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South african Denningvleis feature image with sweet and sour lamb on a bed of yellow raisin rice on a white plate

Denningvleis - Sweet and Sour Lamb

This South African Denningvleis is a mouthwatering sweet and sour stew featuring tender lamb, onion, and tangy tamarind.
5 from 3 votes
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Course Main Dishes
Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 tbs coconut oil or olive oil
  • 2 lbs lamb meat cubed or stew meat
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 large yellow onions
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4-6 whole cloves or a couple pinches of clove powder
  • 2 tsp allspice
  • 2 tbs tamarind paste
  • 2 tbs brown coconut sugar or 4 tbs date paste
  • 3 cups water

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300ºF.
  • Warm coconut oil in a cast iron ovenproof pot on medium-high heat. While the oil is heating up, evenly sprinkle the salt over the lamb and rub into the meat.
  • Brown the meat on all sides, working in batches if necessary, then put the meat aside.
  • While meat is browning, chop onion. When the meat is aside, add onion to the pot and cook about 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
  • Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds to release the fragrance. Add water next to prevent the garlic from burning, then add bay leaves, allspice, tamarind paste and brown coconut sugar (or date paste).
  • Return the lamb and its juices to the pot and mix everything together.
  • Cover the pot and place it in the oven. Cook for 1.5 hours or until meat is fork-tender, giving it a quick stir about halfway through (at 45 minutes).
  • NOTE: If you have time, turn the heat down to 200ºF, add an additional 1/2 cup of water and let the stew cook another hour.
  • Serve with rice.
  • Store in the fridge up to a week, or in the freezer up to 3 months. This stew is even better a few days after making!
Nutrition Facts
Denningvleis - Sweet and Sour Lamb
Amount per Serving
Calories
400
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
16
g
25
%
Saturated Fat
 
7
g
44
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5
g
Cholesterol
 
147
mg
49
%
Sodium
 
747
mg
32
%
Potassium
 
794
mg
23
%
Carbohydrates
 
17
g
6
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
10
g
11
%
Protein
 
47
g
94
%
Vitamin A
 
12
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
 
50
mg
5
%
Iron
 
5
mg
28
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.