Lamb and Spinach Curry
I’m definitely on the mend. My physiotherapist (also known as prime torturer) suggested that I get a deep tissue massage for my shoulders and neck, but stay away from the occipital region or I could get massive headaches or dizziness. After reading her note for me to pass on, I kept putting it off. Willingly going to someone who could make you worse didn’t feel right.
I was talking with Bobbie from BAM’s Kitchen yesterday and she said I should just go for it with a positive attitude. While I was talking to her online, I was on the phone with the massage people and she said if I could get there in 30 minutes, they had an opening. Since the clinic is close enough to walk to, I was in. Scared… but in.
Not only was it good but I came home with no dizziness at all and even my tinnitus took a 4 hour vacation. I did something stupid last night so I’m not as good as I was but a couple more massages and other bone tweaking and I might be right back in the thick of food blogging. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried over missing out on so much – or cried due to frustration. I am SO grateful to see light at the end of the tunnel.
Once it’s in the oven, it looks after itself!
My darling friend Charlie from Hotly Spiced has made this wonderful Lamb and Spinach Curry for me. It looks so tasty and I think this would be perfect to serve to my sister, nieces and granddaughter in a couple of weeks. Here’s Charlie’s curry.
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I do love a meal that once in the oven, will look after itself. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction to know that I’m so organised, dinner is sorted two hours before anyone’s up at the table.
Sunday is my day for getting things in order for the week ahead. Last Sunday night I had eight people coming for dinner and knew that if I wanted to get on with my projects, I couldn’t spend the day in the kitchen. I needed to make something that wasn’t demanding on my time and so I made this lamb and spinach curry.
Marinade Ingredients
The inspiration for deciding to make a curry came from being at the fruit and vegetable store and seeing packets of fresh turmeric. You don’t see that very often and I keep reading about how good turmeric is for you and so have been trying to add a bit more to my diet. Be warned though, when you handle it, the colour will come out and your hands will be stained bright orange – but only for a day or so – no biggy.
Fresh Turmeric – if you can’t find it, dried will work just fine
If you’re super-organised and can plan ahead, you will buy the meat a day before and marinate it overnight. But I planned this meal on the day and allowed the meat four hours of marinating time which is good enough for a Sunday night family dinner.
Marinate overnight or if time starved, four hours will be fine
I ground up the spices in my spice grinder but if you don’t have one you can bash them in a mortar and pestle but you will need to be fully charged with elbow grease.
Serve with Basmati Rice
Once the curry is out of the oven, all you need to serve it with is some basmati rice. Now…basmati rice is very affordable and you can sometimes buy bags if it for around a dollar. However, I’ve become very fond of Tilda Basmati Rice that you pay a bit more for but trust me now, it’s worth it. The rice has an extra-long grain and when cooked is very fluffy and extremely aromatic.
Stir the spinach through just before serving.
You could also serve the curry with some Indian bread and it was my intention to make some however, those other projects ate into my schedule. And no one missed it; but if you do have the time, some home made Indian bread would compliment the curry beautifully.
If you don’t like heat you can pull back on the amount of chillies but why not take a walk on the wild side.
Great with some Indian bread if you have time to make it
Give this a go and I’m sure it will become a family favourite.
- 1 knob of ginger, peeled and grated
- 8 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
- 3 pieces of fresh turmeric, peeled and grated (about 1 tbs) or 1 tsp dried tumeric
- 1tsp ground black pepper
- 250g natural yoghurt
- 1kg (1lb) cubed lamb
- 1 cinnamon quill
- 1tbs coriander seeds
- 1tbs cumin seeds
- ¼ tsp cardamon seeds
- 4 cloves
- 1 tbs paprika
- 1 tbs dried chilli flakes
- 2tbs vegetable oil
- 4 red onions, peeled and finely chopped
- 4 roma tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 250g tin crushed tomatoes
- 1 can water (use tomato tin)
- 150g baby spinach leaves
- bunch coriander leaves, chopped
- bunch mint leaves, chopped
- thinly sliced birds eye chillies to garnish
- Place ginger, garlic, tumeric, pepper and yoghurt in a medium-sized non-reactive bowl and stir to combine. Add lamb and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for four hours.
