60gramsdark brown sugaror use panela or pilloncillo if you can get it
1/4teaspoonground cayenne pepperor 1/2 teaspoon anchiote powder if you can get it
1teaspoonground cumin
4-5whole cloves
4-5whole allspice
1tablespoondried oregano
2celery stalksroughly chopped
12ounceslight beer
Yellow Rice
3cupscooked white rice
1onion chopped
1tablespoonoil
1teaspoonbutter
1teaspoonground turmeric
1cupfresh corn kernels
1/4cupfrozen peas
1tablespoonchopped coriandercilantro
1teaspoonsalt
1green end of a spring onion sliced thinly
Confit Shallots
12French shallotspeeled ((I cooked heaps so I'd have some for other uses)
olive oilenough to cover the shallots
Fried Bananas
2bananaspeeled and sliced (if the bananas are large, cut them in half lengthwise as well)
1 1/2tablespoonsbutter
Instructions
Cut the lamb into bite size pieces, of about 2.5cm (1 inch)
Season with salt, ground pepper and ground cumin on all sides. Set aside.
Refrito
Add all refrito ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and whiz until you have a smooth puree. Depending upon the size of your food processor, you might need to do this in batches
Stew
Pour the refrito in a large crockpot, and season it with the salt, ground pepper, ground cumin and cayenne pepper and stir to combine.
Add the seasoned, diced lamb meat to the refrito. Stir to combine. Add the brown sugar, whole cloves, whole allspice, oregano and celery stalks. Stir to combine. Pour the beer over the mixture and stir one last time.
Cover the crockpot and cook on low for eight hours, or high for four hours.
Before serving, remove the celery stalks, whole cloves and allspice.
Serve warm with yellow rice and fried bananas
Yellow Rice
Saute the onion in the oil and butter and once the onions begin to turn translucent, add the turmeric and the corn and cook for another minute.
Cook the rice and just before it's finished add the onion mixture, salt and peas. When the rice is cooked add the coriander and spring onions and serve.
Confit Shallots
Preheat oven to 135C / 275F
Place peeled shallots in the bottom of a roasting dish and cover with olive oil. Roast for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Once cool, toss in the stew near the end of cooking.
(Save the oil for another use)
Fried Bananas
Heat a skillet to medium-high heat and add the butter. When melted add the bananas and cook until golden brown on the bottom and flip and cook the other side the same way.
You could sprinkle a bit of cinnamon over the top just before serving.