Chili Lamb
From Burma Superstar [1] by Desmond Tan and Kate Leahy
Notes
With cumin and black mustard seeds complementing soy sauce, garlic, and rice vinegar, this dish comes across as Pan-Asian. Yet its roots are Chinese. In northwestern China, Uyghur Muslims have used cumin for years, and the spice, while still not that common in the rest of China, makes appearances in lamb stir-fries and grilled meat dishes. Regardless of its historical roots, Chili Lamb has a large and devoted fan base at Burma Superstar.
Ingredients
- 1 1⁄2 pounds boneless leg of lamb
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 1⁄2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 1⁄2 teaspoons dark soy sauce or regular soy sauce
2 teaspoons unseasoned rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced jalapeños
3 small dried chiles, seeds retained, broken in half
1⁄4 to 1⁄2 teaspoon dried chile flakes
1 cup sliced yellow onion
10 Thai basil leaves, plus extra for garnish, optional
Directions
- Trim off the external sinew of the lamb leg. With a knife, separate the muscles by following along where the muscles naturally separate and slice against the grain into thin strips, removing any sinew as you work.
- Transfer lamb to a bowl and use your hands to mix the meat with the cornstarch, pepper, salt, and 1 tablespoon of the oil. Let marinate at room temperature while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- In a dry wok or skillet, toast the cumin seeds and mustard seeds until the cumin is fragrant and the mustard seeds start to pop, no more than 30 seconds. Transfer to a mortar and use a pestle (or a coffee grinder used for grinding spices) to pulverize to a coarse powder.
- In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauces, 1 teaspoon of the rice vinegar, and the sugar.
- Heat the wok over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and swirl to coat the sides. Stir-fry the lamb until the pieces have separated and are lightly browned but not fully cooked, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in the wok. Add the garlic and jalapeños and cook briefly, about 15 seconds. Add the mustard-cumin blend, chiles, and chile flakes and stir-fry briefly. Pour in the sauce mixture, increase the heat to high, and let the sauce come to a boil.
- Add the lamb and onions and cook, stirring often, until the lamb is cooked through but the onions are still slightly crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the basil and the remaining 1 teaspoon vinegar. Taste, adding more soy sauce or vinegar if desired. Garnish with more basil.
Reprinted with permission from Burma Superstar [2], copyright © 2017 by Desmond Tan and Kate Leahy. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.Photographs copyright © 2017 by John Lee
Information
- Category
- Main Dishes, Lamb
- Cuisine
- North American
- Yield
- Serves 4 as part of a larger meal