lamb shoulder recipes

Alex Mackay&#8216;s spiced roast ’n’ braise lamb shoulder recipe is truly spectacular and deserves its place on any dinner party table, or as a Sunday roast main.  In his own words: &#8221; My roast ’n’ braise technique captures the flavour of a roast with the melting richness of a slow braise. I serve it with gravy-soaked freekeh and soft, savoury onions that get drunk on the lamb’s flavour and become as good as the meat itself.&#8221;

Moroccan-spiced lamb shoulder with onions and freekeh

2-2.2kg British lamb shoulder,

vegetable oil

runny honey

garlic cloves, finely chopped

fresh ginger, grated

lemon

Finely grated zest and juice 2 oranges

tbsp ras el hanout spice mix

small onions, peeled and halved

raisins

milliliters lamb or chicken stock

1½ tbsp dark soy sauce

tomato purée

cooked freekeh (I like Merchant Gourmet)

cornflour

mild red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced (optional)

basil mint

toasted almonds, chopped and tossed with salt and ras el hanout

Rose petals to serve (optional)

Heat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas 7. Put the lamb in a deep roasting tin and rub salt and oil all over it. Roast, skin-side up, for 35 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and turn the oven down to 160°C/140°C fan/gas 3.

Meanwhile, mix the honey, garlic, ginger, the zest and juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange, and 2 tsp ras el hanout in a small bowl.

Transfer the lamb to a plate. Scatter the halved onions and raisins in the tin, pour over the rest of the orange juice, then season with salt and most of the remaining ras el hanout. Toss the onions to coat thoroughly with the seasonings, lamb fat and juice, then turn the onions cut-side down. Put the lamb in the centre.

Brush three quarters of the honey mixture over the lamb (do this with great gusto – really cover it). Reserve the rest to glaze the lamb later. Cover the roasting tin tightly with foil, sealing carefully around the edges. (If it’s not fully sealed or there’s a hole in the foil, heat will escape, the lamb will take longer and it won’t cook properly.) Braise for 3½ hours.

While the lamb braises, put the stock, soy sauce and tomato purée in a medium saucepan, bring to the boil and reduce by half (see tips), then remove from the heat.

Once the lamb has braised, remove the foil. It should now be so tender that you can push a spoon right through it. Lift the lamb onto a plate. Drain half the cooking juices into the pan with the reduced stock (you’ll have about 500ml liquid in total).

Add the cooked freekeh to the roasting tin and stir it into the onions and remaining cooking juices. Turn the oven back up to 220°C/200°C fan/gas 7. Put the lamb back on top, glaze it with the remaining honey mixture, then put the tin back into the oven for 10 minutes. Baste and check twice, ensuring the glaze doesn’t burn.

Bring the reduced stock and lamb juices to the boil and whisk in the cornflour mix. Bring back to the boil for 15 seconds, whisking constantly, until the gravy has thickened enough to lightly coat the back of a spoon. Season to taste with salt, ras el hanout and lemon juice.

Before serving, brush the lamb with gravy to give it a glossy shine. Sprinkle the zest of the second orange and the chilli (optional), basil/mint and almonds on top. Serve at the table with tongs and a big spoon, and rose petals to scatter over, if you like. I squeeze a little extra lemon juice over the top, too.

Using lamb shoulder, instead of mince, and slow-cooking it until melt-in-the-mouth is the real game-changer in this British classic. For your next pie night? Try this easy chicken puff pie&#8230;

Slow-cooked shepherd&#8217;s pies

olive oil

1.3kg lamb shoulder,

onion, finely sliced

garlic clove, crushed

carrots, sliced diagonally 1cm thick

leeks, sliced diagonally

plain flour

milliliters red wine

tin chopped tomatoes

lamb/beef stock

thyme rosemary

Worcestershire sauce

For the topping

1kg maris piper potatoes, cut into 3cm chunks

butter

mature cheddar, grated

You’ll also need…

Large, shallow flameproof casserole

x 300 milliliters pie dishes

Heat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/gas 3. Heat a glug of oil in the casserole and, when hot, add the diced lamb shoulder. Sear on a high heat for 10 minutes, stirring every now and then, until browned all over. Set the lamb aside on a plate.

Add a little more oil to the casserole, turn down the heat and add the onion. Gently fry for 5 minutes, then add the garlic, carrots and leeks and fry for another 10 minutes, stirring now and then.

Return the lamb to the casserole, stir in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the tomato purée and red wine. Stir well, turn up the heat and bubble the wine for a few minutes to reduce, then add the chopped tomatoes, stock, herbs and Worcestershire sauce. Stir again, season with salt and pepper and put the lid on the casserole. Transfer to the oven and cook for 2 hours or until the meat is tender.

Put the potato chunks in a large pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 20 minutes or until soft. Drain well, put back in the pan and leave to steam dry for a minute or so, then mash with the butter until smooth. Taste, season well with salt and pepper and set aside.

When the lamb is ready, remove the sprigs of herbs from the sauce, taste and season (you might want to add a little more Worcestershire sauce). Divide the lamb mixture evenly among the 6 pie dishes, then top with the mash. Alternatively leave the lamb in the shallow casserole and top with the mash or spoon into a baking dish.

Scatter the grated cheese over the pie(s) and bake for 25-30 minutes (see Make Ahead) until the tops are golden and the stew bubbles out around the sides. Leave to stand for 10 minutes, then serve with buttered greens or peas.

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