Dried Fruit Lamb (Or Beef) Curry

I'm posting this for ZWT 2006 (African Region). It is an African Curry dish and as I love Curry and also love fruit in savory dishes I thought it might be a good one in case anyone else shares these same likings.

• Ready In: 1 hr 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  cup  dried apple
• 1⁄2 cup dried pitted prunes
• 1⁄2 cup raisins
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1 1⁄2 lbs boneless lamb shoulder or 1 1⁄2 lbs beef chuck, well trimmed, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 2  tablespoons  oil
• 1  cup  chopped onion
• 2  tablespoons curry powder
• 2  tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice
• 1⁄4 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• 2  medium bananas

Directions

1. Combine the apples, prunes and raisins in a bowl, pour the water over them and let soak for at least an hour, turning the fruit occasionally.
2. Dry the cubed meat with a paper towel and sprinkle them with the salt.
3. In a heavy large skillet, heat the oil over moderate heat until it is hot enough that a haze forms above it; brown the meat in the hot oil in 2 or 3 batches, turning the meat even ly to get them a good rich brown color; as they brown transfer to a plate and set aside.
4. Pour off all but about 2 tbsps of the fat from the pan and drop in the onions; stir constantly and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan; cook the onions for about 3 to 4 minutes, until they are soft.
5. Reduce the heat to low, add the Curry powder and stir for 2 minutes or so to toast the Curry a bit, thus intensifying it's flavor ( a step you should always take when using Curry powder; it leeches any bitterness from some of the stronger spices in Curry).
6. Return the meat to the pan, along with any liquid that has accumulated around it; stir in the fruits along with their soaking water, the vinegar and the lemon juice.
7. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low.
8. Partially cover the skillet and simmer for about one hour or until the meat is tender and shows no resistance when poked with a sharp knife.
9. Check the pan periodically and if it looks too dry, add up to a 1/4 cup water, a few tablespoons at a time; when the curry is done however, most of the liquid should be dried up as this is a dryer curry not a soupy one.
10. Taste for seasoning and mound the curry on a heated platter; just before serving sprinkle with the peanuts and slice the bananas and arrange around the curry.
11. Serve with hot rice, preferably Jasmine, and your favorite chutney.
12. Also, I like a hotter curry and have found that adding an additional 1/2 tbsp of curry powder or paste does the trick, especially if I am serving with a hot chutney.