1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and cook until fragrant and starting to sizzle, 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and dark brown, about 20 minutes. Add lamb, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has evaporated, 10 to 15 minutes. Add garam masala and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes more. Add salt, coriander, cayenne, and turmeric and cook for 2 minutes more; stir in tomato and reduce heat to low. Place Anaheim pepper in center of meat mixture; cover and simmer until tomato dissolves, about 10 minutes. Stir in peas and cook, uncovered, until peas are cooked through but still bright green, 5 minutes. Remove from heat and drain any remaining fat from pan; discard Anaheim pepper. Allow meat filling to cool completely.

2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together flour and 1 to 2 teaspoons water to create a paste; set aside. Fold and fill the wonton wrappers to form the samosas (see “How to Fold Samosas,” below).

3. Place a wok or medium, high-sided pot fitted with a candy thermometer over medium-high heat; add about 3 inches of oil and bring to 350°F. Carefully place half of samosas in the hot oil, making sure not to crowd the pan, and fry, flipping once, until crispy and dark golden brown, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer samosas to a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining samosas. Transfer to a platter. Garnish with lemon zest, if using, and serve hot with Cilantro-Mint Chutney and Raita.

   

How to Fold Samosas

1. Place half a wonton wrapper on a flat surface. Fold top right-hand corner down and over to form a triangle.

   

2. Bring top lefthand corner of wrapper down to bottom right corner to create a pocket.

   

3. Using your thumb to keep the folds in place, carefully spoon about 1½ tablespoons of filling into the wonton pocket, taking care not to rip the wrapper.

   

4. Dip a pastry brush in reserved flour paste and lightly brush flap of the open pocket to prepare it for sealing.

   

5. Fold prepared edge over, pressing down to seal pocket and form a triangle-shaped samosa. Repeat with the remaining wrappers.

   

Cliantro-Mint Chutney

1. In a blender, combine 1 cup each cilantro and mint leaves (about 6 ounces of each); 2 serrano peppers, seeds and stems removed, finely chopped; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic; 1 tablespoon toasted cumin seeds; ¾ tablespoon salt; and ½ cup water. Process on high speed until a thick sauce forms (you should be able to spoon it onto a plate), adding more water, a tablespoon at a time, as needed, to reach desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt, if needed. Store refrigerated for up to 3 days; garnish with a pinch of lemon zest, if desired, before serving. Makes about 1 cup.

Raita

1. In a blender, combine 1 quart whole-milk yogurt; 1 finely chopped medium red onion (about 1 cup); 1 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves, plus a few stems; ½ cup finely chopped mint leaves; ¼ cup fresh lemon juice; 1 tablespoon ground coriander; and 1 teaspoon salt. Process on high speed until sauce is smooth and creamy. Store refrigerated for up to a week. Makes about 1½ quarts.

1. Approximately 8 hours before you plan to serve the lamb, prepare brine: In a large stockpot over medium heat, bring 2 quarts water, sugar, salt, lemon juice, spent lemon quarters, peppercorns, fennel seeds, and bay leaves to a simmer, stirring until sugar and salt dissolve. Place pot in the refrigerator to cool.

   

2. Meanwhile, carefully trim excess fat from lamb, making sure the meat stays in one piece. Submerge the meat in the cooled brine and return to the refrigerator for at least 4 hours but no more than 6.

3. Remove lamb from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet; let any additional liquid drain and allow meat to return to room temperature, about 1 hour.

4. Meanwhile, make the gremolata: In a food processor, pulse together parsley, oil, rosemary, shallots, and lemon zest until combined but still coarse in texture.

5. Preheat oven to 425°F. Meanwhile, place lamb on a cutting board with the side that was on the bone facing up (it will have a more irregular surface). Season lamb with pepper, then rub with two-thirds of the gremolata. Fold meat in half, enclosing gremolata, then rub remaining gremolata on the outside. Using butcher’s twine, tie lamb in three places to secure it in a log shape, then place it in a roasting pan and cook for 35 to 40 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of meat reads 130°F for rare or 135°F for medium-rare. Transfer lamb to a clean cutting board and allow to rest for 15 minutes.

6. Remove twine and cut meat into ¼-inch-thick slices; transfer to a platter, garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve warm with preserved lemon wedges on the side.

   

1. Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add cumin seeds and toast until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until tender and lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Add squash and reduce heat to medium; cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent squash from sticking. Stir in coconut, ¼ cup water, coriander, and nigella; if mixture is too dry, add up to another ¼ cup water, a tablespoon at a time. Add cinnamon stick and bay leaves, then reduce heat to a simmer and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until squash is just tender, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt.

1. In a large bowl, combine kale, parsley, feta, and walnuts. In a small jar, combine oil, shallot, lemon juice, za’atar, coriander, allspice, and cumin; shake well to emulsify. Add a few tablespoons of dressing to salad and mix well with your hands; continue to add dressing and toss until desired flavor has been achieved. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, generously butter bottom and sides of a 9-inch-round springform pan. In a small bowl, mix sour cream with baking soda. In a medium bowl, sift flour and salt together. Set aside prepared pan and both bowls.

2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, cream remaining butter and granulated sugar until pale yellow and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to medium and add almond paste, a little at a time, as you continue beating mixture for 8 minutes more. Add egg yolks, one at a time, and continue beating until incorporated. (Batter will look curdled.) Add almond extract and reserved sour cream mixture and continue beating until incorporated. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add reserved flour mixture, beating just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread to evenly distribute.

3. Bake until top of cake is golden brown and returns to its original shape when pressed, and edge separates from side of pan, about 1 hour. Remove cake from pan and allow to cool on a wire rack. Right before serving, dust top with confectioners’ sugar. Serve with Brandied Cherries or your favorite fruit jam.

Brandied Cherries

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring ½ cup water, sugar, lemon juice, cardamom pods, cloves, allspice, cinnamon stick, and vanilla bean to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until slightly reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat. Stir in brandy and cherries.

2. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cherries to jar. Pour liquid over fruit to cover and screw on lid. Place jar in refrigerator and allow cherries to marinate for 6 weeks before using.