• Braaied lamb with tamarind and turmeric tomatoes

    Tender lamb leg with a side of fried tomatoes.

    PREP TIME 20 minutes | COOK TIME 45 minutes | SERVES 6 

     

    INGREDIENTS 

    • 1.5 kg boned and butterflied leg of lamb, trimmed of excess fat
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • freekeh and rocket leaves, to serve

     

    Tamarind and turmeric tomatoes

    • ¼ cup vegetable oil
    • 2 tsp mustard seeds
    • 2 tsp cumin seeds
    • 1 tsp chilli flakes
    • 2 garlic cloves, sliced
    • ⅓ cup fresh curry leaves, plus extra 
    • 2 tsp turmeric
    • 500 g small ripe roma tomatoes, halved
    • 500 g baby truss tomatoes
    • 2 tbsp tamarind puree
    • 2 tbsp brown sugar
    • fried curry leaf sprigs, to serve

     

    METHOD

    HEAT a lightly oiled covered braai over medium high heat. Drizzle lamb with oil; season with salt and pepper.

    COOK lamb on braai for 5 minutes on each side or until well browned. 

    PLACE lamb in a flameproof roasting pan on the braai; close lid, then cook over indirect heat for 20 minutes for medium or until cooked to your liking. Remove from heat; rest, covered loosely with foil, for 10 minutes.

    Tamarind and turmeric tomatoes

    HEAT oil in a large frying pan over medium heat; cook mustard and cumin seeds, stirring, until popping and fragrant. 

    ADD chilli flakes, garlic and curry leaves; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds, stir through turmeric and tomatoes; cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until starting to soften.

    ADD tamarind, sugar and ¼ cup of water; season well with salt. Cook for a further 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until tomatoes are just tender but not broken down.

    PLACE lamb on a serving platter; top with tamarind and turmeric tomatoes and extra fried curry leaves. 

     

    SERVE with freekeh and rocket.

     

    FOOD TEAM TIP: If you prefer, you could serve this recipe with barley or rice instead of the freekeh. While we’ve used a braai here to cook the lamb, you could roast it in the oven instead if you prefer. Brown the lamb first in a chargrill pan then finish it off in a 200ºC oven.

     

    Braaied lamb with tamarind and turmeric tomatoes

    Serves: 6
    Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 45 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 kg boned and butterflied leg of lamb, trimmed of excess fat
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • freekeh and rocket (arugula) leaves, to serve
    • Tamarind and turmeric tomatoes
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil
    • 2 tsp mustard seeds
    • 2 tsp cumin seeds
    • 1 tsp chilli flakes
    • 2 garlic cloves, sliced
    • ⅓ cup fresh curry leaves, plus extra 
    • 2 tsp turmeric
    • 500 g small ripe roma tomatoes, halved
    • 500 g baby truss tomatoes
    • 2 tbsp tamarind puree
    • 2 tbsp brown sugar
    • fried curry leaf sprigs, to serve

    Instructions

    1

    Heat a lightly oiled covered braai over medium high heat. Drizzle lamb with oil; season with salt and pepper.

    2

    Cook lamb on braai for 5 minutes on each side or until well browned. 

    3

    Place lamb in a flameproof roasting pan on the braai; close lid, then cook over indirect heat for 20 minutes for medium or until cooked to your liking. Remove from heat; rest, covered loosely with foil, for 10 minutes.

    Tamarind and turmeric tomatoes

    4

    Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat; cook mustard and cumin seeds, stirring, until popping and fragrant. 

    5

    Add chilli flakes, garlic and curry leaves; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds, stir through turmeric and tomatoes; cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until starting to soften.

    6

    Add tamarind, sugar and ¼ cup of water; season well with salt. Cook for a further 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until tomatoes are just tender but not broken down.

    7

    Place lamb on a serving platter; top with tamarind and turmeric tomatoes and extra fried curry leaves. 

    8

    Serve with freekeh and rocket.

     

    Made this braaied lamb with tamarind and turmeric tomatoes? Tag us @foodandhomesa #cookingwithFH on Instagram

     

    ALSO SEE: Lamb rataouille with pesto dressing

    Lamb rataouille with pesto dressing

    Feature image: Aremedia

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    Author

    A food stylist and recipe developer, contributing to Food & Home and other esteemed magazines under Habari Media. I love for creating mouthwatering recipes, I bring culinary visions to life through my work.