- Heat a medium-sized frying pan over medium heat and add cinnamon, coriander, cumin, cardamon and cloves. When aromatic (about a minute later), remove from heat and place in a spice grinder and whizz until powdered. (Or use a mortar and pestle and a lot of elbow grease). Add paprika and chilli flakes.
- Preheat oven to 180C (375F).
- Heat oil in a large ovenproof dish over high heat. Add onions and cook until softened (about 10 minutes). Add spices and cook until fragrant, (about another minute).
- Add lamb mixture, tomatoes, tinned tomatoes, water and season with salt. Mix well.
- Place a tight fitting lid on the dish and place in the oven for 90 minutes. Remove from oven and remove lid. If it seems like there’s a lot of liquid, return to the oven for 30 minutes without the lid; if all looks good, keep the lid on and return to the oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and stir through the spinach and herbs keeping a few herbs aside to garnish.
- When plated, sprinkle with the herb and chilli garnishes.
- Serve with basmati rice and some Indian bread if desired.
Thank you so much to Charlie for making this wonderful curry for us. She’s such a terrific friend to so many bloggers. If you don’t know her, head on over to hotlyspiced.com. Make sure you go with a cup of coffee and a chair because you’ll have a great time reading her posts.
Hiya lovely Maureen… I’ve been wondering how you’re getting along… is the family visiting yet? Take care, get well and thanks Charlie for this delicious looking curry xxx
This does indeed sound like a perfect meal to serve friends dropping by. Maureen, hope you continue to mend.
I’m so glad you had a few moments of reprieve from your dizziness. I’m so glad you are happy with the curry recipe. Very happy to help and I’ll do so again and again whenever necessary. Sending heaps of love your way and I hope more of these techniques will add to a complete cure xx
It sounds like you’re getting there slowly but surely – wishing you a speedy recovery in time for your visitors. In the meantime, this curry looks and sounds delicious – my mouth was watering just reading the list of ingredients. A real winter warmer.
There is nothing better than a curry and this looks delicious! Love all the decadent spices you threw into this too! Beautiful!
I’m so glad to hear that you are on the mend Maureen! I have been thinking about you and can only imagine how frustrated you would have been! And Charlie’s dish looks wonderfully warm and comforting! 😀
I am coming here via Charlie. I am so thankful you have found some relief from your pain and dizziness and I pray your healing continues.
Ah, curry…I haven’t eaten it that often as it’s just not a common food here in rural Minnesota. But I do like it. This recipe sounds delicious.
Maureen I am so glad you are starting to feel better! And cooking an entire meal is such a great advancement. I am going to try this recipe because it just has to be special for you to have chosen it from that arsenal of ideas you keep. Please continue getting back to your peak. Sending good wishes to you and John!
So wonderful to read this post, and feel that you ARE getting better, that the light is shinning at the end of the tunnel…
I can imagine the frustration, the pain, the anxiety… You don’t deserve any of it!
Take care of yourself, and don’t do anything silly (well, follow my advice, not my modus operandi, ok?)
Many hugs going your way… now I can go back and read the recipe, I stopped to celebrate your recovery and did not read the rest of the post
Maureen, I’m ecstatic to learn of your reprieve from dizzy-ness even temporarily. What a blessing! Charlie’s lamb curry sounds wonderful, too — never saw fresh turmeric before! FYI, I suffer from tinnitus from time to time, primarily after eating DAIRY (who’da thunk?) and I noticed Charlie’s recipe contains none, except yoghurt… can you sub goats milk yogurt? Eat, experiment, enjoy! xoxo
So happy to see you Maureen…hugs my dear friend. The lamb curry looks delisational. Charlie doesn’t ever go wrong.
Maureen, I’m glad to hear that there’s hope of improvement with the massages. Please take as much time off as you need to. We’ll be here when you post again.
Thank you for the guest post, Charlie. The lamb and spinach curry looks amazing.
Maureen…so glad you wound up going to get that massage! I do hope you finally get better we miss your blogging!! And this guest post is fantastic Charlie! I bet it would be just as terrific with seitan instead of the lamb. YUM!
