Project HealthKick: Spiced Lamb with Broccolini

I've been *ahem* stacking on the kilos lately, and I blame the lack of Zumbo cake for messing up my metabolism. I just can't win...

So, to compensate, I dug out the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet book to find a recipe that is deemed to be 'healthy'. I tried some of the recipes a few years ago when the book first came out, though personally, I'm not sure about the diet as such, given the large amount of red meat in the weekly meal plans. But I will try to cut down on the fats and sugars I eat, and the recipes in the book are a good starting point for meal ideas.

Let's see how long this lasts...

This first effort was Spiced Lamb Fillets with Broccolini. I used some amazingly good (and expensive) lamb backstraps and they turned out beautifully tender. And I loved the sweetness of the raisins in the accompanying jammy onion mixture.

Spiced Lamb Fillet with Broccolini
Serves 2

Ingredients
· 1 clove garlic, crushed
· 1 tbsp olive oil
· 400 g lamb fillets (try and keep the fillets whole)
· 1 brown onion, sliced
· 1 tbsp tomato paste
· ¼ cup (60ml) red wine vinegar
· ¼ cup raisins or sultanas
· ¼ cup shredded mint
· ½ tsp paprika
· 2 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted
· 1 tbsp lemon juice
· 1 bunch broccolini
· 2 tbsp tzatziki, to serve

Method
1. Place garlic and oil in a bowl. Add lamb and toss to coat thoroughly.
2, Heat a large frying pan over high heat. Brown lamb in batches, about 1-2 minutes each side, then remove from pan and set aside.
3. Add onion to pan and cook for 5 minutes, or until soft.
4. Stir through tomato paste, vinegar, raisins, mint, paprika, pine nuts and lemon juice and cook for 2-3 minutes. Return meat to pan to heat through.
5. Meanwhile, microwave the broccolini for 1 ½ minutes on high.
6. Top the lamb with onion mixture and a dollop of tzatziki. Serve the broccolini alongside.

Recipe adapted from the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet