Herdwick lamb filled hot cross bun with a marmalade glaze

Step 1

To cook the lamb, first preheat the oven to 175°C/gas mark 3

Step 2

With a knife, remove any larger pieces of fat from the shoulder

Step 3

Season the lamb with salt and black pepper

Step 4

Sear to a golden brown colour on all sides in a heavy pan with a lid. There’s no need for oil, as the fat on the lamb will render down as it sears

Step 5

Once seared, add the wine, garlic, thyme and rosemary to the pan. Place the lid on top and bring to a simmer

Step 6

Place in the oven for 3 hours or until tender

Step 7

Remove from the oven and leave to cool at room temperature

Step 8

For the lyonnaise onions, first peel and half the onions, then cut them into long thin slices

Step 9

Melt the butter in a heavy pan with a lid. Cook the onions in the butter with the lid on for 30 minutes, or until softened

Step 10

Remove the lid and continue to cook for another 20-30 minutes until the onions turn a pale golden brown, then remove from the heat. Season with salt and pepper and leave to cool

Step 11

Next make the plum, date and fig chutney. In a heavy pan over a medium heat add the honey and spices and warm gently. Add a little water if it looks like the spices might burn

Step 12

After a few minutes add the dried fruit, water and stir. Place a lid onto the pan and cook for 15 minutes over a medium heat until the fruit softens

Step 13

Leave to cook for 5 minutes before transferring to a food processor with a blade attachment and blending to a smooth paste. Remove from the blender and leave to cool

Step 14

To make the hot cross bun dough, first place all the dough ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Bring the ingredients together to form a smooth dough

Step 15

Wrap in clingfilm and leave to rest in the fridge for 1 hour

Step 16

For the hot cross bun filling, in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment add 200g of the cooked lamb, 100g chutney, 100g lyonnaise onions and 1 heaping teaspoon harissa

Step 17

Season with salt and pepper and bring the mixture together until combined. Check the seasoning - it should be well seasoned, and have plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Add more harissa if you like things a bit spicier

Step 18

Line a tray with parchment paper and roll the mixture between your hands forming around 20, 20g meatballs. Place the tray into the freezer and freeze until hard. Once frozen you can store the balls in a container in the freezer

Step 19

Remove the bun dough from the fridge and divide it into 20, 30g balls

Step 20

Using your hands, flatten each ball into a small circle and place a lamb meatball into the centre of each

Step 21

Encase each meatball in the dough, carefully sealing it inside by pinching the dough firmly at one end

Step 22

Line the buns onto a tray, placing the sealed side onto the bottom of the tray

Step 23

Combine the white flour and water in a small bowl and bring to a thick paste

Step 24

Place into a small piping bag, cut a 2mm sized hole in the end and carefully pipe a cross onto each bun

Step 25

In a pan carefully heat vegetable oil to 180°C

Step 26

Fry the hot cross buns, just a few at a time for several minutes to a golden brown colour, moving them around the pan with a spoon. Remove them carefully onto kitchen paper to drain

Step 27

Warm a few spoonfuls of marmalade in a pan and using a pastry brush glaze the buns in the marmalade

Step 28

Serve straight away or keep warm in an oven until ready to serve