Lamb stew is a quintessential spring dish that can be a real celebration—or unbearably heavy. The difference has little to do with the lamb and much to do with the vegetables: If the stew sports color and lots of different flavors, it is lovely, almost light. If, on the other hand, it contains little besides lamb and potatoes, it becomes the cafeteria-style “Irish stew” that gave the dish a bad name in the first place. This is how it’s done in Scandinavia—bright, colorful, and fresh tasting. In other parts of northern Europe, parsley might be substituted for the dill; it’s just as good. Other cuts of meat you can use here: beef chuck or brisket (which will require somewhat longer cooking time), veal shoulder.

　　

Ingredients

makes 4 servings

　　2 tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil

　　2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, cut into roughly 1 1/2-inch chunks

　　8 shallots, peeled

　　8 to 12 very small waxy potatoes, washed

　　Salt and black pepper

　　2 carrots, diced into roughly pea-size bits, optional

　　1 cup green peas (frozen are okay)

　　8 scallions, trimmed and sliced, optional

　　1/2 cup snipped dill leaves, or more to taste

　　Lemon wedges for serving

　　

Step 1

Put the butter in a wide skillet with a lid and place over high heat. When the butter foam subsides, add the lamb, a little at a time. Let sear, undisturbed, for about 2 minutes, or until the underside is nicely browned. Stir, then add the shallots and potatoes. Let cook for another couple of minutes, then add the salt, pepper, and a cup of water. Stir, scraping the bottom if necessary to loosen any bits of meat that may have stuck. Turn the heat to low, cover, and let the mixture simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring once or twice during that period.

　　

Step 2

Uncover and add the carrots if you’re using them; stir once and simmer for about 15 minutes more, or until the lamb and potatoes are tender.

　　

Step 3

Uncover and add the peas and scallions. Raise the heat if necessary to boil away excess liquid. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve, garnished with the dill and accompanied by a lemon wedge.

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.