Spiced Lamb Stew with Apricots

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Cook: 5 hours

Makes

5 servings

Updated: Apr. 24, 2022
My family loves lamb, especially my son. During his first year of college, he claimed to be a vegetarian. When he came home, I had a pot of this slow-cooked lamb stew simmering on the counter. At dinnertime, my husband and I found only a few shreds of meat left floating in the gravy. My son confessed that he was the culprit! —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
Spiced Lamb Stew with Apricots Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lamb stew meat, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped sweet onion
  • 3/4 cup dried apricots
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • Hot cooked couscous
  • Chopped dried apricots, optional

Directions

  1. In a large skillet, brown lamb in butter in batches. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker. In the same skillet, saute onion in drippings until tender. Stir in the apricots, orange juice, broth and seasonings; pour over lamb.
  2. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or until meat is tender. Serve with couscous. Sprinkle with chopped apricots if desired.
Test Kitchen Tip
  • Not a fan of lamb? That's okay, the flavors meld wonderfully with pork too. Substitute cubed pork shoulder for the lamb stew meat.
  • Nutrition Facts

    1 cup (calculated without couscous): 404 calories, 17g fat (8g saturated fat), 136mg cholesterol, 975mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 5g fiber), 38g protein.