Katniss’s Hunger Games Lamb Stew
“So Katniss, the Capital must be quite a change from District 12. What’s Impressed you most since you arrived here?” asks Caesar. He tells her to be honest and then “The Lamb Stew” I get out Caesar laughs and vaguely I realize some of the audience has joined in. “the one with the Dried Plums” asks Caesar. “Oh, I eat it by the bucketful.” (pg 127, The Hunger Games)
Life is very different in the Hunger Games than our life is. AND Katniss’s life in District 12 is much different than the life of those in the Capitol. One of the best things she has ever ate and is most impressed by is this Dried Plum Lamb Stew which is served to her on the train while on the way to the Capitol.
I must agree with Katniss that this stew is pretty good (I mean – I don’t like stew OR lamb and was willing to at least eat a little bit of it, while my family thought it was great). This stew can easily serve a crowd & will be perfect for your upcoming Hunger Games Viewing Party. If you don’t want to make this stew for your party be sure to save this recipe for a nice cool evening in the future. Once making this – determine what you think and let me know what was “The Best Thing You ever Ate”?
Enjoy, and May the Odds be Ever in your Favor!
Hunger Games Lamb Stew
The “Best Thing I Ever Ate” Lamb Stew
| Katniss’s Hunger Games Lamb Stew |
- approx. 5 lbs lamb (filet or stew meat or shoulder or leg) – cut into 2″ pieces
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 – 2 large onions – chopped
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 cups beef stock
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- 3 teaspoons brown sugar
- 3 cups diced carrots
- 1 1/2 cup diced celery
- 3 potatoes (cubed)
- 5 cups dried plums (prunes)
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 3 teaspoons rosemary (fresh)
- 2 teaspoons basil (fresh)
- 1 teaspoon parsley (fresh)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup Ginger Ale
- Toss the lamb with the flour, salt, & pepper in a large mixing bowl – make sure it is evenly coated. Heat a large pan with some Olive Oil in it and brown the meat – working in batches if you have to.
- In the pan (with the lamb in another dish) – pour off the extra fat, leaving no more than a 1/4 cup in the pan. Add the garlic and onion and saute until the onion becomes golden brown. Deglaze the pan with a little water & be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to stir up any bits of meat and onion on the bottom. Reduce the liquid and remove from the heat.
- Place the lamb back in the pan. Add the beef stock & sugars and stir until the sugars are dissolved. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about an hour and half. Add the vegetables & boil for about another 30 minutes. Finally add the plumbs, herbs, and ginger ale to the pot and boil for about 15 minutes more, until the meats and all vegetables pierce easily with a fork.
- * alternatively you can just throw in all of the ingredients (except flour) into a crock pot on the lowest setting for about 10 hours. In the last half hour, mix in the flour and cook on high
as adapted from The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook and Against All Grain
* and remember: I will be doing a Giveaway of The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook at the end of the week to celebrate the Movie’s release – stay tuned!
One Year Ago – Delicious Summer Dish & a Solution for your Produce Overload: Zucchini, Eggplant, & Tomato Casserole
And I leave you with this, Today’s Question of the Day… what was “The Best Thing YOU Ever Ate”? (a Food Network AND Hunger Games reference there for ya today)