Fargo from my bedroom window: Lamb Vindaloo

I didn't expect many gems in Fargo—after all, North Dakota has it's reputation as the end of the world to uphold. But...there were a few surprises.

  • Bob found the best garlic naan ever at Hornbacher's Grocery Store.
  • The White Stripes (arguably the coolest band ever) is scheduled to release a new DVD, "Under Moorhead Lights All Fargo Night" set at Ralph's Corner Bar in Moorhead MN.
  • There's a thriving community of Ethiopians in Fargo.
  • I got a smashing pedicure for $20 from a young Asian man.
  • I couldn't find big bottles of sparkling water, unadulterated pork tenderloin, eggplant, or shiritaki noodles.
  • The High Plains Reader is full of intelligent articles written by local journalists.
  • The wind never stops blowing.
  • Frances Dormand nailed the North Dakota accent.
  • Parts of downtown Fargo were under water the entire month we were there.
  • Fargo streets, highways, and sidewalks are full of trash—plastic bags, empty bottles & cans, papers.
  • A ten foot bank of snow takes about 10 days to melt when the temperature is above 40.
  • Fargo's CableOne service offers few television options: one baseball channel, no Showtime, one ESPN, no On Demand, eight shopping channels, seven church channels, and seven of the most graphic "Adult" channels imaginable. Strange combination, no?
I'm back home in Tacoma now and the weather is about the same—rainy, windy, and not very nice. Maybe there won't be spring this year. But, coming back into Seattle from North Dakota by air is coming back into the light and the color. North Dakota could be the moon—grey brown everywhere, potholes like craters, and that wind. There wasn't a single splash of color in and around Fargo, here the spring green of the trees has gone from a smudge to a solid leaf, bright pink shoots cover the Japanese pieris, the grape hyacinths spread purple through the spring gardens, and the early rhodies are bursting with red, bright pink, and white.

Ginny and I are going to Fred Meyer's in University Place to buy annuals for the 501 courtyard bins on Friday. This year I'm going for color—red, blue, yellow, and white with a few nasturtiums thrown in for good measure. Everyone loves the common ones—petunias, geraniums, verbena, etc—so who am I to insist on the rare, the unusual, the arty. Pictures to follow.

Had the best lamb vindaloo from Trader Joe's last night. I'm not sure this steppy version is any better.

Lamb Vindaloo

  • 2 lb lamb, cubed
Marinade:
  • 2 tablespoon coriander seed
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seed
  • 2 teaspoons cardamon seed
  • 2 teaspoons mustard seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves 
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne and/or 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes or 1 whole dried red chili (may be too hot for you)
  • 2 teaspoons turmeric
  • 2 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 10 crushed garlic cloves
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 2 lb tomatoes, crushed
  • 1/2 cup wine vinegar
  • 2 medium onions
  • 2 medium potatoes
Toast the coriander, cumin, cardamom seed, mustard seeds and peppercorns over medium low heat for a minute or so, stirring constantly. Grind spices together and combine them into a paste with the ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and vinegar. Add the lamb to the marinade and mix well. Refrigerate for 24 hours.

Saute onions in oil or ghee until soft and golden. Add lamb pieces with marinade, simmer until lamb is tender. Thin mixture with water or chicken stock if it is too thick.

Saute diced potatoes for 5 minutes and set aside.

When lamb is tender add partially cooked potatoes and simmer for ten minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Garnish with yogurt and chopped cilantro. Serve with basmati rice.

Japanese pieris



Dwarf rhodie and heather



Grape hyacinth



Old Rhodies

Posted by Marla Nichols at 4/29/2011 7:17 AM
Categories: Lamb, India, Entrees, Stew
Tags: Fargo Moorhead MN High Plains Reader Frances Dormand North Dakota CableOne Lamb Vindaloo Trader Joes Fred Meyer
 

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