Provencal Lamb Daube Inspired by Gui Gedda
Learning to cook traditional Provencal dishes with the legendary Gui Gedda is no exception. If you are lucky enough to find a copy of his culinary masterpiece Cooking School Provence you will glean wonders from the man that chefs around the world refer to as the Pope or Marcel Pagnol of Provencal cuisine.
Gedda’s approach is conveyed so most beginner and amateur cooks can execute a meal worthy of 5-stars. His basic techniques rely on knowing how, when and where to source or choose the very best local ingredients. Follow Gedda’s lead by preparing your dish with the best and freshest ingredients. This recipe is my adaptation of Gui Gedda’s Lamb Daube, and you can enjoy more classic French stews here.
Provencal Lamb Daube 'Gui Gedda'
Equipment
- 1 Dutch oven (9-quart) or stockpot
- 1 daubière if you have one
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Herbal Rosé Infusion:
- 1 bunch rosemary
- 1 bunch thyme
- 4 bay leaves
- 10 Juniper Berries
- 10 black peppercorns
- 1 segment Dried Orange Peel roughly 4 inches long
- 1 bottle rosé wine
Ingredients for the Lamb Stew:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 10 carrots peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 sweet onion peeled and sliced
- 2 ribs celery diced
- 1 leek cleaned and diced
- 10 cloves garlic sliced ‘good fellas’ thin
- 3 lbs lamb shoulder boneless, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tsp piment d'Ville
- 2 tsp herbes de Provence
- sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp lavender honey
- 1 tsp nutmeg freshly grated
Instructions
Prepare Herbal Rosé Infusion:
- Bring eight quarts of water to a boil with the rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, juniper berries, black peppercorns and dried orange peel.
- Simmer 15 minutes
- Then add the bottle of rosé.
- Continue simmering until the infusion has reduced by fifty percent.
- Strain out herbs, and save liquid for making the stew.
Prepare the Lamb Stew:
- Sauté carrots, sweet onion, celery, leeks and garlic in olive oil.
- Cook five to ten minutes, or until the vegetables are soft.
- While vegetables are cooking, season lamb shoulder with piment d’ville, herbes de Provence, sea salt, pepper and lavender honey.
- Sauté lamb shoulder in oil over high heat until browned, about seven minutes.
- Then add lamb shoulder to vegetables, cover with Herbal Rosé Infusion.
- Season with freshly grated nutmeg.
- Bring to a boil.
- Then reduce to a simmer and cook covered until tender, about 2 - 3 hours.
- Serve the stew in large warmed bowls with mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, rice or nothing at all.
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