Many years ago, I won third prize in Politiken’s meatsauce competion (ten bottles of very nice redwine) for sending in this recipe :-).

Before and after that, it has been an old faithful dug out from time to time since then, and I last served it at my third house-warming party in early December 2016 (following a late-afternoon glass or two of glögg, some of my own interpretation of panforte, home-made marshmallows, and some goodies from Leysieffer in Friedrichstraße).

This time, I needed halal meat (2 kilos) which I had ordered in advance from the very friendly (and very reasonable-priced) Fleischerei Kasap, Kottbusser Straße 7.

I served it accompanied by aubergine in a tomato and ginger sauce, and white and brown rice.

 

4 tblsp olive oil

375 g onion, finely chopped

2 tblsp or more garlic, finely chopped

1 tblsp fresh ginger, chopped

2 tsp cumin, roasted and ground

2 tsp coriander, roasted and ground

1 tsp turmeric

Chili in some form or other, to taste

2 bayleaves

1 kilo ground lamb

500 g tomatoes, peeled and chopped

3 tblsp cashew nut butter

500 g dried chickpeas, soaked and boiled (keep approx. 1,5 dl of the water)

Brown the onions slowly, stirring regularly, till they start to caramellise (takes about 20 minutes)

Add garlic and ginger and fry, stirring, for another couple of minutes.

Turn up the heat a bit, and add the spices, fry for about a minute, mixing well.

Add the meat and stir till it is no longer red.

Add salt and freshly ground black pepper, tomatoes, cashew nut butter, chickpeas and water.

Turn heat down and simmer 45-60 minutes till the dish has thickened. Stir from time to time and add more water if needed.