Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder Recipes

INCREDIBLE ROASTED SHOULDER OF LAMB WITH SMASHED VEG & GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to full whack.
• Lay half the rosemary into the bottom of a high-sided roasting tray. Break up the garlic bulb, then scatter in half of the unpeeled cloves.
• Slash the fat side of the lamb all over with a sharp knife, then rub with oil, sea salt and black pepper. Place into the tray, then scatter the remaining rosemary and garlic on top.
• Tightly cover the tray with tin foil and place in the oven. Immediately turn the temperature down to 170°C/325°F/gas 3 and cook for around 4 hours - it's done if you can pull the meat apart easily with two forks.
• Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and chop into large chunks. Peel the carrots and swede, then chop into small chunks. Prep the greens by separating out the leaves and finely slicing any tougher stalks.
• When the lamb is nearly cooked, put your potatoes, carrots and swede into a large pot of boiling salted water and boil hard for 20 minutes, or until tender.
• Drain and allow to steam dry, then smash them up in the pan with a knob of butter. If you prefer a smooth texture, add some cooking water. Spoon into a bowl, cover with tin foil and keep warm over a pan of simmering water until needed.
• Once cooked to perfection, remove the lamb from the oven and place it on a chopping board. Cover with tin foil, then a tea towel, and leave to rest.
• Put a large pan of salted water on to boil for your greens.
• Pour away most of the fat from the roasting tray, discarding any bits of rosemary stalk. Put the tray on the hob over a medium heat and mix in the flour.
• Pour in the stock, stirring and scraping all the sticky goodness from the bottom of the tray. You won't need gallons of gravy, just a couple of flavoursome spoonfuls each. Drain, finely chop and add the capers, then turn the heat down and simmer for a few minutes.
• Pick and finely chop the mint and add it to the sauce with the red wine vinegar at the last minute, then pour into a jug.
• Place the greens and stalks into the pan of fast-boiling salted water and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, to just soften. Drain and toss with the remaining knob of butter and a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Place everything in the middle of the table, and shred the lamb in front of your guests. Absolutely delish!

SLOW-COOKED LAMB SHOULDER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 130C/275F/Gas 1.
• In a bowl combine the onions, potatoes and thyme. Season with salt and pepper.
• Layer the potatoes and onions in a roasting tin and place the lamb on top skin-side up.
• Cut small incisions in the lamb using a small knife and stick the whole garlic cloves in the holes, pushing them into the meat to prevent them burning while the meat cooks.
• Pour the chicken stock over and place in the oven for 4-5 hours, or until the potatoes are crisp on top and soft inside.
• When cooked, remove the lamb from the oven, cover with aluminium foil and set aside to rest for 20 minutes.
• Serve with French beans (or any green vegetable of your choice).

SLOW ROASTED ROSEMARY GARLIC LAMB SHOULDER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 240°C/465°F (220°C fan forced).
• Rub the lamb with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Use a thin, sharp knife to make 12 incisions in the lamb, deep as you can but without piercing through the bottom of the lamb. (See photo in post and video
• Stuff bits of rosemary and garlic slivers into the holes (chopstick helpful!)
• Place the onion, halved garlic bulb and rosemary in the base of a roasting pan. Place the lamb on top. Pour water around.
• Cover with lid or tightly with a double layer of foil. Place in the oven, and TURN DOWN to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan).
• Slow roast, covered: Roast, covered with the foil, for 3 hours. (Note 1 for different sizes).
• Brown it, uncovered: Remove foil, check to ensure there's still liquid in the pan. If not, add 3/4 cup water (otherwise onion/garlic will burn). Turn up the oven to 220°C/425°F and roast for a further 20 to 30 minutes, until the skin is browned and crisp.
• Check if ready: By now, you should be able to part the meat with two forks - if not, just cover and return to oven at 180°C/350°F (160°C fan) until you can do so.
• Rest: Remove lamb from the roasting pan and transfer to a plate. Cover loosely with foil then a couple of tea towels and let it rest for at least 20 minutes, up to a couple of hours (after this, you may want to reheat).
• Serve with gravy (below). If you want to go all out, make Duck Fat Potatoes or Super Crispy Roasted Potatoes!

SLOW-ROASTED SHOULDER OF LAMB

Steps:

• Make the marinade. Blitz 1 halved shallot, 4 garlic cloves, 4 cherry tomatoes, 2 anchovies, ½ tsp toasted cumin seeds, ½ tsp toasted coriander seeds, ½ tsp pink peppercorns, 2 tbsp rosemary leaves, leaves from 1 thyme sprig, chopped leaves from a small bunch mint, 70ml white wine, 4 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp brown sugar and zest of juice of 1 lemon in a food processor.
• Pierce 2kg lamb shoulder all over with a sharp knife, put it in a large roasting tin and slather the marinade onto the meat, coating thoroughly.
• Cover with cling film and leave in the fridge for at least 3 hrs, preferably overnight.
• Take the lamb out of the fridge at least half an hour before you cook it to bring it to room temperature. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.
• Put 3 onions, each sliced into 3 thick disks, in the roasting tin, resting the lamb on top. Cover with tented foil and roast for 5 hrs, basting the meat occasionally.
• Remove from the oven, transfer the lamb to a board and allow to rest, covered, for at least 30 mins.
• Return the tin of onions and marinating juices to the oven to keep warm.
• Combine zest ½ lemon, 1 crushed garlic clove and 1 tbsp finely chopped mint in a bowl.
• Pull the lamb apart with forks and serve with the roasted onions and gremolata scattered over.
• Skim off any fat from the juices and serve alongside the lamb.You can use the leftover meat in Rosie's lamb shoulder flatbread recipe (see 'goes well with').

SLOW-ROASTED LAMB SHOULDER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
• Place the sugar and vinegar in a medium jug and mix to combine. Set aside.
• Place the garlic, thyme, oregano and rosemary in the center of a large roasting pan and add the stock.
• Place the lamb, skin-side down, on the garlic and herbs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with the vinegar mixture and rub to coat. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and roast for 2 hours 30 minutes or until the lamb is tender.
• Turn the lamb over and roast, uncovered, for a further 30 minutes or until dark golden.
• Brush with the pan juices and shred the meat, discarding the bone, to serve.