Embrace this Spring classic, fit for Easter celebrations or any festive gathering!

What is a Lamb Navarin stew (Navarin d’Agneau)?

Lamb Navarin is a classic French stew that showcases the rich taste of lamb with the sweetness of vegetables, stewed in a light broth flavored with herbs and spices.

Like most rustic French recipes, the choice of vegetables and fixings may vary slightly depending on the cook, the region or the season. But this recipe is particularly popular during Spring, which is coincidentally lamb season. Also as such, it is often made with spring produces like turnips, carrots, peas and new potatoes.

This recipe is known for being a maintstay in French cooking schools, as it is a great introduction to how to build a French stew. First, you brown the meat. Then you add vegetables in a specific order. Finally, you add liquid and slow-cook everything together until the meat falls apart and the flavors meld.

In my books, this is one of the staple French stews to have in your cooking repertoire, along with the Beef Bourguignon and the Coq Au Vin.

The History behind the dish

It is said the name “Navarin” originates from the 1827 Battle of Navarin in the harbor of Navarin, Peloponnese, during the Greek War of Independence. It was a significant victory for the French, Russian and English coalition against the Turkish-Egyptian fleet of the Ottoman Empire.

To celebrate, French admiral Henri de Rigny instructed his chef to prepare a lavish dish for his soldiers. Drawing inspiration from local Turkish-style cuisine, the chef used lamb and an array of colorful vegetables to craft a deliciously saucy dish for the occasion – giving birth to the now famous recipe. 

Why you’ll love this recipe

A Lamb Navarin is a fairly easy, one-pot stew recipe that boasts loads of vegetables. In fact, it boasts more vegetables than your classic stew, which I love!

I also love that the sauce is made with a combination of white wine and stock, making for a lighter stew, compared for instance to a Beef Bourguignon – which is made with red wine and a touch heavier.

So, if you’re looking for a one-pot stew recipe that is comforting and hearty, but lighter than your classic beef stew, you’ll love this one!

Ingredients you’ll need for this Lamb Navarin Stew (Navarin d’Agneau)

Like many stews, lamb navarin requires patience and care, but no difficult techniques nor ingredients. Here is a detailed look at the ingredients needed.

1. Lamb. Lamb shoulder is often considered the best cut for stews. It has a good amount of marbling, which adds flavor and keeps the meat moist during the slow cooking process. Ask your butcher to trim the larger fat pieces and to cut the meat into 2-inch (5cm) chunks – slightly larger than for your classic beef stew.
2. Vegetables. Onions, carrots and turnips are staples of a Lamb Navarin. When making it in the Spring, new potatoes, pearl onions and peas are also included, adding variety and color to the stew. Note that you can use fresh or frozen peas. Lastly, while some recipes call for simmering the pearl onions in the stew, I prefer to cook and caramelize them on the side to add delicious bursts of sweetness.
3. Tomato paste and flour. These two ingredients are used to thicken the sauce.
4. Stock. For the broth, opt for a low sodium chicken or vegetable broth.
5. White wine. Along with the broth, white wine is added to create the liquid in which the meat and vegetables stew. Choose one with a lighter body and high acid to balance out the richness of the meat: I recommend Pinot Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc.
6. Seasoning and herbs: Very simple seasonings (salt and pepper) and classic French herbs (bay leaf, thyme, parsley) are traditionally used for a Lamb navarin, letting the flavors of the lamb and fresh seasonal vegetables shine.

Overview: how to make Lamb Navarin

Here are the directions for making this recipe. You can find the list of ingredients and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this article.  

1. Brown the lamb pieces. The lamb is first browned in oil, contributing to the rich flavor of the sauce. Do not rush this process and make sure the pieces bear a nice brown crust before adding the first set of vegetables.
2. Add the vegetables. Garlic, onions and carrots are added to the meat and are sauteed quickly. You then add tomato paste, flour, broth, wine and start simmering all the ingredients together.
3. Add more vegetables. New potatoes and turnips are added about 15 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Peas are added just a few minutes before serving. Follow these different ingredient intervals to have properly cooked vegetables that keep their optimum shape and flavor.
4. Garnish, season and serve. Lastly, I like to serve this dish garnished with caramelized pearl onions and fresh herbs just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the peas mandatory for this dish?

Mandatory, no. Traditional to the dish, yes. As with any dish, don’t feel obligated to add ingredients you don’t like. If peas aren’t your thing, leave them out and add a few more carrots instead. Or cook the peas on the side for those who do enjoy them!

