Lamb and Rice (Kuwaiti Machboos Laham)

February 25th is the national day of Kuwait and Machboos Laham is the national dish.

Lamb:
2.2 lbs lamb (1 kg)
water (2.5 L)
1 small onion
1 stick cinnamon
1 tsp. peppercorns
½ tsp. fresh cloves
5 pieces cardamom
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground turmeric
1 pinch ground ginger
¼ tsp. ground cumin
sea salt
black pepper, freshly ground
¼ tsp. saffron threads
2 Tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 Tbsp. oil

Rice:
basmati rice (1 kg)
2 onions
yellow split peas (75 g)
raisins (75 g)
1 Tbsp. oil
1 pinch ground cinnamon
½ tsp. sea salt
½ tsp. sugar
ground cloves
black pepper, freshly ground

Soak the raisins.

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C/180°C fan, Gas Mark 6).

Cut the lamb into cubes. In a large pot, combine meat cubes with the water, all whole spices, salt and a small onion, quartered.

Bring to boil. Once water has come to boil remove the froth that has come on top with a spoon. Cover and let cook over medium-low heat for 90 minutes. Meanwhile, make the stuffing.

In a small saucepan put split peas, cover with water and add 1 tsp. of salt. Over medium-high heat bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 20 minutes, until peas are tender. Drain and set aside.

Chop the remaining onions and sauté them in oil, until tender and golden brown.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the cooked split peas and drained raisins. Add cinnamon, gloves, salt, sugar and black pepper. Continue to cook for a few more minutes until everything is well combined. Take off from heat and set aside.

After 90 minutes drain the lamb cubes in a colander that is set over a large bowl. Save the stock and discard of the spices.

Mix all the ground spices. (Taste the meat to see if it needs more salt.) Rub the dry ingredients over the meat cubes. Arrange meat on an oven pan.

Mix 1 Tbsp. of saffron water with 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1 Tbsp. oil and 1 Tbsp. of the meat stock. Drizzle over meat, cover pan with aluminum foil and enter oven for 15 minutes while you prepare the rice.

Wash and drain the rice several times, until water runs clear from the rice, cover with water and mix with 1 tsp. salt.

Drain rice from water. In a medium non-stick saucepan put rice, pour enough meat stock to cover the rice by 2 cm. Bring to boil over high heat, cover and reduce to medium-low. Cook until rice absorbs all the liquid and is cooked and fluffy - about 15-20 minutes.

When it is time to serve, fold meat with stuffing and serve over rice. Drizzle with remaining saffron water.

Makes 6 servings.