Glad you are on the mend……and nothing better to celebrate with than your Lamb and Spinach Curry. 🙂
oh it looks beautiful Maureen. So good to hear you are up & about….xx
Maureen – I am so so so very glad to hear you are doing better and the massage helped! I cannot wait for you to be back in full force!
And, Charlie – what a lovely, comforting dish this is! I love using fresh turmeric – but I cannot seem to find it through out the year.
Lovely to see you Maureen and so pleased you are on the mend – have been wondering how you were getting on. Take care and don’t overdo it:-) Thanks also to Charlie for this lovely dish – how wonderful to have fresh turmeric.
Glad the light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger! Hope you’re 100% before long. And Charlie, what a nice dish you’ve prepared for us! Love curry of any kind, and this looks terrific. I’m a fan of getting all of my kitchen stuff done long before the guests arrive, too. So nice of you to help Maureen out with this!
This sounds perfect for this cold weather, very kind of you Charlie to help Maureen out – I do hope you are on the improve xxx Jan x
Messages sound like a fabulous way to feel better. This colorful curry looks fabulous too.
Maureen,
Best of luck in your recovery- I love the recipe that Charlie has whipped up here but of course, I like all her recipes! One pot meals work great in my house.
Oh Charlie. You are just the best!! Between you and me, we can help Maureen keep her blog afloat! 🙂 This curry. I think I love you. Curry is my nemesis – I just don’t have many recipes!!! So thank you for this! I actually have some beef that this is perfect to use for this!
And Maureen, I am so glad you are on the mend!! N x
Maureen: was so glad to read this post and know that manipulation has a possibility to ameliorate the situation in your case. Some time back you quite correctly diagnosed the reasons for your problems: daresay you will have to ‘work’ permanently at it from both sides – avoiding the causes and attending the current situation at any time. The very long hours sitting behind a computer desk for work affect most: with me it is at the other end of the spine 🙂 !! All the very, very best . . . and Bobbi is very knowledgeable as a go-to friend!!
Oh Charlie, I love you ! I have to admit I am not a fan of curry, but to be fair, my only experience is with take out. These photos really make me wanna try real curry. Well done Maureen !
The best news ever and am sooooooooooooooooooooo glad you are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel Maureen! What a great recipe by Charlie and love your photos!
I’ve been thinking of you such a lot, Maureen, and am glad to know you are on the mend – even if it’s just slowly.
I love Charlie’s curry – what a great Sunday family dinner! I hope that someone is cooking for you while you are out of action.
So happy to hear things are improving Maureen. Wow, what a time you’ve had. I can’t know what you’ve been through but it’s had to be frustrating. Especially for a go getter like you.
This curry looks delicious and like it could cure just about anything that ails a soul! Yum!
I am SO glad to hear you found something to give you some relief—and hope the addional treatments will get you good as new. I’m sorry this has been going on so long. Thank goodness for wonderful friends like Charlie! She is a gem and so are you. xoxo
Glad to hear your on the mend Maureen! And if your making hearty and nourishing curries like this regularly – I’m sure you’ll be all healed.
So glad to hear you are on the mend. And not only on the mend up to making amazing looking curry!
I adore lamb curry, the long cooking is perfect for curry and for lamb.
This looks so delicious and I am super jealous of your fresh turmeric! I struggle to even get whole spices sometimes. (The joys of bush living!!!) I bet the flavour was amazing and like you say it is meant to be so good for you.
Your comment about yellow fingers made me laugh. When I was teaching I was doing some work with sulphuric acid and we created sulphur gas, which stained my fingers so yellow I looked like I must have smoked 100+ a day! Not too much of a big deal as it wears off eventually. My only issue was this was 4 days before my wedding!!! I had my fingers in lemon juice and all sorts trying to get rid of the yellow! Luckily come my wedding day it was only my nails that had any hint of yellow so I had them painted! All good in the end.
Can’t wait to try this curry and again so please you are on the up 🙂 xx
I’m so glad to hear that you are feeling better, I have missed your blogging very much 🙂 what a wonderful friend Charlie is! And this curry looks so delicious… Curries with spinach are some of my favourites! Liz xx
i”m so glad the massage helped you! I have a feeling you’ll be back in no time at all :).
