Lamb Boulangere James Martin Food

WEEPING LAMB WITH BOULANGèRE POTATOES AND MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
• Using a small sharp pointed knife, make a series of small deep slits about 4cm/1½in apart all over the leg of lamb. Into each cut insert a sliver of garlic and a small sprig of rosemary, pressing them right down inside.
• Drizzle with the olive oil and a good sprinkling of salt, then set aside while you build the potato dish.
• Layer the potatoes and onions in a large ovenproof tray, seasoning each layer with salt and black pepper, and finishing with a layer of potatoes.
• Dot with butter, then pour over the stock and press down lightly.
• Put the roasting dish into the bottom of the oven, and place the lamb on a small wire rack on the oven rack directly above the potatoes (so that any juices from the lamb will 'weep' onto the potatoes below).
• Leave to roast for 1½ hours, or until the potatoes are cooked through, pressing the potatoes down into the cooking liquid every 30 minutes as it cooks.
• Pour the red wine and beef stock into a sauté pan or large frying pan and set over a medium heat, bring to the boil and cook for 30-45 minutes, or until reduced to a quarter of the original volume and is thickened to make a glossy gravy.
• Add a little knob of butter and check the seasoning.
• Remove the lamb from the oven when cooked to your liking and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile heat the malt vinegar, sugar and a pinch of salt in a clean pan until just simmering, then add the mint and stir until wilted.
• To serve, carve the lamb and serve with the potatoes, gravy and mint sauce.

POMMES BOULANGèRE WITH ROAST LAMB

Steps:

• Thinly slice the potatoes on a mandolin, then soak in a large bowl of cold water for 1 hr. Drain well, then pat dry between two clean tea towels. Halve the onions, then thinly slice.
• Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large frying pan, then sauté the onions with 4 sprigs of thyme for around 10 mins, stirring once or twice. Stir in the vinegar and cook until evaporated, about 2 mins, stirring two or three times so the onions don't burn. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5.
• Arrange a quarter of the potatoes in a large ovenproof dish, reserving any larger slices for the top. Season, then sprinkle over leaves from 3 thyme sprigs and scatter over a third of the onions. Repeat the potato layers three times more and onions twice, seasoning in between, then finishing with a potato layer and more thyme sprigs.
• Bring the stock to the boil, then ladle it over, making sure it seeps down the sides. Dot the top with half the butter, then bake, uncovered, for 45 mins.
• While the potatoes are cooking, score the fat on the lamb rumps in a crisscross using the tip of a sharp knife. Cut the garlic bulb in half, place in a bowl with a drizzle of oil, the lamb and the remaining thyme, then leave to marinate. After the potatoes have been in for 45 mins, season both sides of each lamb rump.
• Heat more oil in a large non-stick frying pan and when hot, brown the rumps, fat-side down, for 5 mins with the garlic bulb. Then, turn and brown the rumps all over for 5 mins more. Add the remaining butter to the pan, turning the rumps in the melted fat. Place the rumps on top of the potatoes, adding the garlic and drizzling with the pan juices.
• Season again and return to the oven for about 35 mins. By now, the whole dish should be finished with cooked potatoes and tender lamb cooked to medium. Remove the lamb, then leave aside to rest for 10 mins, returning the potatoes to the oven to crisp up. To serve, slice each rump lengthways. Spoon the potatoes onto 6 warmed plates with slices of lamb on top.

CLASSIC POMMES BOULANGèRE - FRENCH GRATIN POTATOES

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 150C/300F/Gas mark 3.
• Butter a large shallow ovenproof dish.
• Peel potatoes thinly, do not rinse.
• Peel and slice the onions thinly.
• Using a mandolin slice if possible,slice the potatoes very thinly, again do not rinse.
• Arrange the potatoes over the base of the dish slightly overlapping, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and then add the sliced onions.
• Continue until all the potatoes & onions are used up, ending with a potato layer.
• Pour over the hot stock.
• Brush with the top of the potatoes with the melted butter.
• Place the potatoes on the high shelf of the oven for 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs or until tender and the top layer is a crisp golden brown.
• Serve immediately with roasted meats, as an alternative to roast potatoes, or with a pot roast, hot-pot and vegetables.

GARLIC & HERB ROAST LAMB ON BOULANGèRE POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Cut small pockets into the skin and flesh of the lamb by piercing it with the point of a sharp knife. Stuff each pocket with a slice of garlic and a few leaves of rosemary, or scatter with thyme. Put in a roasting tin, season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then cover with foil.
• Peel and thinly slice the potatoes, rinse under the cold tap and pile into a large ovenproof dish or roasting tin. Toss with the onions, remaining slices of garlic and a good scattering of herbs.
• Heat the stock and butter together, then pour over the potatoes. Cover the dish with foil and bake in the oven with the lamb for 1 hr. Uncover, put the lamb on top of the potatoes and roast uncovered for 45 mins more. Allow the lamb to rest before carving, for about 15 mins. Leave the potatoes in the oven (covered, if starting to brown too much) until ready to serve.