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Spiced Lamb Stew with Apricots

My family loves lamb, especially my son. During his first year of college, he claimed to be a vegetarian. When he came home, I had a pot of my lamb stew simmering in the kitchen. When my husband and I wanted to eat dinner, there were only a few shreds of meat left floating in the gravy—and my son confessed that he was the culprit!

—ARLENE ERLBACH MORTON GROVE, IL



PREP: 30 MIN. • COOK: 5 HOURS • MAKES: 5 SERVINGS


2 pounds lamb stew meat, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cups chopped sweet onion

3/4 cup dried apricots

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup chicken broth

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons ground allspice

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

Hot cooked couscous

Chopped dried apricots, optional

1. In a large skillet, brown lamb in butter in batches. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker. In the same skillet, saute onion in drippings until tender. Stir in the apricots, orange juice, broth and seasonings; pour over lamb.

2. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or until meat is tender. Serve with couscous. Sprinkle with chopped apricots if desired.