4.9 from 81 votes
Cumin Lamb
This cumin lamb recipe is our take on a classic dish from Xinjiang, China. It's not hard to make an authentic plate of cumin lamb in your home kitchen!
Prep Time
35 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 445 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
To marinate the lamb:
- 1 pound lamb (450g, preferably shoulder, cut into ½-inch by 2-inch pieces)
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon oil (optional, if you have a fattier cut of lamb)
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine
For the rest of the dish:
- 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 red chili peppers (chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon Sichuan red pepper flakes (or chili powder)
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 2 scallions (chopped)
- Large handful of chopped cilantro
- salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Pad lamb dry with paper towel before cutting. Once cut, combine the lamb with the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Set aside and let marinate for 30 minutes.
- Once the lamb has been marinated, heat a wok over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds to the wok and dry toast them until fragrant. Turn off the heat, remove the cumin from the wok, and set aside.
- Now heat the wok over the highest setting until it starts to smoke. Add two tablespoons of oil to coat the wok, and then immediately add the lamb. Sear the meat until it turns brown and starts to crisp slightly. The high heat will sear the meat, but keep it tender as well.
- Now add the cooked cumin seeds, chili, red pepper flakes (or powder), sugar, scallions, cilantro, and salt. Toss everything together quickly (so that the scallion and cilantro are just wilted), and transfer to a serving dish. Serve hot with plenty of white rice!
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
445kcal
(22%)
Carbohydrates
4g
(1%)
Protein
20g
(40%)
Fat
38g
(58%)
Saturated Fat
12g
(60%)
Cholesterol
83mg
(28%)
Sodium
478mg
(20%)
Potassium
371mg
(11%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
420IU
(8%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
64mg
(6%)
Iron
4.9mg
(27%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 445
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 445kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 4g | 1% |
| Protein | 20g | 40% |
| Fat | 38g | 58% |
| Saturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Cholesterol | 83mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 478mg | 20% |
| Potassium | 371mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 420IU | 8% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 64mg | 6% |
| Iron | 4.9mg | 27% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.