Easy Eats: Slow-cooker Lamb Neck Stew

An often-overlooked cut of meat really shines in the slow-cooker.

Kelly GibneyChef
  • prepare
  • cook
  • 4 servings
  • Easy
Kelly Gibney's slow cooker lamb neck.
Caption:Kelly Gibney's slow cooker lamb neck.Photo credit:Kelly Gibney

Lamb neck chops are an inexpensive and absolutely delicious cut of meat. They are rich and tender when slow cooked.

Using the slow cooker means this meal can come together while you’re at work. A quick blast in the oven at the end will give you the lovely caramelisation that oven cooking yields. Serve with kūmara mash and some sautéed winter greens.

Kelly Gibney explains to Jesse Mullian how to make her slow-cooker lamb neck stew.

Ingredients

  • Oil (for sautéing)
  • Salt and pepper, to season
  • 1.3kg lamb neck chops
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 6 garlic cloves, finely diced
  • 6 anchovy fillets
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • Zest of 2 lemons
  • ½ cup white or red wine
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp cornflour

Instructions

  1. Heat a drizzle of oil in sauté pan over a medium-high heat. Season the lamb neck chops and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Transfer to the slow cooker.
  2. Wipe out the pan. Add another drizzle of oil. Add the onion and cook until tender and translucent. Add the garlic and anchovies. Sauté for a couple of minutes, using a wooden spoon to break up the anchovies.
  3. Add the fennel seeds, lemon zest. Pour in the wine, stock, tomato paste and sugar. Bring to a boil and cook for 4.
  4. Add all of it to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 7-8 hours until the meat is meltingly tender.
  5. Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius.
  6. Carefully transfer the lamb neck chops to an oven proof dish that is deep enough to hold all the sauce.
  7. Combine the cornflour with 2 tablespoons water to create a slurry. Whisk it into the liquid left in the slow cooker, then pour it over the lamb in the oven dish.
  8. Bake, uncovered for 30 minutes until darkened on top and the sauce has thickened.

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