I was searching about what to cook from the Ottoman Kitchen and I discovered Mutancana, which is a lamb dish cooked with dry fruits and almond. As I read more about it, I learnt that it was the favorite dish of Fatih Sultan Mehmed (the conqueror of Istanbul). It was cooked in the palace kitchen during the 15th century, a few days every week, and the sultan used to eat it with keşkek (http://thadailynews.blogspot.com/2012/06/keskek-recipe.html)
Although it seems a difficult dish to cook, the result is definitely worth your effort.
Ingredients
1 kg lamb, cut into cubes
20-25 pearl onions, peeled
1 cup fresh grapes
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup dry figs, cut in julienne
1/2 cup dry apricots, cut in julienne
2 tb sp butter
1 tb sp sumac
1 tb sp flour
1 tb sp honey
1 tb sp vinegar
2 cup hot water
Salt
Black Pepper
Method:
Cook the lamb cubes with butter until their color turns brownish, then add the pearl onions. Cook for 10 mins.
Add sumac, sprinkle flour on the lamb, add hot water and vinegar.
Cover and cook it around 40-50 mins until the meat gets softer. Then add the grapes, figs, apricots, almonds, honey, salt and pepper.
Cook for 5 mins more and turn off the heat. Serve warm.
Bon appetit..
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