Maureen, sorry to hear you are out of sorts, all the best with your recovery, may it be speedy and Charlie’s curry looks fantastic! I too love cooking my curries in the oven.
Have a wonderful day.
🙂 Mandy xo
My physiotherapist is also a prime torturer, but hey, no pain no gain right? :p
The curry looks fantastic! Love one dish meals like that, and perfect for the cold weather too 🙂
Doesn’t that look good!! In one of my groups we had a big yummy discussion about curry, so much so that I had to book a reservation at our favorite curry house for dinner tonight. Hopefully that will fix my craving!!
I’m so, so glad you’re feeling better, Maureen and I hope that trend continues for you! I can’t wait til you’re back full time! I’m loving this curry dish too. There’s something about the aroma of the food as it’s cooking that is as addictable as the dish itself.
Curry looks great and glad to hear you are on the mend. All the very best to you.
God this looks good, and I don’t even like lamb, but my husband adores it, and I have to cook it for him more often, he would love this dish, adding it to my must make for hubby recipes 🙂
I am so happy you’re on the mend! We have missed you – I know I have 🙂 Love a good curry and this looks great. Wonderful news on your happy return!!!
Maureen, I’m so happy that you got a little reprieve from your dizziness…hopefully each and every day you will get better and better. Charlie is indeed a good friend to you and her lamb curry sounds absolutely delicious.
“Light at the end of the tunnel” –these are always good words to hear
when you know someone has been suffering. I sincerely hope you are
getting better. And how I wish I could sit with you and Charlie and
gang to share this lovely curry. Makes me think I need to cook some
Indian food SOON!
Dear Maureen, I share your sadness and frustration. XO I’m so very, very glad that you were brave and tried something that ended up helping you. Wishing you continued healing and ever-increasing strength and energy. XO
I know you share the, “is it EVER going to end??” with me. I’m convinced I will get through. Like you, I will not give in to this. 🙂
Sooo happy to read you are on the mend, Maureen. Dealing with health issues is dizzy-making in its implications…Sending you prayers for even greater ease and speed in recovery =)
P.s. Charlie’s stew looks like a lovely stew of comfort <3
I am so glad you went for that massage; it sounds like it helped a lot! Hope it won’t be much longer before you feel 100% again.
I’ve been going through a bit of a transition myself (moving from the U.S. midwest all the way south). It has been difficult for me as well to keep up with blogging, but it’s happening.
This lamb and spinach by Charlie looks wonderful!
I too am glad you are seeing light at the end of the tunnel … hope is a healing balm. And Charlie really came through with this delicious and comforting recipe. Hugs all around!
I’ve been away from blog reading for far too long! I’m sorry to hear you haven’t been well but have been able to make this dish.. it looks like a true “comfort food” recipe. A little of that will go a long way to making you feel better! Get well soon!! xx
Hi Maureen, so glad you are starting to feel better, very nice of Charlie to present this wonderful meal.
I’m so glad you’re on the mend Maureen. Keep those massages up!
This curry looks delicious. I have all the ingredients but the lamb so might give it a go with some beef. I’m sure it would be just as good? Tomorrow’s dinner sorted!
What a gorgeous sounding curry – and so low maintenance too. Here’s to you being on the mend soon as well!
I love lamb and it doesn’t really get enough love and this curry certainly does do it justice! This looks super flavorful and seriously delicious! Nothing better than an easy and comforting meal that is still elegant! Cheers and thanks for sharing the yum!
P.s. hope the massages keep helping you feel better- quickly!
I am so glad that you can see light at the end of the tunnel Maureen, I look forward to seeing you back in the thick of it again. Keep well while you are on the road to full recovery 😀
I am so pleased you had a few hours relief from the pain, and even better that you are feeling a little better too.
Charlie is amazing, I love reading her posts, its always a delight when you get a story along with a great recipe. Although…. Haven’t had her visit my blog for a while now. 🙁
Anyways, excellent recipe, will have to prepare it for my Momma, she loves lamb.
