Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

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This easy lamb stew recipe is hearty, healthy and easy to make. It's a one pot stew that's packed with vegetables, lamb and spices, perfect for a family meal.

Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (1)

If you're a fan of stew recipes, you should totally take a look at our Moroccan chickpea stew, Turkish chicken stew and Italian beef stew.Both are ideal family meals, and today we have a classic lamb stew to expand our lamb recipes collection!

Table Of Contents:
  • Why is this recipe a winner?
  • Ingredients
  • What cut of lamb to use
  • Instructions
  • Slow cooker instructions
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Serving suggestions
  • Notes and tips
  • Step-by-Step Recipe

Why is this recipe a winner?

This is recipe that's perfect for weeknight dinners especially, in chilly weather. The lamb and potatoes go very well together and are flavored with vegetables such as onion and celery. We love making this delicious easy lamb stew in big batches and have it through the week.

Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (2)

Ingredients

To make a delicious lamb and vegetable stew you need the following ingredients:

  • Lamb: lamb shoulder cut into 1 inch pieces work best for this recipe. I prefer to discard the excess fat on the meat.
  • Celery: A few stalks of celery add a lot of flavor to the stew.
  • Carrots: They add just a little bit of sweetness to the dish.
  • Potatoes: Make sure the potato chunks are not too small.
  • Onions and garlic: The more the better!
  • Mushrooms: You can use white button mushrooms or baby bella mushrooms.
  • Spices: Including salt, pepper, bay leaf and turmeric. Alternatively and for bolder flavors, you can use Moroccan ras el hanout.
  • Tomato paste: Adds color and flavor.
  • Beef broth: To add some deep flavor. You can also use vegetable stock or water.

Most lamb stews call for wine or beer but this lamb stew recipe is alcohol-free and tastes fantastic. Try using fresh ingredients as they definitely boost the flavor of the stew. You can even prepare some of the ingredients in advance such as chopping the carrots and celery.

Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (3)

What cut of lamb to use

Lamb shoulder is the best cut to make stews as it is full of flavors because it's the part that has moved a lot. Lamb shoulder takes longer to cook therefor it's perfect for stews that need to cook for more time.

To learn more check out the ultimate guides to lamb cuts.

Instructions

  • Start with browning the lamb pieces and set aside.
  • Sauté the vegetables and add the lamb back. Make sure to scrape the brown bits at the bottom of the pot since that's where all the flavor is.
  • Add all the spices, tomato paste and beef stock to the pot and stir well.
  • Cover with the lid on and let the stew cook for about two hours until everything is fully cooked and the broth starts to thicken.

Kitchen tip: The key to a delicious lamb stew is fresh ingredients and a good amount of spices. Make sure that all the flavors are blended and the stew has simmered long enough.

Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (4)

Slow cooker instructions

  • Sauté lamb in some olive oil and transfer it to the slow cooker.
  • Next, sauté the vegetables in the same pot and transfer to the slow cooker.
  • Add in the spices and broth and then cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
  • Once cooked, take the lid off and mix two tablespoons of flour with ½ cup broth and return it to the slow cooker.
  • Cook for another 30 minutes in high for the broth to thicken.
Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (5)

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this stew ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this recipe beforehand and refrigerate for up to 3 days. It's best to reheat it in a saucepan over medium heat.

How can I make this stew spicy?

To make spicy lamb stew, add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper with the other spices to the stew. Once the stew is ready, taste and add more cayenne pepper if needed.

Can I add other vegetables?

Yes! This lamb stew is so versatile, you can add veggies such as bell peppers, green beans or butternut squash to this stew for more flavor.

Serving suggestions

You can serve lamb stew with French or Italian bread. You can also serve it on white rice, too. This lamb stew recipe is so easy and goes well with any kind of side even a green salad.

