Alison Cooks Lamb and Brothy Chickpeas (really) Slowly | Home Movies with Alison Roman

Alison Roman

29 Nov 202323:16

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this delightful episode of 'Home Movies,' Alison Roman invites viewers into her culinary world as she prepares a scrumptious holiday meal that's as easy as it is elegant. The centerpiece of the feast is a mouthwatering slow-roasted lamb, braised to tender perfection in white wine with potatoes and herbs, resulting in a dish that's both hearty and sophisticated. To complement the lamb, Roman whips up a spicy chickpea dish, cooked low and slow to let the flavors meld and intensify. She also shares her recipe for a simple yet impactful side of sautéed greens with anchovy, adding a bitter and tangy contrast to the meal. To finish off the culinary experience, she offers a choice between a garlicky yogurt sauce and aioli, both of which would enhance the meal's rich flavors. Throughout the episode, Roman's passion for cooking shines as she emphasizes the joy of creating a memorable meal with minimal effort and maximum reward, encouraging viewers to embrace the simplicity and magic of a well-cooked dish.

Takeaways

🍲 Alison Roman introduces a holiday meal featuring two simple dishes that require minimal effort but yield impressive results.
🕰 The slow-roasted lamb dish is cooked for 10 to 12 hours in a Dutch oven with white wine, potatoes, herbs, and garlic, resulting in tender meat and flavorful potatoes.
🔥 The chickpeas are also cooked low and slow in the oven with chili, olive oil, sliced onion, and water for 10 to 12 hours, creating a spicy and brothy dish.
🥔 The potatoes in the lamb dish take on a unique texture, firm yet waxy, due to the long cooking time and the acidity of the white wine.
🌿 The use of herbs like oregano and bay leaf is emphasized for their ability to add depth of flavor to the dishes.
🧂 Alison stresses the importance of salting the dishes adequately before adding the white wine, as the wine has no salt.
🌱 The side of sautéed or wilted dandelion greens and Swiss chard with garlic, anchovy, and lemon provides a bitter and tangy contrast to the richness of the lamb.
🍶 The Maker's Mark sponsorship segment highlights a personalized bottle program for the holiday season, allowing for a festive and personal gift.
🍛 Alison suggests serving the meal with a garlicky yogurt sauce, adding a Greek touch to the overall dish.
📸 She also discusses the current food trend on TikTok, expressing a desire to engage with the platform without appearing out of touch.
🎉 The episode concludes with Alison preparing the meal for guests, emphasizing that these dishes are ideal for hosting due to their hands-off cooking process and impressive final presentation.

Q & A

What is the main dish Alison Roman is preparing in the video?
-The main dish Alison Roman is preparing is a slow-roasted lamb cooked in white wine and potatoes with herbs and garlic.
What is the cooking method used for the lamb and potatoes?
-The cooking method used is braising in a Dutch oven with gentle heat over a long period of time, specifically for 10 to 12 hours.
What type of potatoes does Alison recommend using for the dish?
-Alison recommends using Yukon Gold potatoes for the dish.
Why does Alison suggest peeling the potatoes?
-Alison suggests peeling the potatoes because it makes the dish feel fancier, although she notes that not peeling them does not significantly impact the dish.
What is the second dish Alison discusses in the video?
-The second dish Alison discusses is a spicy, brothy chickpea dish cooked with chili, olive oil, sliced onion, and bay leaf in the oven for about 10 to 12 hours.
What is the significance of using olive oil in the chickpea dish?
-Olive oil is used to help extract more flavors from the ingredients, as many flavors, including those of chili and herbs, are fat soluble.
What side dish does Alison prepare to accompany the lamb and chickpeas?
-Alison prepares a side dish of sautéed or wilted dandelion greens and Swiss chard with garlic, anchovy, and lemon.
What is the special feature of the Maker's Mark program mentioned in the video?
-The Maker's Label program allows customers to gift a personalized bottle of Maker's Mark to someone special, with the label being free of charge.
What is the deadline for ordering the personalized Maker's Mark bottle to ensure it arrives in time for the holidays?
-The deadline for ordering is December 3rd.
What does Alison say about the texture of the potatoes after they are cooked in the lamb dish?
-Alison describes the texture of the potatoes as firm but waxy, maintaining their structure due to the acidity of the wine.
What is Alison's stance on using rosemary in her dishes?
-Alison states that she is not very fond of rosemary, finding it too aggressive and assertive for her taste.
What is the final touch Alison adds to the lamb dish before serving?
-Alison adds a smattering of fresh herbs like oregano, dill, parsley, and cilantro to the lamb dish before serving.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to Alison Roman's Holiday Meal

