Peas and Lamb, "bisila Bil La7ma Fil Forn"

I loved this dish growing up. It was the only way I was willing to eat peas as a child. I still really enjoy making it and I'm always trying all sorts of variations of it. It's easy to make and don't worry if you don't have all the spices, it will still taste good. This dish is served over plain white rice.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  lb  frozen peas (you can use fresh peas if you like)
• 1  lb lamb, cubes
• 3  tablespoons tomato paste
• 3  ripe and soft tomatoes
• 1  liter lamb stock (home made or store bought, or stock cubes dissolved in water) or 1  liter  chicken stock (home made or store bought, or stock cubes dissolved in water)
• 1  onion, finely chopped (white or yellow)
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 2  teaspoons salt (most people would prefer more salt, but I find that this is a good amount for my taste)
• 1  teaspoon dried coriander
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  dry clove
• 1⁄2 teaspoon curry powder
• 1  teaspoon black pepper
• 1  dash Tabasco sauce (optional)
• 1  cup water (as needed)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Place onion, garlic and meat in a large oven tray.
3. Add salt, coriander, cloves, curry powder and pepper.
4. Mix these ingredients well, so that the meat is coated in the spices, onion and garlic.
5. Add peas to the tray.
6. In a blender jug add tomato (cut into 4 or 8), tomato paste, Tabasco and stock. Blend until you get a smooth mixture.
7. Pour this tomato sauce over the peas and meat, top up with water till the sauce is just covering the peas.
8. Run a wooden spoon through the pan to mix the ingredients together.
9. Try to get it so that the meat is spread out more or less uniformly throughout the tray.
10. Place in the oven for about 2 hours. Check on it every 20 minutes, add water while cooking, if the sauce starts to dry up. The reason you shouldn't add too much at the start is that it may boil over. especially if you are using a shallow dish.