Mesopotamian Lamb and Date Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-19 · Updated 2026-04-19

A slow-simmered stew featuring tender lamb, sweet dates, and aromatic spices, evoking ancient Mesopotamian cooking traditions. This Middle Eastern-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 145 minutes, pairs lamb shoulder, dates, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs lamb shoulder
• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1 large finely diced onion
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add 1.5 lbs diced lamb shoulder and sear for 5 minutes until browned on all sides.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large diced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pot, stirring for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in 3 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen flavor.
3. Step 3: Add 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Pour in 2 cups chicken broth, add 1 cup pitted dates, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and reduce heat to low.
5. Step 5: Simmer uncovered for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until lamb is fork-tender and dates are soft.
6. Step 6: Stir in 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro just before serving.