Low Fat Irish Lamb Stew That Will Have You Doin’ the Jig! Less than 24% Fat

For a taste of Ireland, there’s nothing better than a satisfying lamb stew! For many people, slow cooker stews are great comfort food.

What? You know it’s not good to use food for comfort, but when it’s as good for you and as satisfying as this recipe, you may not be able to resist! This one is high on flavor and relatively low on fat; less than 24% fat for the main dish. You can pair this stew with a crusty sourdough bread which is nearly fat-free and perfectly delicious for dipping in the stew (don’t use butter, of course). Now you can have your yummo Irish Stew, and eat it, too.

For lamb stew, leg meat is considerably lower in fat than other cuts and offers great flavor. The leg meat contains enough connective tissue so that it becomes relatively tender when cooked at a low temperature for a long time.

To keep things significantly healthier, always be sure to trim all meats of any visible fat before you cook them.

Another strategy for making a stew lean is to load it with vegetables. They add essential flavor and are filling, but low in fat and calories.

Mushrooms, in particular, add a deep, satisfying flavor to the stew, plus they have a chewy, almost meaty texture.

This Irish lamb stew has all the flavors you’ll want for a St. Patricks Day meal, or at any time of year. And the prep couldn’t be simpler: Combine everything in a slow cooker set on low. Enjoy it seven to eight hours later.

INGREDIENTS

½ cup dry red wine
2 pounds boneless leg of lamb, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 ¾ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 large leeks, whites only, halved, washed and thinly sliced
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 pound sliced mushrooms
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium organic chicken broth
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme (or 2/3 tsp dried)
2 heaping tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves (or 2 tsp dried)
2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped
2 heaping tablespoons Dijon mustard
Finely grated zest of one large lemon

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl mix the red wine, mustard, salt, and pepper and place it in the insert of the slow cooker.

2. Layer in the lamb, and then scatter the remaining ingredients around the lamb.

3. Cover the slow cooker, and then cook on low until the lamb is fork-tender, about 7 to 8 hours.

4. Stir in the parsley and juice of one lemon just before serving.

Note: The fresh lemon juice will add brightness to the flavors.

NUTRITION

Serves 8

Per serving: 266 calories; 7 g fat (2 g saturated); 65 mg cholesterol; 27 g carbohydrate; 23 g protein; 4 g fiber; 427 mg sodium.