Keep on getting better Maureen, sending you truck loads of healing energy. xo
My dearest Maureen…I am so glad the massage worked. You will need many more at least once a week now. I call my physical therapist the torture therapist… I swear she must work for the FBI or CIA I am waiting for her to start removing digits… LOL Stay positive and pay attention to your daily activities and pace yourself… I know that is hard to do…but important for recovery. Stay strong!! Now lets get on to this delicious lamb and spinach curry so flavourful and fresh turmeric is delicious. I bought a lot an freeze the extra much like you do ginger if you can’t use it in a certain time frame. Pinning!!!
Way to go Charlie on an awesome dish… I know this would be perfect on those chilly days. I heard spring is around the corner…
I’m so glad to hear that you’re doing better, Maureen! And, not to mention, this curry looks so great!
Best Wishes,
Kennedy Cole
Maureen, so glad you are feeling better and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Hope you are fully recovered when your sister and other family members come to visit.
Charlie, your curry sounds real yummy, I will not be taking a walk on the wild side I am a wimp and will cut back on the chillies. Agree with you on the basmati rice, the better quality ones are definitely worth the extra money.
Maureen, I’m so glad to hear you’re on the mend!! It sounds like quite an ordeal you’ve been going through. It’s great that the massage did some good.
Your curry looks so flavorful and delicious!! I bet the freshly-ground tumeric adds so much–worth the orange hands for a day 😉
Made this last night but with beef and it was delicious!
What a wonderful recipe! This sounds delicious, although we are still “surviving” summer heat and may need to wait just a little bit longer before I prepare. 🙂 I am so glad to find your blog, Maureen. Charlie is very good at introductions! 🙂
So glad to hear that things are taking a turn for the better! This dish sounds tasty!
Happy to know you are feeling a lot better now, Maureen. Wishing you good health…Love the curry dish, spicy which is right up our alley 🙂
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Maureen I’m SO glad to hear you’re on the mend…I can’t even imagine what it’s been like! And this curry looks amazing…perfect comfort food 🙂
Great post from Charlie and this curry sounds great.
So pleased the massage helped somewhat Maureen, hang in there and be kind and gentle with your self – I find we are our own harshest critic sometimes. Jan x
I came back to get this recipe as I want to make a container of this to pass onto a friend who is sick and when I read it again I noticed it was a guest post. Don’t know how I missed that the first time!!! Popping over to Charlie’s site to say “Yum”
Glad you are starting to feel better Maureen 🙂 x
So glad to hear you are starting to feel better Maureen, sending you lots of positive vibes and big hugs! Speaking of hugs – this beautiful curry looks like it has the potential to be a big warm hug in its own way. How delicious!!
This looks so good, Maureen – we’ve been enjoying some veggie curries this summer & now I have a new one to try! thanks a bunch!
We had some Indian curry last night and this gives me vivid memories of what we had. Amazing dish
I am just so happy you’re on the mend, I’ve been thinking about a massage too, I just love them! I adore Charlie’s curries and this one sounds and looks amazing, how nice that she made it for you. I hope your visits are going well and that you’ll be feeling 100% before you know it.
I am so curious about the taste of this.. never had a lamb curry .. must be really delicious.
You know I saw Bobby Flay making a lamb dish the other day and my husband and I mentioned that we haven’t tried it. You made this look so good that I think maybe trying lamb would be a good thing!
This looks so tasty. I love curries, lamb or otherwise. I have never cooked lamb, though. We don’t eat it as much in the U.S. as other places, I think. I think it’s really time for me to try to prepare it myself.
I am so glad to hear you are doing better. I hope you are fully recovered soon.
This looks delicious. I am so glad to hear that you are getting some relief Maureen, I hope that you are back to full strength soon!
I’m glad to hear that you are feeling better!
The fresh turmeric must be one of the best natural pain relievers you can get, Maureen.
Stay strong and eat lots if curry, you’ll soon be back to normal.
Dave
Maureen, I’ve been really worried about you. I’m glad that you’re finding some relief.
Curry is one of my favorite dishes + I love lamb and spinach. So this is pretty much a perfect dish for me.
glad to hear you are on the mend maureen. i have menieres so i suffer from dizziness, nausea and tinnitus all the time. not fun:( (but i may have told you that before). nice of charlie to share her curry with us!