What if I can’t find lamb shoulder?

No problem, both lamb leg and lamb neck are excellent substitutes for lamb shoulder. Those are also tougher, marbled cuts that can stand up to the longer cooking meant for a stew. Lamb neck may also be a cheaper option where you are, albeit more difficult to find outside of a butcher shop.

I don’t like or want alcohol in the dish, what can I do?

Aside from the traditional explanation of “the alcohol will cook out of the dish”, if you do not want to add the wine, you can replace it with chicken stock. Just please be aware it will alter the taste of the dish, as wine imparts a nice sweetness and complex flavors.

How to store leftovers

• To refrigerate: If you have any leftovers, simply store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• To freeze: Ensure the dish is cooled completely, and then placed in an airtight and freezer friendly container. To use, allow to thaw overnight in the fridge. Then, reheat ideally on a stovetop over medium-low heat until ready to serve.

Serving suggestions:

This stew definitely boasts more vegetables than your classic stew, making it a balanced meal in itself. You can simply serve it with crusty bread on the side for mopping the delicious sauce!

If you would like to serve it with a side, I suggest Green Beans Almondine, Vichy carrots or Potato Gratin Dauphinois.

And like most stews, a Lamb Navarin is even better reheated the next day.

Audrey’s Tips

• This is a recipe perfect for 6 people. You can easily double it to for a larger crowd.
• You can swap and mix the seasonal vegetables to your liking. Note that 2.7lbs of vegetables vs. 2.2lbs of lamb meat is a great ratio.
• With no less than 2.7lbs of vegetables (or 7 different vegetables), this stew recipe has a bit of a lengthy ingredient list. But trust me here, once you’ve done your shopping for all the ingredients, you’ll have achieved the biggest part of the job.

I hope you’ll enjoy this Lamb Navarin (Navarin d’agneau) recipe as much as I do! If you have any questions, please leave a comment. 

More French stews to try: 

• Classic French Beef Bourguignon 
• Classic French Coq Au Vin Rouge 
• Flemish Beef and Beer Stew (Carbonnade)
• Classic French Coq Au Vin Blanc
• Sausage Rougail (Creole Sausage stew)
• Classic French Hunter’s Chicken Stew (Poulet Chasseur)
• French-style Braised Oxtail (Queue de Boeuf aux carottes)

Lamb Navarin (Navarin d'agneau)

Print Recipe

Serves: 6 Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 1H20 1H20

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 2 voted )

Ingredients

2.2 lbs (1kg) lamb shoulder, skin and fat trimmed, cut in 2-inch cubes
1 tsp salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil
3 carrots (300g), peeled and cut in large sticks
1 large onion, peeled and sliced in half rounds
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 tbsp (14g) tomato paste
4 tbsp (30g) all-purpose flour
1 bay leaf
3-4 thyme sprigs
2/3 cups (150 ml) white wine
4 cups (950 ml) chicken or vegetable stock, low sodium
About 12 new potatoes (400g)
2 medium turnips (200g), cut in large chunks
Peas, fresh or frozen (200g)
10 pearl onions, peeled and cut in half
2 tbsp (28g) butter
2 tbsp (25g) sugar

For garnish: A handful of fresh parsley, stemmed and leaves

Instructions

Half an hour before cooking, take the lamb out of the fridge, season it with salt and pepper and leave it on the counter to rise slightly in temperature.

Step 1 - Heat up the olive oil in large heavy bottom pot (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat. When the oil is sizzling, add the lamb cubes and brown them for about 3 minutes on each side. Do not rush this process, the lamb pieces should develop a nice brown crust.

Step 2 - Once the lamb is browned, add the carrots, onion and garlic. Stir and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to coat. Add the flour, stir to coat and until no dry flour remains. Add the bay leaf, the thyme, the white wine and stock. Stir, cover with a lid and bring to boil. When the liquid is boiling, lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 45 minutes.

Step 3 - Add the potatoes and turnip and simmer for 15 minutes. Finally, add the peas and cook until they rise to the top (1-2 minutes for fresh peas, 3-4 minutes for frozen). Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Step 4 - In a separate pan, heat up the butter, sugar, pearl onions and 3 tablespoons of water over medium heat. Let the butter and sugar melt and slowly caramelize the onions. Cook until all the water is evaporated and onions are caramelized. This can take up to 8-10 minutes. 

For serving, ladle the navarin into serving bowls, dress with a few caramelized onions and fresh parsley leaves.

