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Bozartma
Lamb stew with tomato and saffron
Bozartma: Ganja lamb stewed with onion, tomato and saffron
Bozartma comes from Ganja, Azerbaijan's second city at the foot of the Lesser Caucasus, where lamb on the bone is browned and then stewed with a mountain of onions and tomatoes until the sauce turns thick and red-gold with saffron. The name hints at the browning (boz, 'grey-brown'), and Ganja cooks say the onions must melt completely. It is eaten with bread and greens, and a chicken version is common too. A common mistake is adding water; the onions and tomatoes give all the liquid needed. Chef's tip: cook it uncovered for the last 15 minutes, until the fat rises to the top; that is how Ganja cooks know bozartma is ready.
- Total time
- 105 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the bozartma
- 2 ¼ lb lamb neck or shoulder on the bonecut into pieces
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 4 onionssliced
- 5 ripe tomatoesgrated, skins discarded
- 1 pinch saffron threadssoaked in 2 tbsp hot water
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ⅔ oz fresh coriander and basilchopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Season 2 ¼ lb lamb neck or shoulder on the bone with 1 ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper and brown in 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a heavy pot over a medium-high heat, 8–10 minutes, until well browned.
10 minStep 2: Add 4 onions and ½ tsp ground turmeric, cover and cook over a low heat for 20 minutes, until the onions are very soft.
20 minStep 3: Add 5 ripe tomatoes, cover and simmer gently for 45 minutes, stirring now and then. Common mistake: adding water; the sauce turns thin.
45 minStep 4: Stir in 1 pinch saffron threads and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, until the lamb is tender and the fat rises to the top of a thick red-gold sauce.
15 minStep 5: Scatter with ⅔ oz fresh coriander and basil and serve with bread.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 36 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 36 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does bozartma take?
- About 105 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 90 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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