Alison Roman welcomes viewers to 'Home Movies' and introduces a simple yet elegant holiday meal. She reflects on her eventful year, including marriage, starting a podcast, opening a store, and publishing a book, leading her to question the need for a big holiday event. Roman decides against recreating traditional dishes and instead presents two dishes that require minimal effort but offer maximum results: slow-roasted lamb and chickpeas, both cooked with minimal attention for 10 to 12 hours. She emphasizes the joy of cooking with gentle heat over a long period and the resulting culinary magic.

05:01

🍖 The Art of Slow-Roasted Lamb

Roman shares her experience of a memorable Greek dish featuring lamb cooked in wine with potatoes, which inspired her recipe. She discusses the unique texture of the potatoes, which become firm and waxy due to the acidity of the wine. The dish is simple, consisting of only lamb, potatoes, garlic, and oregano, and is cooked in a Dutch oven with white wine for 10 to 12 hours. Roman emphasizes the importance of patience and time in creating a spectacular dish that cannot be rushed or replicated with shortcuts.

10:06

🌶️ Spicy, Brothy Chickpeas

The video continues with the preparation of spicy, brothy chickpeas, cooked with chili, onion, and olive oil. Roman explains the importance of fat in extracting flavors, particularly from fat-soluble compounds like flavonoids. She also discusses the use of bay leaves and the decision to cook the chickpeas for an extended period to enhance flavor absorption. The chickpeas are cooked at a low temperature for 10 to 12 hours, similar to the lamb, and can be adjusted for time without significant risk.

15:08

🥬 Side of Wilted Greens and Yogurt

Roman prepares a side dish of wilted dandelion greens and Swiss chard with garlic, anchovy, and lemon, cooked down to concentrate flavors. She suggests using a variety of greens and emphasizes the importance of cooking them thoroughly to enhance taste. The greens are complemented by a garlicky yogurt sauce, chosen over aioli for a more Greek-inspired touch. Roman reflects on the meal's suitability for a Thanksgiving feast and shares her enthusiasm for the dish.

20:15

🍽️ Plating and Final Touches

The final paragraph details the plating of the meal, with Roman adding fresh herbs like oregano, dill, parsley, and cilantro for a finishing touch. She discusses the addition of calabrian chilies for an extra spicy kick, preferring to add them after cooking to retain their fresh fermented flavor. Roman presents the completed meal, highlighting the succulent lamb and the transformation of the potatoes through long cooking. She concludes by thanking Maker's Mark for sponsoring the episode and reflects on her evolving relationship with lamb as a dish she now loves to cook and share with others.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Slow-Roasted Lamb

Slow-roasted lamb is a cooking method where the meat is cooked at a low temperature over an extended period, allowing it to become tender and flavorful. In the video, Alison Roman discusses making a slow-roasted lamb dish cooked in white wine with potatoes, which is central to the holiday meal she is preparing. The process requires minimal attention, aligning with the video's theme of creating a delicious meal with little effort.

💡Holiday Meal

A holiday meal refers to a special meal prepared for a holiday or festive occasion. In the context of the video, Alison Roman is creating a holiday meal that is both elegant and easy to prepare, emphasizing the balance between simplicity and celebration that she aims to achieve with her cooking.

💡Chickpeas

Chickpeas are a type of legume that are a staple in many cuisines, particularly in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. In the video, they are prepared by being slow-cooked in the oven with chili, onion, and olive oil for 10 to 12 hours, resulting in a spicy, brothy dish that complements the slow-roasted lamb.

