Lamb, Fig, and Olive Stew

From Eating Well, natch. This is absolutely delicious, and very easy to make! Plus, you pretty much have to have wine with it - what else are you going to do with the rest of the bottle?

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From EatingWell Magazine November/December 2008 -- Subscribe Now!

NUTRITION PROFILE:
Low Calorie
Low Sat Fat
High Potassium
Heart Healthy
Healthy Weight
VIEW COMPLETE NUTRITION GUIDELINES »

Not your Irish grandmother’s stew, this version was inspired by flavors from the south of France: figs, green olives and herbes de Provence. To shorten the cooking time, we use ground lamb.
Makes 2 servings, 1 1/2 cups each

ACTIVE TIME: 40 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

8 ounces lean ground lamb, preferably leg (see Tips)
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon minced garlic, divided
1 teaspoon herbes de Provence (see Tips)
1/4 cup dry red wine
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium beef broth
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 plum tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup chopped dried figs
2 tablespoons finely chopped, pitted green olives (see Tips)
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add lamb and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the lamb to a sieve set over a bowl to drain; discard the fat.

2. Wipe out the pan; add oil and heat over medium-high. Add 2 tablespoons garlic and herbes de Provence and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add wine and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until slightly reduced, about 1 minute.

3. Stir together broth and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add to the pan, increase heat to high, and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes, figs, olives and pepper and return to a simmer, stirring often. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have broken down, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved lamb and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes.

4. Combine the remaining 1 teaspoon garlic, parsley and lemon zest in a small bowl. Serve the stew topped with the parsley mixture.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 313 calories; 10 g fat (2 g sat, 5 g mono); 73 mg cholesterol; 23 g carbohydrate; 28 g protein; 3 g fiber; 725 mg sodium; 701 mg potassium.

Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (30% daily value), Zinc (29% dv), Potassium (19% dv), Iron & Vitamin A (15% dv). 1 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings

TIP: It’s not always easy to find lean lamb, but it’s easy to grind your own in a food processor. Choose a lean cut, such as leg or loin, trim any excess fat and cut into 3/4-inch pieces. Pulse in a food processor until uniformly ground, being careful not to overprocess. Or ask your butcher to grind a lean cut for you.

Ingredient Note: To make your own herbes de Provence, mix equal proportions dried thyme, rosemary, oregano, marjoram and savory in a small jar. If desired, add a pinch of dried lavender and crushed aniseed.Tip: Small amounts of olives can be purchased from bulk bins and salad bars.

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare through Step 3. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.