This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Like everyone else, I’m very conscious that our energy bills are about to rocket. I’ve turned down my thermostat, reduced the time I heat water (the chap who did my boiler service told me water stays hot in the tank for at least two days) and bought an inexpensive slow cooker.
As I type this, my new Crockpot slow cooker is transforming a few carrots and some neck of lamb into a comforting meal which will keep for 4-5 days in my fridge and some of which I will freeze.
As I can lift the lidded container out, I’m going to take it to my parents’ house and, as it is also oven proof, reheat the lamb casserole for lunch there.
Slow Cooker Lamb Casserole
Difficulty: Super easy4
servingsYou can cook this in your slow cooker for 4 hours on the high setting or, as I did, for 8 hours on the medium setting. I love orange with lamb, so added the zest and juice which gives a gentle sweetness and fruity tang to the finished dish.
Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable oil
800g diced lamb (I used neck, but shoulder equally good)
1 large onion, roughly chopped
16 baby carrots
1 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp tomato purée
Lamb or chicken stock (enough to cover the ingredients)
3 sprigs rosemary
Zest and juice of an orange
Clove garlic, sliced
Bay leaves, a sprig
Directions
- Heat the vegetable oil in the dish on the hob and sear the meat and onion until browned. Add all the other ingredients, season and cover with stock.
- Pop on the lid and insert the dish into the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours or medium (as I did) for 8. Remove the rosemary stems and bay leaves.
- Serve with a buttery baked potato/creamy mash and some peas or beans.
This 2016 Hamlyn All Colour Cookery: 200 Slow Cooker Recipes cookbook has almost 8000 very good reviews. £5.09 for paperback version.
I bought my Crockpot slow cooker from Amazon (£29.50) but doesn’t seem to be available at that price currently. You can buy a Crockpot slow cooker for £19.99 from Amazon but it isn’t hob proof and I think it’s good to caramelise meat (for extra flavour) beforehand. Alternatively you might consider the Morphy Richards slow cooker which gets good reviews or read BBCGoodFood’s guide to the best slow cookers.
Check out our other comfort food recipes here