So glad to hear you are doing better Maureen! I hope you continue to find relief.
This recipe looks divinely delicious….especially during the winter. I am definitely going to try this recipe tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!!
Just popped over from Hotly Spiced to have a look at this yummy curry – could be on the menu for dinner this week.
That’s great news Maureen..so happy to hear that you are on the mend. The curry looks delicious and just so perfect for our weather.
Good advice from Bobbi to go for it! Glad it helped. Hope you have another one scheduled soon and that it helps you in the long term so you can living life like you want. Charlie is such a sweetheart for dishing up this fabulous curry. Damn…look at all those spices! This would be one of those meals where the flavors would explode in the mouth and keep going and going and going.
You had me at curry and I love that you made your own and not from a tin!
Maureen, this post sounds quite promising, but I quite concerned that it’s two weeks later without an update????
So sending you positive good vibrations, darlin’.
This curry looks so good that I am thinking a daily dose of this might solve all your problems. Ha!
This looks fabulous, but I hope you are on the mend, Maureen. You are missed, but please take all the time you need to get better!
Looks delicious, Maureen. I love lamb!
What a great guest post! The curry looks so delicious. I love the yogurt marinade – must make the meat really tender. I Thanks for the great recipe and I hope you feel better soon!
Hi Maureen – I’ve missed you on social media and IMK so I thought I’d pop over and check in to say hi. As I commented on an update you did on Facebook, my Mum has been struck with a similar condition in the past so I know how debilitating it can be. My goodness but that curry looks good! Spring is on the way so glad you could make it whilst the weather is still cool enough. Cheers Fiona xxx
Maureen, I’m so glad you’re feeling better. Your recipe looks delicious and all those added spices would definitely be helpful in clearing one’s sinuses. I have never seen fresh turmeric before, it looks more like pieces of ginger to me. Carry on!
You’ll be fine soon dear, I know it, I’ve missed you a lot and missed your posts. I’ve never seen fresh Turmeric before.. looks lovely.
This seems like a dish I have to try, I love meals that you do not have to babysit :).
maureen I’m so sorry you’re still suffering from the vertigo and headaches. Is there anyway the headaches could be food related? Are you doing the head exercises to get the particles displaced in your ear back to where they should be so the dizziness stops? Ugh I’ve had it before for 3 weeks and know how it feels but not this long. I can’t even imagine the toll it’s taking on you.
I do hope you’re feeling better very soon!!!
This is such a pain-reliever recipe! A joyful one! A heart-warming, soul-soothing one!
Please ask Charlie to move to Texas and be my nextdoor neighbor 🙂
Happy to know that you felt good after the massage and came back home with a good feeling. May God continue to make all the hardships easy on you, dear Maureen.
About the curry, yes we Bengalis inherited a similar recipe … but it is without spinach. SPINACH sounds extra yum!
Curry and deep tissue massage. My kind of restorative. GREG
Maureen, I’m so glad you’re on the mend. I am a firm believer in the benefits of massage and get one every two weeks. I’ve been going to the same massage therapist since forever, and I highly recommend that you find one who really “works” for you and get on a regular schedule. If I could, I’d go every week.
So glad to hear that you are on the mend, Maureen! Continue to be well (and fabulous curry, too!).
Hugs to you Maureen. Hope you are on the way to feeling much much better. Take it easy and yes, massages are a good thing.
I’m loving this curry, well, I love any curry. This looks amazing.
Take care.
xoxo
This is just so beautiful and comforting ! You really make me wanna get my curry game together!
I’m so glad to hear that you’re doing better, Maureen! I’ve been off since a month and I’m happy to learn that everything is better now! I send you a lot of positives vibrations for go even better!!
Great post from Charlie and this curry sounds terrific!
Take care x
Oh I’m so pleased you are feeling a bit better. It so horrible to be less than 100%, definitely makes you value your health. Love this recipe, how great of Charlie to share 🙂
Stay on the mend.
Julie
I don’t eat enough curries in my life. I’m slowly changing this. Will keep this one on hand!