Qovurma bozbash - Lamb broth with chestnuts

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Lamb or mutton broths and stews are very popular in Azerbaijan.

The traditional ingredients of saffron, fresh or dried alcha (a plum similar to a greengage but less sweet) and chestnuts give this broth a distinctly Azerbaijani flavour.

Preparation time: 40-45 min
Cooking time: 45 min
Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

• 175 g/7 oz mutton or lamb
• 25 g/1 oz mutton fat (traditional) or vegetable oil
• 1 large onion
• 100 g/4 oz chickpeas or 2 medium-sized potatoes (chickpeas are traditional)
• 50 g/2 oz chestnuts
• 25 g/1 oz of fresh or dried alcha, a plum similar to the greengage.
• small bunch of coriander
• few threads of saffron (optional)
• salt & pepper

Preparation

• Soak the dried chickpeas overnight in cold water. Rinse.
• Put the saffron threads in a cup and add boiling water. Cover and leave to infuse.
• Pierce the chestnuts. Cover with water in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the water and shell. Don't take all the chestnuts out of the water at once, as they are difficult to shell when dry.
• Cut the lamb or mutton into 30-35 g pieces and add salt & pepper. Brown together with the onions in mutton fat or vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan.
• Add 1-1.5 litres/1.5-2.5 pints of stock or water to the pan and bring to the boil.
• Add the chickpeas or peeled potatoes, chestnuts and alcha and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Season with the saffron infusion and sprinkle with herbs before serving.
• In summer 50 g/2 oz of red tomatoes can be used instead of the alcha and saffron infusion.