LAMB RAGOUT WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Serves 4-6

*Adapted from NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

3 pounds lamb shoulder, trimmed of exterior fat, cut in 2-inch chunks

 Salt and pepper

2 teaspoons fennel seed, crushed in a mortar or spice mill

2 tablespoons olive oil, more as needed

2 medium onions, diced, about 2 cups

4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

1 bay leaf

 A few sprigs fresh thyme

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup white wine

4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

3 pounds fava beans in the pod, or use 1 1/2 cups frozen baby lima beans or edamame, defrosted

½ pound baby carrots, about 12, trimmed and peeled

2 pounds baby turnips, trimmed and halved or quartered (or you can sub radishes)

2 tablespoons butter

1 bunch scallions, cut in 2-inch lengths

1 teaspoon lemon zest

2 tablespoons parsley

Prep

1. Season lamb chunks generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with fennel seed and rub to distribute. Set aside for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for up to several hours, or overnight).
2. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven or similar heavy pot over medium-high heat. When hot, add lamb and brown on all sides, until meat is well caramelized, about 10 minutes. Work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding pan.
3. Remove lamb, turn heat to medium and add onions (and a little oil if necessary) and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly colored, 5 to 8 minutes. Add garlic, bay leaf and thyme and cook for 1 minute, then stir in tomato paste. Sprinkle with flour and cook 2 minutes more. Add white wine and whisk well as mixture thickens. Whisk in broth and bring to a brisk simmer.
4. Return meat to pot. Cover pot and bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes, until meat is tender when probed. Taste sauce and adjust seasoning. Keep warm, or cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight before proceeding with vegetables (which should be prepared right before serving).
5. Prepare the vegetables: Remove fava beans from pod. Blanch 2 minutes in boiling water, then cool in ice water. Peel and discard outer gray skin from each bean. You should have about 1 1/2 cups. Set aside. (If using frozen lima beans or edamame, cook the thawed beans for 3 to 4 minutes in salted boiling water.)
6. Just before serving, melt butter in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add carrots and turnips. Add scallions and stir to distribute. Season with salt and pepper. Add a splash of water and cook until scallions have softened, about 2 minutes. Add fava beans and heat through. Stir in lemon zest and parsley.
7. Transfer meat and sauce to a large serving dish. Spoon vegetables around meat.