curried lamb sloppy joes with naan bread

How to make curried lamb sloppy joes with naan bread recipe - Gently spiced lamb is topped with herby yogurt and stuffed into warm bread for a new take on an old favorite.

SERVES 4

PREP TIME 20 mins, COOK TIME 50 mins

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely diced
1⁄2 celery stalk, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2in (5cm) piece of ginger, finely chopped
1 jalapeño or other mild green chile, seeded and finely chopped
1lb 2oz (500g) ground lamb
1⁄2 tsp ground cilantro
1⁄2 tsp cayenne pepper
1⁄2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp plain flour
2 cups hot chicken stock
salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp roughly chopped mint leaves
3 tbsp roughly chopped cilantro
6 heaped tbsp Greek yogurt
1 scallion, trimmed and finely chopped
4 warm naan breads, halved

Method:
1 Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook for 10 minutes, until softened but not browned. Add the garlic, ginger, and jalapeño and cook for a further 2 minutes.

2 Increase the heat and add the lamb, breaking it down with a spoon as it goes into the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, constantly stirring to break up the meat, until well browned and separated. Sprinkle over the dried spices and the flour, and cook for a further minute or two.

3 Add the stock and stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook, uncovered, for 30–35 minutes until the liquid has evaporated and the lamb is tender. Season to taste and remove from the heat. Stir in 2 tbsp each of the chopped mint and cilantro.

4 In a small bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, the remaining herbs, and the scallion and season to taste. To serve, spoon a portion of the meat on one half of the naan bread. Add a spoonful of the yogurt mixture and top with the other half of the naan bread.

COOK’S TIP
This lamb curry is also delicious served over rice with a chopped herby cucumber and tomato salad on the side, and a squeeze of lime.

WHAT’S THE STORY?
A traditional Sloppy Joe (so-called because it’s messy to eat) comprises ground beef, onions, tomatoes, and seasoning, cooked down and stuffed into a bun. References to the dish date back to the depression era of the 1930s, when meat was a precious commodity, and the sandwich may have been created as a way to make a little meat go a long way.

curried lamb sloppy joes with naan bread