Lamb Stew W/ Chestnuts & Pomegranates

Ingredients

1 lb chestnuts
2 onions
1/4 c sunflower oil
1 1/2 lamb
1/4 ts turmeric
1/4 ts saffron threads
1/2 ts cinnamon
1 c walnuts fine
1/4 ts mint
1 c pomegranate juice
2 tb tomato paste
3 tb lemon juice squeezed
1 1/2 c chicken stock
1 ts honey
1 ts salt
1 garlic clove fine
1 ts black pepper
1/4 c mint as

Instructions

Heat the oil in a heavy casserole over med. heat then saute' the onions & garlic for 10 minutes. Raise the ehat to high, add the meat, turmeric, salt, pepper, and brown meat on all sides. Stir in the saffron, cinnamon, mint, walnuts, tomato paste, & chicken stock. Bring to aboil, reduce heat to low, cover, & simmer for 1 1/2 hrs. Add lemon juice, pomegranate juice, and chestnuts stir well then cover and simmer for 10 more minutes. Serve over a bed of saffron rice. * NOTE: You may add other fruits such as prunes, rasins, apricots, apples, etc. to this dish. Use approx. 1/4 to 1/2 cup of extra fruit(s) as a total amount. I have had this dish with dried apples, raisins, prunes, and dried peaches added to it.