Notes and tips

  • If beef broth is not available, use vegetable broth or simply water.
  • You can leave out the mushrooms if you don't like to have them in the stew.
  • This stew can easily be frozen and reheated again. To reheat the stew, let it thaw in the fridge and then heat it on medium low in a pot.
  • For more flavor, you can also add bell peppers.
  • Add the 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the stew right before serving for a bit of tanginess.
Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (6)

More Recipes

  • Easy Moroccan Chickpea Stew
  • Italian Homemade Beef Stew
  • Khoresh Bademjan (Persian Eggplant Stew)
  • Turkish Zucchini Stew Recipe

Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

Step-by-Step Recipe

Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (11)

Lamb Stew Recipe

Shadi HasanzadeNemati

This easy lamb stew recipe is filled with healthy and tasty ingredients. It's a one pot stew that's packed with vegetables, lamb and spices.

4.73 from 18 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 4 servings

Calories 351 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb lamb shoulder cut into ½ inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 1 large white onion sliced
  • 3 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 large carrots chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 yukon gold potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 cups mushrooms cut into quarters
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 5 cups beef broth
  • ½ cup parsley

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a dutch oven over medium heat.

  • Mix lamb and flour in a bowl and sauté in the Dutch oven until the lamb is brown on the outside.

  • Remove the lamb from the dutch oven and saute onions in the same pot until golden brown.

  • Add in celery, carrots, garlic and potato to the onion and saute for about 10 minutes.

  • Add the lamb back to the dutch oven.

  • Add tomato paste, mushrooms, salt, bay leaf, black pepper and turmeric to the lamb and vegetables. Stir well until everything is combined.

  • Add in beef broth, stir and cover with the lid.

  • Turn the heat to medium low and let it cook for about two hours until the lamb and vegetables are fully cooked.

  • Take the lid off and let it simmer for 15 minutes.

  • Top with parsley and serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 351kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 24gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 1875mgPotassium: 1457mgFiber: 6gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 6909IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 4mg

Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rene Wallace

    Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (16)
    This was the perfect winter dinner. Comfort food that wasn't too heavy. The lamb was incredibly tender and I would happily have the sauce by the spoonful!

    Reply

  2. Katie

    Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (17)
    We all love this hearty stew. Such a rich flavor!

    Reply

  3. Sam

    Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (18)
    This lamb stew was delicious and so easy to make. My family loved it!

    Reply

  4. Kathy

    Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (19)
    Just made this and it is amazing. I used leftover lamb. My husband loved it. Thank you for sharing it.

    Reply

  5. wilhelmina

    Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (20)
    This stew is so satisfying! The flavors meld together perfectly into the perfect bowl of comfort!

    Reply

    • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

      Thank you!

      Reply

  6. Alli

    Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (21)
    Can not wait to try this!! We have a freezer full of lamb and I love getting new recipes.

    Reply

    • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

      Lamb gives this stew a really good flavor, hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Lamb Stew Recipe Step by Step (2024)

FAQs

What is the most tender lamb for stew? ›

The best cuts for stewing are shoulder, leg or neck fillet – it needs to quite a hard-working muscle with some fat marbling through it that will break down during the slow cooking to create tender meat. It's also best with economical cuts that are boneless – keep saddle, rack and lamb chops for roasting.

How long does it take to boil lamb? ›

Place the leg and cut-off bone portion in a large kettle. Add the onion, carrots, celery, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns and salt and cover with cold water. Place over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, adjust the heat and simmer, covered, until very tender, 2½ to 3 hours.

How long does it take to cook lamb? ›

Place the lamb in the oven and roast for 1 hr 40 mins for rare meat, 2 hrs for medium and 2 hrs 30 mins for well done (see our temperature guide below). 2. Carefully lift the lamb onto a board with a moat, or a warm platter, then leave to rest for 20 mins.

Do you need to brown lamb before slow cooking? ›

Brown the lamb first, in batches if necessary. This will maintain a high heat in the pan and caramelise the juices, which will improve the colour and flavour of the meat. Although lamb is a little more fatty than other meats, don't trim all of it away before cooking.

