Slow Barbecued Lamb Shoulder Food

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 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').

BARBECUED GREEK LAMB WITH TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Mash the garlic to a paste with a pestle and mortar. Mix with the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, thyme and bay, and season with a little salt and plenty of pepper. Place the lamb in a large porcelain dish. Pour the marinade over the lamb and massage into the meat. Leave the lamb for at least 1 hr at room temperature, or longer in the fridge, but no longer than overnight or the meat will become too soft.
• To cook the lamb, fire up the barbecue, or heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. To cook on the barbecue, wait for the coals to turn ashen, then lay the lamb on the grill and cook for 15 mins on each side for meat that is pink, or 20 mins on each side for well done. To cook in the oven, place the lamb in a shallow roasting tin and roast for 30 mins for pink or 40 mins for well done, turning the lamb halfway through. Leave the meat to rest for 10 mins before carving.
• Meanwhile, make the tzatziki. Coarsely grate the cucumber, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and squeeze out all the liquid. Tip into a bowl with the yogurt, garlic and mint, and mix well. Carve the lamb into thick slices and serve with the tzatziki wrapped up in warm flatbreads.

SPANISH-STYLE SLOW-COOKED LAMB SHOULDER & BEANS

Steps:

• To make the spice mix, combine all of the ingredients together with a large pinch of salt. Slash the lamb shoulder all over with a sharp knife and rub in. If you have the time, marinate for up to 24 hrs, but this is not essential.
• Heat the oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish or roasting tin over a medium-high heat, add the onions, carrots and garlic and sizzle for 5 mins until the onions and carrots are softened. Pour over the stock, then bring to the boil. Nestle the lamb in the pan and cover, then transfer to the oven and roast for 2 hrs.
• Uncover and transfer the lamb to a plate using tongs. Stir the beans, peppers and olives through the stock in the pan, sit the lamb back on top and return to the oven, uncovered, for 1 hr 30 mins until the lamb is cooked through. Transfer the lamb to a board and shred using two forks. Stir the parsley through the braised beans before serving.

PULLED LAMB SHOULDER WITH STICKY POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Put the garlic, cinnamon, cumin, oregano and lemon in a blender with 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp black pepper. Blend until smooth. Put the lamb in a large roasting tin and tip the marinade over the top. Massage all over the lamb and leave for 24 hrs in the fridge, or up to 2 days.
• Remove lamb from the fridge 1 hr before cooking. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/ gas 3. Scatter the onions around the lamb, tucking some underneath, then pour over the pomegranate juice. Cover the lamb with foil and cook for 4 hrs.
• Remove the foil, carefully pour the meaty pomegranate juices from the tin into a large saucepan and add the honey. Increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7, re-cover the lamb and continue cooking for 30 mins. Meanwhile, bubble the cooking liquid over a high heat until reduced, thick and syrupy - this may take up to 30 mins.
• Pour the sticky pomegranate glaze over the lamb and onions and return to the oven for another 30 mins, uncovered, until the glaze is bubbling and just starting to char, and the lamb is really tender. Mix the yogurt, most of the pomegranate seeds and mint leaves in a small bowl. Shred the lamb at the table and serve with the sticky onions and the minty pomegranate yogurt. Scatter over the remaining pomegranate seeds.

INCREDIBLE SLOW-ROASTED LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven or barbecue (indirect heat, with the hood down) to as hot as it can go.
• Meanwhile, slash the fat side of the lamb all over with a sharp knife.
• Lay half the sprigs of rosemary and half the garlic cloves on the bottom of a high-sided roasting tray, rub the lamb all over with olive oil and season with salt and pepper if you wish.
• Place the lamb in the tray on top of the rosemary and garlic and put the rest of the rosemary and garlic on top of the lamb.
• Tightly cover the tray with aluminium foil and place in the barbecue with the hood closed (or in the oven).
• Immediately turn it down to 170 deg C/325 deg F and cook for 4 hours. When it's done you can pull the meat apart with two forks.
• As an option, if you want vegies you can sneak some carrot/potato/pumpkin into the pan for the last hour or so and remove them before making the gravy.
• Remove the lamb from the tray and place on a chopping board. Cover with aluminium foil, then a tea towel and let it rest while you make the gravy.
• Discard any rosemary stalks and garlic skin (leave the garlic 'meat'), put the tray on the stove and mix in the flour (add a little of the stock to make it easier if you wish).
• Add all the stock, stirring and scraping all the sticky good bits off the bottom of the tray, turn the heat down and simmer for a few minutes.
• Add the mint and the red wine vinegar at the last minute, stir and pour into a jug.
• Shred the lamb with forks to serve.