The post Lamb Navarin (Navarin d’agneau) appeared first on Pardon Your French.

This Summer, I am partnering with Oliv to bring you delicious recipes that are bursting with Balsamics and Extra Virgin Olive Oils. These two ingredients are utterly prevalent in French cuisine, especially in Southern France. And like most French cooks, I always have a bottle of EVOO and a bottle of balsamic laying on my counter – which find their way into my vinaigrettes, grillades, vegetable tians and stews, on a daily basis.

So when Oliv reached out to ask me to develop recipes with their infused EVOOs and Balsamics, I was very excited. This first recipe features their fig-infused Balsamic vinegar in little Balsamic Pearl Onion Tartes Tatin. (A tarte tatin being the French way to say upside-down tart). 

If you’re unfamiliar with them, Oliv is a Canadian-based company offering premium quality Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars, in a “branch to table” philosophy. They import their oils from South Africa and Balsamic vinegars from Italy, controlling their product from start to finish. Oliv’s trademark is also to flavour their oils and vinegars with natural essential oils, which makes their line of products so versatile and easy to sneak into any of your recipes – be it savoury or sweet.

Being a fig-lover, I was immediately enticed to try their fig-infused Balsamic vinegar. It is rich, smooth and full of fig-flavours. I knew it would be the perfect ingredient to add a burst of fruitiness into these salty, crusty little pearl onion tartes tatins.  

I used the balsamic to create a sweet and tangy glaze for the pearl onions, which then produced the most perfect caramelization when baking in the oven (which, when making a tarte tatin, is exactly what you are looking for, both taste-wise and look-wise!).        

And because this balsamic vinegar also pairs great with cheese, I snuck in a little slice of brie on top of the pearl onions before adding the crust on top. It brought an extra layer of richness, and a nice smoothness to balance with the fruitiness of the balsamic.

All around, these little Balsamic pearl onion tartes tatins are so delighltful; and it’s really the balsamic vinegar that puts them over the top!

This recipe works for 4 individuals tarts or 1 large one. Enjoy it warm, as a shareable appetizer (with a glass of dry Chardonnay) or alongside a fresh salad for a summer-perfect weekday dinner.

Balsamic Pearl Onion Tartes Tatin

Print Recipe

Serves: 4 Prep Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes 25 minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 4.8/5

( 4 voted )

Ingredients

Dough

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp rosemary, finely diced
8 tbsp cold butter, cut into pieces
3 tbsp ice water

Topping

1 1/2 lbs pearl onions, whole and peeled.
3 tbsp butter
½ tsp kosher salt
3 tablespoons Oliv fig-infused balsamic vinegar
Optional: 4 slices of brie cheese

Instructions

For the dough:

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Mix in the rosemary and cubed cold butter with your fingers until you get a rough, crumbly consistency with pea-sized lumps of butter still visible. Add 3 tablespoons of ice water and stir with your hands until the dough just comes together. If the dough is still too dry, add in 1 more tablespoon of water. Gather the dough into a rough ball, cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Meanwhile, prepare the onions. Heat the butter in a pan (ideally a skillet) on medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, lay the onions in the pan (they should be pretty snug) and cook for 6-7 minutes without stirring. Shake the pan to roll the onions and cook for another 6-7 minutes, giving the onions a light gold colour all around. The onions won’t be fully tender just yet.

Pour the Balsamic Vinegar over the onions and stir to make sure the onions are evenly coated. Cook for another 2 minutes.

Heat the oven to 400F.

Take the dough out of the fridge and roll it out to an 11” circle. For individual tarts, cut out 4”x4” circles. Spread the onions at the bottom of a greased 11” baking pan (or skillet) or into 4”x4” individual tart shells or rings. Optional: apply slices of brie on top of the onions (or 1 per individual tart). Lay the pastry round(s) over the onions and cheese, folding the edges on the sides.

Bake until the pastry is golden, about 35 minutes for a large tart and 20-25 for individual ones. Remove from the oven, let cool 3 minutes (no more) and carefully invert the pan(s) onto a plate to unmold (don’t wait any longer or the caramelized onions will stick to the bottom). If any pearl onions fall in the transfer, simply put them back in place.

If you try this Balsamic Pearl Onion Tartes Tatin recipe let me know! Leave a comment or share a photo using #pardonyourfrench on Instagram.

Bon Appétit!

The post Balsamic Pearl Onion Tartes Tatin appeared first on Pardon Your French.