Traditional Welsh Lamb Cawl

Introduction:

Traditional Welsh Lamb Cawl (Lamb & Vegetable Stew) is often seen as being the national dish of Wales. This recipe, created by food blogger Lavender and Lovage, is based on a traditional Welsh recipe for Cawl but uses lamb steaks in place of a lamb joint as was commonly used in times gone by. As is the traditional way to serve Welsh Lamb Cawl, we’ve paired this recipe with a delicious crusty bread roll and a chunk of delicious Caerphilly cheese!

Ingredients:

• 600 g Welsh Lamb Steaks, diced (or Lamb neck fillets)
• 1 tbsp Flour, mixed with a pinch of salt & pepper
• Rapeseed Oil
• 4 Large Potatoes, scrubbed and diced
• 4 Large Carrots, peeled & diced
• 0.5 Swede, peeled & diced
• 2 Parsnips, peeled & diced
• 3 Leeks, trimmed, sliced & rinsed thoroughly (greens and whites)
• Sea Salt & Ground Black Pepper, to season
• Fresh Parsley, chopped (to garnish)
• Crusty Bread (to serve)
• Caerphilly Cheese (to serve)

Method

1. Dredge the diced lamb in the seasoned flour, and in a large stockpot, heat the oil until hot; add the floured, diced lamb and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring all the time, until the lamb has a golden brown crust.
2. Turn the heat down, add 2 litres of water, before adding the diced potatoes, carrots, swede and parsnips. Season to taste with salt and pepper, place a lid on the pot and simmer for 2 hours, or until the meat is tender and the vegetables are cooked. 20 minutes before the end of the cooking time, add the chopped leeks, replace the lid and continue to cook.
3. Check and adjust the seasoning, scatter the chopped fresh parsley over the cawl, then serve in warmed soup bowls, giving each person some meat, vegetables and the broth. Delicious with crusty bread and Caerphilly cheese.
4. Better if made the day before serving; to serve, skim off any fat and reheat gently until piping hot. Serve as before.

Top Tip

Make the previous day and re-heat, making sure it is piping through before serving.

To find out more about food blogger Lavender & Loveage, you can visit her Instagram page, here!