Tave (Cypriot Baked Lamb and Potatoes With Cumin and Tomatoes)

This delicious all-in-one meal couldn't get any easier or tastier. You can just fling it into the oven and pop over to the pub for a drink or two with friends, and when you get back it's almost ready! You may also use lamb chops instead of the cubes of lamb. It's great either way! The long slow cooking results in meltingly tender lamb and succulent potatoes.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2  red onions
• 1 1⁄4 kg potatoes
• 1  kg lamb, cut into chunks
• 4  tablespoons  chopped flat leaf parsley
• 3  teaspoons cumin seeds
• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 4 -5  ripe tomatoes
• 50  g butter

Directions

1. Roughly chop the onions and cut the potatoes into large chunks. Slice the tomatoes into thick slices.
2. Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Put the potatoes, onions and the lamb into a deep baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Add the parsley, cumin and olive oil, thoroughly mixing with your hands. (natures best tool!) Layer the tomatoes on top and season them lightly with salt. Dot with butter and pour about 1/2 cup of water around the sides of the dish. Cover tightly with foil.
3. Bake for 2 hours, stirring several times, the lamb should be tender and the potatoes soft.
4. Remove the foil, increasing the oven temperature to 200*C/400*F. Cook for 45 minutes longer, stirring halfway through, until the lamb and potatoes are browned and the liquid has reduced somewhat. Serve hot or at room temperature with a salad.