Slow Cooked Lamb with Creamy Polenta

Name: Slow Cooked Lamb with Creamy Polenta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 210 min
Total time: 220 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 kg Lamb shoulder (leg or similar (I'm using leg)); 2 tbsp All purpose flour; 3 tbsp Olive oil; 1 Red onion (chopped fine (about 2 cups when chopped)); 3 cloves Garlic (minced); 1/2 inch Ginger (grated); 2 leaves Bay leaves; 1/2 tsp Dried rosemary; 1/2 tsp Dried thyme; 1 Cinnamon stick (1 large or 2 small); 1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder; 1/4 tsp Cumin powder; 1/2 tsp Sweet or hot paprika; 1 tbsp Lemon Juice; 1 can Crushed tomatoes; 1 tbsp Tomato paste; 1 cup Water; 1/4 cup Parsley; 1 cup Polenta / yellow cornmeal; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/4 tsp White pepper powder; 2 cups Water; 2 tbsp Butter; 2 tbsp Parmesan (more for garnish)

October 6, 2017 *Updated* January 7, 2019 By Veena Azmanov 44 Comments

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Slow Cooked Lamb with Creamy Polenta

If you love lamb recipes then you will love this slow-cooked lamb with creamy polenta. It has everything you can ask in a slow-cooked recipe. Meat cooked to fork tender in a tomato and caramelized onion based sauce. A few aromatic spices like cumin, paprika, and cinnamon served over a bed of creamy Parmesan polenta for that ultimate luxury.

A image optimized for social media share for this slow cooke lamb with creamy polenta weather you choose to make it in a slow-cooker or stovetop.

Slow-cooked lamb with creamy polenta. Slow-cooker lamb with creamy polenta, Carmalized slow cooked lamb

If you ask my kids what they want to eat? They will almost always choose a slow-cooked dish. “Mama, make that meat with the couscous” or “mama, make that soft meat with the potato you made last time” or “mama, make that meat with the creamy mashed corn”. Well, they are still small so they have no clue what’s the name of the dish they are eating. They expect mama to remember it for them. Those of you who are mom probably recognize this behavior and know exactly how this drill goes.

Do you love lamb? We love beef and lamb very much. Lamb recipes are by far the most favorited in our home. My Rhea gives me a heartache. Because though she eats, she eats so little that she is always underweight. The one thing she does love is my beef or lamb recipes. So, recently, we’ve been having a few more meat recipes cooked at home. She loves burgers, lamb biryani, lamb curry, beef mince, beef goulash.

About this recipe

Well, meat with creamy mashed corn means this lamb with creamy polenta. Whether you make it in the slow cooker or on the stovetop, this meat cooks fork tender and melts in the mouth. The list of ingredients sounds like a lot, but they are not that difficult to source. If you often cook then you probably already have it in your pantry.

You see that rich color? That comes not just from the tomatoes but with the combination of caramelized onions and tomatoes which also adds a unique sweetness to the lamb along with the flavor of all the other exotic spices we have to hear. The secret to making this dish even more flavorful. You know what happens to onions when you cook them until golden? They become brown, sweet too. The sweetness enhances the meat and the brown deepens the color of the red sauce which create magic when it comes to flavor.

An absolute comfort food perfect anytime of the year. This slow cooked lamb with creamy polenta has everything you look for in comfort food. Meat cooked to fork tender in a tomato sauce, caramelized onions and smoked spices. Served over a bed of creamy Parmesan flavored polenta for that ultimate luxury.

Slow-cooked lamb with creamy polenta. Slow-cooker lamb with creamy polenta, Carmalized slow cooked lamb

What lamb is best for slow-cooked recipes?

Usually, we use cuts that come from muscles that work hard in the animal such as lamb shoulder, leg of lamb, lamb shank. These cuts benefit from the long and slow cooking and also absorb lots of flavor in that time. As you can see most of the lamb recipes I shared with you are slow-cooked, not necessarily in the slow cooker and I usually use lamb shoulder or leg of lamb even when I cut it to bit size pieces like this one.

In many places, they say slow-cooked meats are more affordable but that is not my experience. For us, lamb is expensive, some cuts are cheaper than others but in general, lamb is an expensive meal for us. So, we save it for festive occasions and make only the best recipes with it.

What to serve with slow-cooked lamb?

Today, I made a nice creamy Parmesan polenta but this one goes well with so many other options. From simple mashed potatoes to couscous as well as a fragrant steamed or vegetable rice. If you are looking for a low carb alternative try my turmeric cauliflower rice.

Some great vegetables to serve besides this would be some sesame green beans, asparagus, lemon rosemary potatoes or roast butternut squash or carrot sticks. Honestly, it’s such a versatile dish that you can’t go wrong with something simple elaborate.

Best slow cooked lamb with creamy polenta, slow cooker lamb with creamy polenta, Caramelized slow cooked lamb

Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)

Lamb – As I said above, I usually prefer to use shoulder or leg for my slow cooking but you also get low cuts that are much cheaper. If you ask your butcher to recommend what’s the best he has with his for the day I’m sure he will be happy to suggest.
Polenta – these are very readily available in most supermarkets nowadays. They come in yellow colored bags and are also called Yellow Corn Meal. Note Cornflour and cornmeal are not the same. Cornmeal is coarse and thicker than semolina.
Red Onions – are sweeter than the regular brown or white so do look for a sweeter variety. Plus we cook them down for 10 minutes until almost caramelized. This adds sweetness and intense flavor to this dish.
Dried herbs – I prefer to use the dried herbs in this recipes, so I don’t have to fish out too many things later. Since it’s cooked longer and slow the dried herbs do get enough time to work their magic. Of course, you are welcome to use fresh anytime.
Canned Tomatoes – Usually I am a fresh tomato kind of girl, but in slow-cooked recipes like this one I do prefer the canned tomatoes. They are thicker in consistency and have a better color so the result is a much thicker and prettier sauce. Having said that of course if you prefer fresh that would work too. A good 2 cups of chopped tomatoes would be a good substitute. The result will different in texture and taste but still delicious.

