Greek Braised Lamb Shoulder Roast Food

SLOW ROASTED GREEK SHOULDER OF LAMB

Steps:

• preheat oven to 200c (390f) on bake, not fan
• keep aside a little of the preserved lemon for garnish
• in a small bowl add all ingredients except lamb and mix to a paste
• spread 3 layers of tin foil, then another 3 layers of foil facing the opposite way
• place lamb on foil and rub marinade all over top and bottom
• wrap foil very tightly around lamb
• sit lamb on a trivet, or cake rack in a baking dish
• place in preheated oven on middle shelf for 10 minutes
• reduce oven temperature to 130c (260f) and cook for 5 hours
• carefully unwrap the foil and drain juices into a small saucepan
• cover lamb with foil
• reduce jus on medium heat until it reduces a little (about 10 minutes)
• pour jus into a serving jug
• sprinkle parsley, preserved lemon and currants over lamb
• serve and enjoy!

GREEK SLOW ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 240°C/465°F (220°C fan). (Note 2)
• Use a small knife to make around 25 incisions all over the lamb, with most on the top.
• Cut around 6 cloves into slivers and stuff them into the incisions.
• Sprinkle the lamb generously all over with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Drizzle with olive oil and rub all over the lamb.
• Place the lamb in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes or until it has a nice brown crust.
• Remove from the oven. Turn the oven down to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan).
• Turn the lamb upside down. Pour / place all the remaining ingredients in the pan around the lamb (including remaining garlic cloves). Fill the roasting pan with hot water so it comes up about 1/4 - 1/3 of the way up the height of the lamb.
• Cover with lid or with baking/parchment paper then 2 layers of foil. Bake for 3.5 hours. (Note 3) Top up water if it dries out (e.g. Might happen if your lid is loose)
• Remove the roast from the oven and remove the lid/foil. Turn the lamb over so it is the right side up.
• Cover again and roast for a further 2 1/2 hours, or until you can pull meat apart with forks.
• Remove cover and roast for a further 20 - 30 minutes (to brown). (Note 3)
• Remove from the oven and transfer lamb to serving platter. Cover loosely with foil and rest for 30 - 40 minutes.
• Strain liquid into a clear jug. The fat will rise to the top. Scoop/pour most of it off - I get 3/4 - 1 cup. There should be 2 - 3 cups of Sauce left. Adjust salt, pepper and lemon to taste.
• Serve lamb with the Sauce on the side and Truly Crunchy Roast Potatoes (heat oil while lamb is in the oven, then cook potatoes when the lamb is resting).

ROSEMARY AND THYME BRAISED LAMB SHOULDER

Steps:

• Roast lamb:
• Make slits in lamb shoulder all over at 2-inch intervals with a paring knife.
• Pound garlic with kosher salt, zest, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to a coarse paste with mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a large knife), then stir together with oil and 1 tablespoon each of rosemary and thyme. Rub paste all over lamb. Put in heavy pot or roasting pan, then chill, covered, 12 to 24 hours.
• Bring roast to room temperature (about 1 hour).
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in lower third.
• Pour wine and water around lamb and add herb sprigs. Cover roast with a sheet of parchment. Cover pot with lid or cover roasting pan tightly with heavy-duty foil. Braise lamb in oven until tender but not falling off the bone, about 3 hours.
• Increase oven to 450°F and remove parchment, then braise lamb, covered with lid (or foil), until very tender and top is browned, about 1 hour more. Carefully transfer lamb to a platter and loosely cover with foil. Let it stand 10 minutes.
• Make sauce:
• Pour braising liquid through a fine-mesh sieve, then spoon off and discard fat remaining on liquid (you should have about 2 cups liquid; reserve pot). Whisk together flour and 1 cup liquid in a small bowl until smooth. Bring remaining liquid to a boil in uncleaned pot, then whisk in flour mixture and boil, whisking, until thickened, about 4 minutes. Stir in thyme and rosemary and season with salt and pepper.
• To serve:
• Remove and discard strings. Meat is too tender to slice with a carving knife; use a meat fork to pull meat into serving pieces.