lighter pasta. I took the advice of one of the members about picking the right wine - all I have to say is good advice. If you can't drink it for dinner don't cook with it - spend that little bit more to get that nice bottle of wine - cheers

by Charlie H | Apr 10, 2008 4:57am | Permalink
Dinner Party

I prepared this recipe the night before, stuck it in fridge, and skimmed off the fat in the morning. About an hour before serving, I added some extra beef stock and put it on the stove over medium heat to warm up/reduce. This was killer served with the Rouxbe Moroccan Couscous, a watermelon-mint-feta sald, and champagne gelee with strawberries for dessert. Absolutely delicious, thank you!

by Sean L | Jul 11, 2008 3:51pm | Permalink
Perfect for the cooler fall weather

An absolutely amazing marriage of a tough cut of lamb, onion, & wine, transformed into a rich, mellow sauce and melt in your mouth lamb.
Served over fresh cavatelli pasta, surrounded by vegetables made for a perfect meal.
Thank you 'Rouxbe'..

by Donald D | 25 days ago | Permalink

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