Slow-cooked lamb with creamy polenta. Slow-cooker lamb with creamy polenta, Carmalized slow cooked lamb

Recipe – Slow Cooked Lamb with Creamy Polenta (Save/Pin)

Useful Tips and Tools

Slow cooker or Crock-Pots are easily available these days and quite affordable too. They make meal planning so much more easier than last minute stress of what’s for dinner? If possible choose one that has the option to saute in there so you can do everything in one pot including browning the meat. My only regret is that I can’t brown the meats or saute the onions in the same pot. By the way, the Instant Pot has a slow cooker option too and I’m pretty excited that I will be able to use it for slow cooking too.
If you plan to cook it on the stovetop, use a heavy bottom skillet that will endure the long slow cooking. You can also use a heat tamer or heat diffuser that you can place under the pan to distribute the heat evenly.
I usually use a wooden spoon but a silicon Spatula works too. A longer handle might help with splattering spices.
Chopping board and Kitchen knifeto chop the meat.

For the lamb

Lamb- 1 kg shoulder, leg or similar (I’m using leg)
All purpose flour – 2 tbsp
Olive oil – 3 tbsp
Red onion chopped fine – 1 large (about 2 cups when chopped)
Garlic – 3 medium -minced
Ginger – 1/2 inch grated
Bay leaves – 2 nos
Dried rosemary – 1/2 tsp
Dried thyme – 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon stick – 1 large or 2 small
Cinnamon powder 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder – 1/4 tsp
Sweet or hot paprika – 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
Crushed tomatoes – 1 can
Tomato paste – 1 tbsp
Water – 1 cup
Parsley – 1/4 cup

For the Polenta

Polenta / yellow Cornmeal – 1 cup
Salt – 1/2 tsp
White pepper powder – 1/4 tsp
Water – 2 cups
Butter – 2 tbsp
Parmesan – 2 tbsp (more for garnish)

Method

I have given you both the Stovetop and slow-cooker method, so you use whichever works in your favor. For years, I’ve made this on the stovetop before I bought my slow cooker. The slow cooker works great when you have time and want an easy method.

Sear and saute

Cut lamb into large bite-size pieces. Season with Salt and pepper. Toss with flour and coat well.
Set aside for a few minutes.
Add 2 tbsp olive oil to a saute pan and brown the meat on all sides; 3 to 5 minutes.
Remove meat from pan and keep warm.
Add remaining oil to the pan, saute onions, for two minutes until caramelized – 10 minutes
Next, add the ginger and garlic – saute for a minute more.
Now add all the dry herbs, dry spices, bay leaves, cinnamon, and parsley – stir well.

Slow-cooked lamb on the stovetop

Add the meat back to the pan. Saute for two minutes, so it is all coated with the spics.
Now add the can of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste – stir well.
Let it come to a boil – then add one cup water – stir well and let come to a boil again.
Season with salt and pepper
Now lower the heat to an absolute simmer.
Cook on low heat for 2 hours turning once or twice to ensure it is not sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Keep checking to ensure you have enough water if necessary add 1/4 to 1/2 cup more.
This has a thick sauce be caution with the water.
When the meat is fork tender add the lemon juice and stir well.
Check for consistency, if necessary add more water or cook on high for a few minutes down until water is reduced.

Slow-cooker Lamb

Add the seared meat in the bottom of the slow-cooker
Followed by the sauteed onions mixed with the dry herbs added.
Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, lemon juice, and water.
Season with salt and pepper.
Give it all a good stir.
Cover the slow cooker and let cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Or cook on high for 4 hours. ( I usually prefer to cook on low for 6 to 8 hours)
The meat should be fork tender.

Slow-cooked lamb with creamy polenta. Slow-cooker lamb with creamy polenta, Carmalized slow cooked lamb

Smooth and Creamy (Parmesan) Polenta

Bring the water with salt and pepper to a boil.
Lower the heat to medium, so it’s not a rolling boil
Use a wooden spoon, stir the water creating a gentle swirl.
Keep stirring and adding the polenta in a gentle stream (this will avoid lumps)
Once all the polenta is in – lower the heat to an absolute simmer
Cover and let cook for 45 minutes stirring well every 10 minutes.
When cooked it will be thick and creamy
Add the butter and Parmesan – stir it in well.
Cover and let sit for 10 minutes before you serve.
Polenta thickens further after cooking so don’t worry if it appears looser then as shown in the images below.

Save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.

Best slow cooked lamb with creamy polenta, slow cooker lamb with creamy polenta, Caramelized slow cooked lamb

Slow Cooked Lamb with Creamy Polenta

Author: Veena Azmanov

This absolute comfort food is perfect any time of the year. This slow cooked lamb with creamy polenta has everything you look for in comfort food. Meat cooked to fork tender in a tomato sauce, caramelized onions and smoked spices. Served over a bed of creamy Parmesan flavored polenta for that ultimate luxury.

4.5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Slow cooked lamb with creamy polenta

Adjust Servings Here: 8 servings

Calories: 460kcal

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Total Time: 3 hrs 40 mins