Tuesday 1 April 2008

Lamb and Squash Hot Pot

This is a regional recipe adapted from the Cumbrian Tatty Pot. Similar to the Lancashire Hot Pot, it combines lamb, black pudding and vegetables which are slow cooked to melting deliciousness in a large pot. I've simply replaced the traditional potatoes with a squash and upped the flavour with lots of fresh thyme. It is simple, economical, unfussy, delicious down to earth food, the kind of food that I approve of. 

Lamb and Squash Hot Pot
Feeds a family with accompaniments

500g lamb shoulder, cubed
3 tbsp plain flour
Salt and pepper
1 onion, roughly chopped
2 tbsp vegetable oil
A handful of fresh or dried thyme
2 small black or white puddings or a combination of both like I did, sliced
1 butternut squash, peeled, halved, deseeded and cut into 1cm slices
500ml of hot lamb or vegetable stock

1 - Pre-heat the oven to 160 degrees C, GM3.
2 - Coat the lamb with flour and a little seasoning.
3 - Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the lamb and onions and quickly cook until golden brown for 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the thyme.
4 - Take a casserole dish. Begin to layer, starting with butternut squash, then lamb and onions, then black pudding and finally a grinding of salt and pepper. Do another layer finishing with a layer of butternut squash.
5 - Pour in the hot stock until it is barely covered. Dot a few nobs of butter on the top, cover with a lid or foil and bake on the middle shelf for 2 hours.
6 - Remove the lid or foil and cook in the oven for a further 20-30 minutes or until the top begins to brown.
7 - Rest for 10 minutes then serve with greens.

10 comments:

Wendy said...

We had squash this evening too. Roasted with red onion and oregano and served with a steak, it was fab. :)

Pixie said...

I'm looking forward to their book as well. This sounds like one we would certainly enjoy too.

William Leigh said...

i love it, squashy pot just sounds so good!

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of your squashy pot and I love the name too. I think that butternut squash not being in season all round is no problem as what you are doing is far more valuable. Encouraging children to eat veggies at all is brilliant so seasonality is the least of your worries.....Good work by the way, that's a lovely thing to do.

Rosie said...

Love squash and a great idea squashy pot!! I also look forward to viewing their book when it comes out.

Rosie x

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Homage to the squash David.

Ed Bruske said...

This is great, David. We're always on the lookout for new squash recipes and we particularly like butternut squash. Using it in a stew with lamb sounds like a dish we could grow to like very quickly.

Ros said...

Well, I need no convincing about squash- like I said in the comment I just made- I'm eating some right now!

I'd have thought it would be more of a problem to convince kids to eat black pudding, no? The big kid sat at the table opposite me won't touch it!

Anonymous said...

Yo Dave,

cooked this on Sunday, it were awesome. 4 smiling faces around table, result!

Diane said...

True Newcastle (more closely Seaton Delaval) Tattypot consists of layers of sliced potatoes, bacon and onion with a dash of salt and a sprinkling of pepper cooked in a pyrex dish in a 375 degree oven covered(with foil) for 45 minutes and uncovered at the last 15 to total a full hour.

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