💡Dutch Oven

A Dutch oven is a type of heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid, commonly used for slow cooking methods like braising and baking. It is mentioned in the script as the cooking vessel for both the lamb and chickpeas, highlighting its versatility and importance in creating the dishes described.

💡Waxy Potatoes

Waxy potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, have a high starch content and low moisture, which gives them a firm and floury texture when cooked. In the video, they are cooked with the lamb, and the long cooking time in wine results in a unique texture that Alison Roman describes as 'remarkable.'

💡Braising

Braising is a cooking technique that involves cooking food slowly with a small amount of liquid in a covered pot. It is used in the video to describe the cooking process for both the lamb and the potatoes, emphasizing the method's ability to create tender and flavorful dishes.

💡Flavonoids

Flavonoids are a group of naturally occurring compounds found in plants that have antioxidant properties and contribute to the flavors of certain foods. In the context of the video, Alison Roman explains that the fat-soluble nature of flavonoids is why a thick layer of olive oil is used in the chickpea dish, as it helps to extract and enhance the flavors.

💡Aioli

Aioli is a Mediterranean sauce made from garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and sometimes egg yolk. It is mentioned as a potential accompaniment to the meal, showcasing the variety of flavors and textures that can be incorporated into a holiday meal.

💡Dandelion Greens

Dandelion greens are the leaves of the dandelion plant, known for their bitter taste and nutritional benefits. In the video, they are sautéed with garlic, anchovy, and lemon to create a side dish that complements the rich flavors of the lamb and chickpeas.

💡Calabrian Chiles

Calabrian chilies are a type of chili pepper from the Calabria region in Italy, known for their spicy and slightly smoky flavor. They are used in the video as a finishing touch for the chickpeas, adding a spicy kick to the dish and demonstrating how different ingredients can be incorporated to suit personal taste preferences.

💡Maker's Mark

Maker's Mark is a brand of small-batch bourbon whiskey, which is mentioned as a sponsor of the episode. The video includes a personalized bottle of Maker's Mark as a holiday gift idea, tying into the theme of the holiday meal and the spirit of giving during the festive season.

Highlights

Alison Roman introduces a holiday meal that is easy, elegant, and requires minimal effort.

The meal features a slow-roasted lamb cooked in white wine with potatoes and herbs.

The potatoes are compared to Greek lemony potatoes, offering a unique texture and flavor.

The lamb is cooked without searing, in a Dutch oven, with an entire bottle of wine, for 10 to 12 hours.

Chickpeas are cooked similarly to the lamb, in a pot with chili, olive oil, and onion for 10 to 12 hours.

The cooking process is described as low and slow, requiring no babysitting of the food.

Alison emphasizes the joy of cooking with minimal effort and letting the ingredients transform over time.

The Maker's Mark sponsorship is mentioned, highlighting their personalized bottle program for the holiday season.

A special bottle of Maker's Mark is revealed as a gift for Alison and her husband Max.

The importance of using Yukon Gold potatoes for their visual appeal and taste is discussed.

The dish's origin is revealed to be inspired by a meal Alison had in Greece.

The simplicity of the dish, with only a few ingredients, is emphasized to showcase the power of cooking with time and patience.

The role of acidity in wine to firm up starches in the dish is explained.

A side of sauteed dandelion greens with anchovy is prepared to complement the lamb.

A garlicky yogurt sauce is chosen as a side to accompany the meal.

The final dish is presented as an impressive, low-stress meal for holiday hosting.

Alison shares her personal journey to becoming a lamb lover and her love for this particular cooking method.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Passover (Alison's Version) | Home Movies with Alison Roman

Spicy, Tangy Grilled Ribs (plus a Grilled Zucchini Salad) | Home Movies with Alison Roman

Pantry Pasta | Home Movies with Alison Roman

My Favorite Matzo Ball Soup | Home Movies with Alison Roman

Alison's First Love Is a Hard Shell Taco | Home Movies with Alison Roman

A Home Movies Thanksgiving Special with Alison Roman