LAMB RECIPES WITH MINT RECIPES

Steps:

• Lay the lamb, skin-side down, on a board – if the joint you bought is tied up, then snip the strings and unroll it. Cut several pieces of string long enough to tie around the lamb, then slide them under the joint so they’re regularly spaced out. Mix the stuffing ingredients together, and season well. Spread the stuffing out along the middle of the lamb, then fold the meat over to form a roll. Tie the string so the roll stays together, but don’t make it too tight or it will cut into the meat. Tie some string lengthways too, if necessary.
• Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Season the lamb evenly all over. Heat a little oil in a large frying pan, then brown the lamb all over. Start with the side where the seam meets, as this will stop the lamb breaking up when you carve it.
• Tip the veg, garlic and rosemary into a roasting tin and put the lamb on top, seam-side down. Cook the lamb until the core temperature reaches 60C on a meat thermometer – this should take around 1 hr for a 2kg leg. As you rest the lamb, the temperature will continue to rise so don’t overcook it.
• Lift the lamb out of the tin and, keeping it warm, rest for up to an hour. Put the roasting tin on the hob. Add the stock, bring to a simmer, then tip the lot into a saucepan, scraping up any bits. Add 500ml water and then simmer again until reduced by half. Pour through a fine sieve and serve with the lamb.

Steps:

• 1. Peel and finely chop the onions, then place in a really large casserole pan (roughly 26cm in diameter, 12cm deep), with a lug of olive oil and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Cook over a medium-high heat, until the onions start to caramelise, stirring as you go.
  2. Add the raisins and marmalade, then add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and booze. Give it all a good stir, then leave to gently simmer over a medium-low heat.
  3. Put the lamb shanks into a large frying pan (30cm wide) on a medium-high heat with a drizzle of olive oil – cook them in batches, if needed, turning regularly.
  4. Once the lamb has some good colour, pick in the rosemary leaves and move them around in the pan to get crispy, but don’t let them burn.
  5. Using tongs, move the shanks into the pan of onions, then pour in all their juices and the crispy rosemary.
  6. Add the stock, put the lid on, turn the heat down to low and leave to slowly blip away for 3 hours, or until the meat falls off the bone easily, turing halfway for even cooking.
  7. Once cooked, carefully move the shanks to a platter, making sure the meat stays intact.
  8. Whiz or liquidize the gravy with a stick blender until smooth, then allow to thicken and reduce on the hob.
  9. Quickly bash most of the mint leaves in a pestle and mortar with a good pinch of salt and the olive or rapeseed oil, then take to the table.
  10. Trim and finely slice the spring onions and toss on a plate with the remaining fresh mint leaves, a drizzle of cider vinegar and a pinch of salt.
  11. Add a little splash of cider vinegar and a few more splashes of Worcestershire sauce to the sauce, then ladle it all over the lamb shanks, pouring the rest into a jug for people to help themselves.
  12. Scatter the vinegary spring onions and a few fresh mint leaves all over the top, and drizzle the mint oil all around the shanks. Delicious served with potato and celeriac mash – the plate will be clean before you know it.