Nitrate & Nitrite Free Maple & Apple Cider Lamb Stew
Warm, deeply savory, and built around ingredients you can actually trust, this lamb stew is the kind of one-pot meal that makes a cold evening feel like a gift. Lamb shoulder gets a long, slow braise in bone broth spiked with apple cider vinegar and pure maple syrup, creating a broth that's tangy, lightly sweet, and impossibly rich without a single processed shortcut. Carrots, parsnips, and sweet potato soak up every bit of that flavor as they simmer down to fork-tender perfection alongside the shredding lamb. Fresh ginger, turmeric, and Ceylon cinnamon layer in warmth and complexity that feels almost exotic for a stew, yet the whole thing comes together in a single Dutch oven. For anyone navigating nitrate and nitrite concerns, this recipe sidesteps the usual problem entirely — there are no cured meats, no packaged broths with questionable additives, and no processed seasonings hiding anything unwanted. Every ingredient is whole, identifiable, and clean. Finish each bowl with a handful of fresh parsley and you've got a showstopper that's as nourishing as it looks.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the stew
- 2 lb boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1 ½-inch cubes
- 1 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 3 cups bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
- 2 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 medium parsnips, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Pat the lamb cubes dry with paper towels and season all over with 1 tsp fine sea salt.
- 2
Heat the coconut oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in two batches to avoid crowding, add the lamb in a single layer and sear undisturbed for 3–4 minutes per side, until deeply browned on at least two sides. Transfer the seared lamb to a plate and set aside.
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