Does lamb get more tender the longer you boil it? ›

Yes, lamb meat can become more tender the longer you cook it, but it depends on the cut of lamb. Here's a breakdown of how different cuts of lamb respond to cooking: Lamb Shank: When cooked low and slow, lamb shanks become more tender as long as they don't dry out.

What cooking method is best for lamb? ›

The dry heat of roasting is best for tender cuts of lamb, like the leg, rack, and loin. If you'd like to roast a cut like a lamb shoulder, go for a long, slow roast. If you're cooking a bone-in leg, keep in mind that because of the thicker and thinner portions of the cut you'll get a range of doneness.

Do you need to soak lamb before cooking? ›

What do you soak lamb chops in? As you may already know, fat holds odors and flavors. Therefore, trimming as much fat as possible before cooking it's a great tip. To help in this process, it is recommended to soak the lamb chops in lemon water (or vinegar water) for 30 minutes.

Should lamb be cooked slow or fast? ›

Slow cooking in liquid transforms tougher cuts of lamb into fork-tender meat. Neck, shoulder and belly, either diced or as whole joints, are the best cuts for slow cooking and need to be cooked for at least 2 hrs at 150°C to soften the meat.

Why put lemon on lamb? ›

A bit of lemon juice enhances the flavor while uplifting it with its bright, zesty taste. Brightening up lamb is as easy as squeezing a lemon wedge onto it. Add a splash onto your roast leg of lamb before putting it in the oven or pour some onto lamb kebabs fresh from the grill.

How do you make lamb meat taste good? ›

Three sure fire methods to decrease the gamey taste of lamb: mustard powder, rosemary and red wine vinegar. All three neutralize the oxidization of the monosaturated fats that are present in lamb, but aren't present in beef or pork. You can braise or marinate with some combination of the three.

What makes lamb so tasty? ›

But what it all comes down to is its fat and a particular type of fatty acid that lambs have that beef doesn't. It's called branched-chain fatty acid. This is something that humans can detect at tiny levels. It's what gives lamb this gamy, more earthy taste than beef.

What seasonings go well with lamb? ›

When thinking about pairing herbs with lamb, these flavours are at the top of the list:
  • Rosemary and lamb. With its woody flavour, rosemary is the perfect companion for your favourite lamb dish. ...
  • Mint and lamb. ...
  • Oregano and lamb. ...
  • Thyme and lamb.

How do you know when lamb is fully cooked? ›

Cook all raw lamb steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145° F (62.8° C) as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source.

How do you know when lamb is cooked enough? ›

THE FINGER OR TONG TEST

Very soft = rare – bright red, raw centre. Soft = medium rare – pink inside with a red centre. Springy = medium – pink throughout. Firmer = well-done range – mostly brown inside.

What is most tender cut of lamb? ›

Loin. This is the most tender part of the lamb, producing only the most tender and flavourful cuts. Boned and rolled loin makes for a delectable roasting joint. This is also where the juiciest chops and noisettes come from.

What is the best piece of lamb to slow cook? ›

Cuts of lamb that are popular for slow cooking include the shoulder, leg, forequarter, shanks, neck chops, lamb ribs, and some sausages. These cuts are usually tougher because they have lots of connective tissue and fats, but this makes them perfect for slow and low methods of cooking.

What is the most tender cut of meat for stew? ›

Next time you're shopping for stew beef, look at your options and see what cuts of meat will work best for your recipe. For example, chuck is a lean and tender cut of beef that works well in stew. However, if you would prefer a thicker and more flavorful stew, short ribs or oxtail may be better choices for you.

Why is my lamb stew tough? ›

Yes, it's possible to overcook lamb stew. If you cook it for too long, the meat will start to fall apart, and it will actually lose moisture and begin to toughen. Cook the stew just until the meat is fork tender but still intact.

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