The good news is this delicious Chocolate Lamb Stew recipe is keto, nut-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free and egg-free. With some substitutions, it can also be gluten-free.
Chocolate Lamb Stew typically consists of lamb meat, vegetables, and various spices. Adding chocolate and wine to the mix produces a unique aroma and gorgeous flavor. The chocolate doesn’t make the stew taste sweet like a dessert; it acts as a flavor enhancer and so complements it, giving it earthy notes. We know adding chocolate to a stew seems strange; but honestly, you won’t be able to get enough once you try it!
Lamb stew is quick to prepare and perfect for dinner parties and all types of special occasions, but especially Christmas and New Year. The combination of chocolate, wine, and spices cooks slowly to create an authentic Christmasy atmosphere. We think the lamb stew is very indulgent, incredibly tasty, irresistibly enjoyable, and often leaves you wanting seconds.
What’s To Love?
💕 Chocolate is a swish ingredient in savory dishes, it adds depth and richness.
💕 It’s the perfect treat to satisfy your savory tooth.
💕 It offers a deep, satisfying taste that chocolate savory lovers adore.
💕 No fancy kitchen equipment is needed other than a slow cooker.
Have you already tried the Chocolate Lamb Stew? If so, let us know how it was…we can’t wait to hear all about it!
Let’s Talk Ingredients
We feel every ingredient adds to this stew’s overall taste and texture; if you remove one, it’s like you’ve removed them all.
- Lamb — the best cuts for stewing are shoulder, leg, or neck fillet. We use a neck fillet because it has the right amount of fat. It is best bought already diced.
- Pancetta — use smoked to add a smokey flavor.
- Onion — use red onions because it adds natural sweetness to the stew.
- Carrots — use medium to large carrots work best.
- Red Wine — use plummy red wine like grenache, tempranillo, rioja, or merlot – it’s an essential ingredient for that extra flare!
- Spices / Herbs — use bay leaves, they unlock pleasant aromas; smokey paprika gives the stew an aromatic taste and a deep red color; mild chili powder adds a touch of spice without adding heat.
- Chili — use fresh green chili because it won’t overpower the stew.
- Chocolate — we use 70% dark chocolate. Other good-quality brands are Lindt, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Valrhona or Callebaut. Chocolate in stews produces beautiful flavors that you don’t want to miss.
- Tomato Puree — added to provide a natural deep red color to the stew.
- Stock — we prefer using lamb stock; it works great and adds extra depth of flavor.
- Salt — use Himalayan salt; it brings out the flavor and offsets any sweetness.
- Flour — use all-purpose flour to dredge the lamb and thicken the gravy.
- Oil — use rice bran oil because it withstands high temperatures.
For more detailed ingredients, see the recipe card.
Customizations
Here are some foodie alternatives should you want to make some changes:
- Lamb — a great alternative is chuck beef.
- Pancetta — a great alternative is a smokey bacon, which will need dicing.
- Wine — use red wine stock pot instead of buying a bottle of wine.
- Onion — white onions are the preferable alternative.
- Stock — a good quality beef stock is a great alternative.
- Flour — use cornflour to make it gluten-free.
When substituting ingredients, it’s essential to remember that the stew’s taste, texture, and overall result might differ, particularly if you’re substituting many ingredients.
If you have made the Chocolate Lamb Stew with any customizations, we’d love to hear about it; please message us in the comments.
Instructions – Overview
Our chocolate lamb stew isn’t overly complicated. The hardest part of the preparation is finding your slow cooker (aka crockpot) and getting everything out of the fridge. Here’s a breakdown of how to get started on your baking journey (more detailed instructions are in the recipe card):
▶︎ Set your slow cooker to auto or low. Then, chop or slice the onions, carrots, and green chili. Set aside.
▶︎ Combine the flour and salt in a bowl. Dredge the lamb chunks in the flour mixture until evenly coated. Next, heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Brown the lamb chunks in batches, then add straight to the slow cooker.
▶︎ Add the pancetta, onion, green chili, chili powder, carrots, chocolate, tomato puree, wine, bay leaves, paprika, and stock. Combine well, then cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook for at least 6 hours.
NOTE: An alternative is to place the coated lamb straight into the slow cooker without browning it; we have had great success using this method. If you have a slow cooker that sears, then brown your meat in the slow cooker pot before slow cooking.
For more detailed instructions, notes, and ideas…see the recipe card.
Tools You’ll Need
Want to make the best Chocolate Lamb Stew? Using the correct equipment for preparation is essential; we think they’re a big helping hand. We understand that you might already have some of these kitchen tools to make this recipe, or you might want to use other tools and may not require our recommendations. Here are some of our suggestions to get you started:
- Slow Cooker
- Frying Pan— is used for searing and sealing the lamb.
- Chopping Board
- Weighing Scales and Measuring Spoons — to accurately measure the ingredients.
- Silicone Spatula— is a tool great for stirring the stew.
- Vegetable Peeler— to peel the carrots.
If you love the gadgets used in this recipe, you’ll love this multi-slow cooker. It’s our go-to for many of our meats, one-post, and soup recipes, and we think every budding chef needs it.
