Lamb And Apple Hot Pot

Total Time: 4 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, more as needed
• 3 onions, cut in two and then into thin half-moons
• 8 ounces sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch strips
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 6 (6 ounce) boneless lamb chops (each weighing 6 to 8 ounces)
• 3 medium granny smith apples or 2 large granny smith apples
• 2 cups sharp pressed apple cider

Recipe

• 1 1.
• 2 heat oven to 325 degrees.
• 3 in a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons oil and add onions.
• 4 sauté until soft, about 10 minutes.
• 5 transfer to a bowl.
• 6 add bacon to pan and sauté until fat is rendered and bacon begins to brown, about 3 minutes.
• 7 using a slotted spoon, remove bacon, leaving behind as much fat as possible.
• 8 add bacon to onions and set aside.
• 9 in a freezer bag, mix together flour and pumpkin pie spice.
• 10 add 3 chops, seal and shake until chops are coated.
• 11 shake off excess flour and place chops on a plate.
• 12 flour remaining 3 chops and add to plate; reserve spiced flour.
• 13 return skillet to medium heat.
• 14 add chops 3 at a time, searing on both sides then transferring to a plate; reserve oily skillet.
• 15 peel, core and cut the apples in two.
• 16 slice each half into thin wedges.
• 17 in an ovenproof pot (preferably glazed ceramic) 8 inches in diameter and 5 inches deep, layer ingredients compactly as follows: a layer of onions and bacon, 3 chops, a layer of apple slices, some more onions and bacon, the final 3 chops, a layer of apple slices, remaining onions and bacon, and a final layer of apples.
• 18 add spiced flour to oily skillet.
• 19 if pan is dry, add a small amount of oil.
• 20 place pan over medium-low heat and whisk flour into oil to make a smooth paste.
• 21 slowly add apple cider, whisking until smooth.
• 22 bring mixture to a boil, then pour into pot, letting it filter slowly to bottom.
• 23 cover pot with a lid or waxed paper and foil.
• 24 place on a baking sheet.
• 25 bake until chops are tender and apples are very soft, about 3 hours.
• 26 serve hot.