In the Muslim quarter of Xian, the capital of China’s Shaanxi province, you find wonderful dishes fragrant with cinnamon and cumin, like this stir-fried minced lamb. Add as much chilli as you like, but err on the sparing side with the cinnamon.
Ingredients
Method
Main
1.Dry-roast cumin and fennel seeds in a small frying pan until fragrant (1-2 minutes), then crush with a mortar and pestle and set aside.
2.Cook lamb with cinnamon in a frying pan until fat has rendered and lamb is starting to brown (8-10 minutes). Remove lamb with a slotted spoon and set aside. Remove fat from pan and return 2 tbsp to pan, add onion and fry over high heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and starting to caramelise (5-6 minutes). Stir in garlic, then add chilli flakes, soy sauce, vinegar and dry-roasted cumin and fennel seeds, stir to combine, then return lamb to pan and stir until well combined (1-2 minutes). Serve on rice topped with chilli oil, pickled garlic and coriander.