Let the 8 Portions, 8L Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker cook your meals to perfection while you get on with your day; it makes casseroles, curries, chili, soups, roasts, desserts, and more. It’s an 8-in-1 with a removable non-stick pot, steaming rack, integrated spoon & glass lid. It features slow cooking, sears, braises, steam, and more. You can gently simmer at low temps or dial up the heat to sizzle and steam.
Check out our favorite kitchen equipment that we love to use with all our recipes.
Storing
See our FAQs for detailed instructions on storing, refrigeration, freezing, and defrosting and for answers to readers’ questions.
Do you have a question? If so, let us know in the comments and we’ll reply within 24-48 hours and add your question to our FAQs if relevant.
Pairing
Chocolate Lamb Stew is frequently eaten as a standalone one-pot main meal, but can easily be paired. Here are some suggestions and our favorite go-to’s what to eat with it:
▶︎ Our ultimate go-to suggestion is to serve the Chocolate Lamb Stew with cooked vegetables, potatoes, and chunky bread to soak up the leftover gravy.
▶︎ Chocolate Lamb Stew pairs wonderfully with crusty bread or Irish soda bread for soaking up the delicious gravy. If you want to keep the stew low-carb, try our keto bread loaf; it’s perfect for mopping up excess sauce on your plate.
▶︎ Colcannon is fabulous to pair alongside any stew. It is an Irish dish made with mashed potatoes, cabbage or kale, and butter. Its creamy texture and subtle flavor make it a perfect side dish to serve alongside Chocolate Lamb Stew, adding a touch of Irish tradition to your meal.
▶︎ Since Chocolate Lamb Stew already contains red wine, consider serving it with a glass of the same wine used in the recipe. Opt for a robust red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. The bold flavors of the wine pair well with the richness of the stew.
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Thank you for checking out Chocolate Lamb Stew!
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⭐️ Quick Tip: Read the recipe in its entirety before you start. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand. Voila…you’re all set to go!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 900 grams Diced Lamb
- 100 grams Pancetta
- 300 ml Lamb Stock
- 300 ml Red Wine
- 1 Red Onion
- 2 tbsp Rice Bran Oil
- 30 grams All-Purpose Flour - or cornflour
- 2 Carrots
- 1 Green Chili
- 3 Bay Leaves
- 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/8 tsp Chili Powder - preferably mild
- 20 grams 70% Dark Chocolate
- 1 tbsp Tomato Puree
- 1 pinch Himalayan Salt
Instructions
Preparation:
- Set your slow cooker to auto or low.
- Chop or slice the onions. Set aside.
- Remove carrot skin and slice into large chunks. Set aside.
- Deseed and slice the chili. Set aside.
- In a bowl, combine the flour and salt. Dredge the lamb chunks in the flour mixture until evenly coated.
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Brown the lamb chunks in batches, then add straight to the slow cooker.
Note: Alternatively, place the coated lamb straight into the slow cooker without browning it; we have had great success using this method. If you have a slow cooker that sears, then brown your meat in the slow cooker pot before slow cooking.
Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 150°C, 300°F, Gas 2. Cover and cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours until the lamb is tender.
Slow Cooking:
- Add the pancetta, onion, green chili, chili powder, carrots, chocolate, tomato puree, wine, bay leaves, paprika, and stock. Combine well.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook for at least 6 hours.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use plummy red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot – it’s an essential ingredient for that extra flare!
- Use lamb shoulder, leg, or neck fillet. These cuts have some fat marbling and are hard-working muscles that will become tender during slow cooking.
- For best results, start slow cooking in the morning so that the stew is ready for dinner after a long day at work. If you’re short on time in the morning, you can prepare the stew the night before and refrigerate it overnight.
- Refrigerating will allow the flavors to marinate and make it easy to place the pot in the slow cooker in the morning. Switch it on and let it work its magic.
- Allow the stew to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to settle and meld together, resulting in a more cohesive and delicious dish.
- Browning is optional. For convenience, place the coated lamb straight into the slow cooker. We have found no difference in taste and texture.
- Lamb: A great alternative is chuck beef.
- Pancetta: A great alternative is a smokey bacon, which will need dicing.
- Flour: Use cornflour to make it gluten-free.
Feel free to swap any ingredient listed with whatever you have lying around. It will probably taste just as amazing! Please let us know how it was…we can’t wait to hear all about it!
See our FAQs below for detailed instructions on storing, refrigerating, freezing, defrosting, and answering readers’ questions.
⭐️ Please note that some of our posts may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, and any sales made through such links will reward us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. [Read More]
FAQ’s & Troubleshooting
By addressing these FAQs and troubleshooting tips, you can overcome common challenges and create a delicious batch of Chocolate Lamb Stew every time.
Your Questions Matter
Do you have a question? If so, let us know in the comments and we’ll reply within 24-48 hours and add your question to our FAQs if relevant. If you don’t already follow us, head over to our Twitter or Facebook to keep up to date with all our new recipes and articles.
For food safety top tips, check out USDA.gov.
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Sharon – Foodie Blogger
I’m a full-time food blogger, mother of 3 grown adults and 3 huskies. Most days you can find me in the kitchen creating new recipes, I love cooking indulgent bakes and love sharing them. I am lucky to connect with and inspire people from all around the world and help you on your cooking journey so you can eat in style!
