Lamb Stew

I try to find different dishes using lamb. I had been using an Indian one for a while. So I decided we needed an alternate recipe. Luckily this Middle Eastern Lamb Stew I came upon my husband and I both enjoyed. He is not a big fan of spinach so I was happily surprised. He said the Israeli couscous was a nice balance for the rich and flavorful sauce. A winner.

Middle Eastern Lamb Stew
Active Time: 40 minutes Total Time: 4 1/4-6 3/4 hours Makes: 8 servings, about 1 cup each

 INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 pounds boneless lamb stew meat, (shoulder cut) or 2 1/2 pounds lamb shoulder chops, deboned, trimmed and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 tablespoon olive oil, or canola oil
4 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 large or 2 medium onions, chopped
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
3/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 15- or 19-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
6 ounces baby spinach

Directions Place lamb in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Mix oil, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Coat the lamb with the spice paste and toss to coat well. Top with onion. Bring tomatoes, broth and garlic to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour over the lamb and onion. Cover and cook until the lamb is very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours on high or 5 1/2 to 6 hours on low. Skim or blot any visible fat from the surface of the stew. Mash 1/2 cup chickpeas with a fork in a small bowl. Stir the mashed and whole chickpeas into the stew, along with spinach. Cover and cook on high until the spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. TIPS & NOTES Make Ahead Tip: Prepare the stew, omitting the spinach, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 4 months. Add spinach after the stew is reheated. | Prep ahead: Trim lamb and coat with spice mixture. Chop onions. Combine broth, tomatoes and garlic. Refrigerate in separate covered containers for up to 1 day.