Za'atar-spiced lamb neck and baba ganoush tacos

Step 1

Mix all the ingredients for the za’atar spice mix together in a small bowl. Sprinkle 2 tbsp of the za'atar liberally over the lamb necks and store the rest in an airtight container. Leave the lamb necks to marinade for at least 1 hour, but you can do this overnight if preferred

Step 2

To make the baba ganoush, place the aubergines directly over an open flame on your gas stove or grill. Leave to char, turning every 5 minutes with metal tongs so that the skin is completely blackened and the flesh is soft. This will take around 20 minutes

Step 3

Place the blackened aubergines into a colander in the sink and gently press to drain any liquid. Once they are cool enough to handle, peel the charred skin off and discard. Place the aubergine flesh back into a clean colander and squeeze out as much liquid as you can

Step 4

Add the aubergine flesh to a blender along with the garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Blend to a paste, or pulse to keep a chunkier texture if preferred. Fold in the chopped herbs

Step 5

Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4

Step 6

Place a griddle pan over a high heat and once smoking, add the lamb necks. Leave to char for about 4 minutes then turn over and cook the other side. Place in the oven for 4 minutes to finish, then leave to rest in a warm place for 5 minutes

Step 7

Carve the lamb into slices, going against the grain of the meat

Step 8

To assemble, spread some baba ganoush in the centre of each tortilla then arrange the lamb slices in a line down the centre. Top with a drizzle of yoghurt, pomegranate seeds and mint leaves