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Real-deal Xinjiang cumin lamb recipe that yields crispy juicy lamb pieces coated with a bold cumin chili spice mix, stir fried with onion, garlic and cilantro. It’s a dish you can easily make at home, and it tastes just like what you’d get in China. {Gluten free adaptable}

Real-Deal Xinjiang Cumin Lamb (孜然羊肉)

4.92 from 37 votes
Real-deal Xinjiang cumin lamb recipe that yields crispy juicy lamb pieces coated with a bold cumin chili spice mix, stir fried with onion, garlic and cilantro. It’s a dish you can easily make at home, and it tastes just like what you’d get in China. {Gluten free adaptable}
To make this dish gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce, and use dry sherry instead of Shaoxing wine.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: restaurant-style
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Maggie Zhu

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (450g) lamb leg , cut to 3/2-inch (1.5-cm) cubes
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch

Spice mix

Stir fry

  • 4 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 1/2 cup dried Chinese chili peppers
  • 1 small white onion , large diced
  • 1 thumb ginger , minced
  • 5 cloves garlic , sliced
  • 1 cup cilantro , chopped
  • Toasted sesame seeds for garnish (Optional)

Instructions

  • Combine lamb, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and salt in a big bowl. Mix well. Let marinate for 20 minutes at room temperature, or in the fridge up to overnight.
  • Combine the ingredients for the spice mix in a small bowl.
  • When you’re ready to cook, drain the extra liquid from the bowl of lamb. Add the cornstarch, a few tablespoons at a time, and mix, until all the lamb pieces are coated.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the lamb pieces and spread them out with a pair of tongs or chopsticks, so they don’t overlap. Let cook without touching until the bottom side turns golden, 1 minute or so. Flip the lamb and cook the other side until slightly golden, while the inside is still a bit pink, 30 to 40 seconds. Transfer the lamb to a big plate.
  • Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the dried Chinese chili peppers, ginger, and garlic. Stir a few times to release the fragrance. Add the onion. Stir and cook for about 1 minute, until the onion just starts to turn tender. Add back the lamb and sprinkle the spice mix all over. Stir immediately to coat the lamb with spice. Remove the pan from the stove and carefully try one piece of lamb. Sprinkle a bit more salt on it, if needed.
  • Add the cilantro and give it a final stir. Transfer everything to a big plate immediately. Serve hot as a main dish.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 319kcal, Carbohydrates: 11.8g, Protein: 23.6g, Fat: 19.6g, Saturated Fat: 4.3g, Cholesterol: 69mg, Sodium: 577mg, Potassium: 390mg, Fiber: 0.8g, Sugar: 0.8g, Calcium: 47mg, Iron: 4mg