Continuing my Welsh posts of late I have captured a Welsh delight - Cawl

Cawl pronounced 'cowl', is Welsh for broth or soup. Like all traditional country soups the ingredients are governed by what is to hand or in season. It appears from early Welsh manuscripts that originally the main meat used was bacon, or even kid, for as with Irish Stew, no cottager would dream of using valuable lamb or mutton for soups. Nowdays, however, mutton or lamb best end of neck chops are most generally used, which make it inyo a delicious soup-stew.

"Cystal yfed o'r cawl â bwyta's cig" - It is as good to drink the broth as to eat the meat': from a collection of proverbs attributed to Cattwg Ddoeth (Cattwg the Wise).

Cawl should be started the day before so that any fat can be skimmed off and all the flavours amalgamate.
2-3 lb. Welsh lamb
1 large sliced onion
3 leeks
2 medium sliced carrots
1 medium parsnip
1 small swede turnip or 2 white turnips
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
6 small potatoes
salt and pepper
4 pints (8 cups) water
If in season cabbage, celery, etc., can all be used.

Trim the meat of fat so far as possible, cover with cold water, add salt and pepper, bring to the boil, and simmer slowly for 1 hour, then leave it to get cold and skim off all the fat. Put in all the vegetables except 1 leek, the potatoes and half the parsley, cover and simmer very slowly for 1 hour, then add the potatoes cut in half and continue cooking for 20 minutes. Then add the remainder of the parsley, taste for seasoning and finely chop the remaining leek (green and white part) on top. Let it cook for not more than 5 minutes and serve. Some families treat it as a French pot-au-feu - that is, they serve the clear broth first, then the meat and vegetables as a second course. Traditionally Cawl is eaten in wooden bowls with wooden spoons so that there was no fear of burning the mouth.

That looks wonderful - and I love how you incorporated your wonderful Welsh history in the MOP - perfect! McMommy · 2011-03-06: 15:51

Yummy Kate! Great shot as well!! danrav · 2011-03-06: 15:54

Oh thanks...straight to the fridge to find something to eat...;o)) MARETKA88 · 2011-03-06: 16:02

YUM! Looks great Kate! Can't wait to try it. I am doing all my cooking for this coming week today. I am making Chicken n' Dumplings Pasta Bolognese (only making the sauce today) Pot Roast and Gumbo I have 2 of the 4 meals done. Only 2 more to go and of course, dinner for tonight. liveandletlive · 2011-03-06: 16:28

You know, this does not look unlike something dear ol' Mom used to make back in Virginia. Love it! Colorful shots :-) lookwhatisaw · 2011-03-06: 16:58

Nice, I could eat that. joycephotography · 2011-03-06: 17:04

Great for me...eating tasty food! ????? · 2011-03-06: 17:13

It looks so tasty !!! finbarr · 2011-03-06: 17:26

Looks delicious, but then I'm a pot-au-feu junkie. revenant · 2011-03-06: 18:20

Beautiful photo and the recipe is good, even though I don't eat meat usually :) ????? · 2011-03-06: 19:03

Very nice. Jarvo · 2011-03-06: 20:31

excellent post I'm going to have to try it ilikethat · 2011-03-06: 21:13

Yummmmmm looks good mystic1 · 2011-03-06: 22:29

This is a mouth watering shot! :) michibee · 2011-03-06: 23:51

What a great post for the MOP! Can you believe that I never ever cooked lamb? I might try it:) Eiram · 2011-03-07: 05:41

Looks very warming! HoosierAtHeART · 2011-03-07: 05:42

Looks delicious! jet28 · 2011-03-07: 06:29

That certainly looks like a hearty soup! Good post for the MOP, a shout-out for good traditional homemade food. busybee36 · 2011-03-07: 07:54

nice. MoMac · 2011-03-07: 09:11

Very tasty looking. Great stuff for the MOP. smbunation · 2011-03-07: 10:23

Looks delicious....I am so adding to my cookbook with this Project!! karmankwarner · 2011-03-07: 10:39

it looks very nice and tasty! gonia · 2011-03-07: 10:57

This is a terrific post for the MOP... a little history, a recipe, the photo... well done! DancingDolphin · 2011-03-07: 11:29

A really interesting posting. Reminds me, a little, of Irish stew with just some differences. Saipanhohhot · 2011-03-07: 11:38

that sounds really delicious GKorts · 2011-03-07: 12:03

Really lovely post Kate. Thanks for the recipe and the details. SADHYA · 2011-03-07: 13:21

this looks yum :) and it is lamb! yumy yumy!:) onlyricky · 2011-03-07: 15:30

Looks good! darfoster · 2011-03-07: 18:34

Yum! Photo and recipe both look delicious!! Would love to try it, but would probably have to settle for American...or Colorado lamb! lookagain · 2011-03-07: 20:08

All around wonderful post -- thanks! ????? · 2011-03-08: 00:34

Oh that looks so good.......Thanks for sharing your recipe! ArtBee · 2011-03-08: 14:17

Great composition clarity of details, colours:) Looks so delicious ! helys · 2011-03-12: 03:57

This post is neat and your shot is absolutely wonderful and yummy!! Ryana · 2011-03-12: 05:31

What wonderful looking meal ! I love to cook , bought a electric "Pressure cooker/ Slow cooker/ Rice cooker" a few weeks ago, just started using it, vegetable soup- 55 minutes, love it catdad · 2011-03-15: 01:07

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