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Slow roast shoulder of lamb with sliced potatoes

Ingredients

For the lamb

  • 4 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 2.2kg/5lb whole shoulder of lamb, skin on
  • 2 large onions, cut into quarters
  • 750g/1lb 10oz waxy potatoes, such as Desiree, cut into thick 2cm/¾in slices
  • 570ml/1pint hot lamb or beef stock

For the gravy

  • 3 tbsp lamb fat
  • 50g/1¾oz flour
  • 450ml/16fl oz hot lamb or beef stock
  • 100ml/3½fl oz red wine
  • 1-2 tsp redcurrant jelly
  • few drops Worcestershire sauce
  • gravy browning (optional)

Slow roast shoulder of lamb with sliced potatoes

This is all about slow cooking the lamb - if yours needs a little longer then leave it in the oven. It will not come to any harm.

SERVES 6

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat the oven 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.

  2. Sit the lamb, skin side up, on a board. Using a sharp knife insert irregular holes through the skin. Insert the garlic into the holes.

  3. Roast for about 20 minutes until brown. Carefully turn the lamb over and roast for a further 20-30 minutes until brown all over.

  4. Boil the onion in water for 10 minutes, then add the potatoes and boil for 4 minutes. Drain well.

  5. Remove the lamb from the tin. Add the onions and potatoes to the tin and mix together. Add the hot stock to the tin, then put the lamb on top, with the smooth side up. Cover tightly with foil.

  6. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 160C/140C Fan/Gas 3 and cook for 3½-4 hours, or until the lamb is completely tender. Remove the lamb from the tin and put it onto a board. Strain off the fat from the tin into a small bowl. Increase the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas7 and put the potatoes and onions back into the oven to brown for 25 minutes.

  7. Spoon 3 tablespoons of fat from the tin into a saucepan. Add the flour and stir over the heat for 30 seconds. Whisk in the hot stock, wine, redcurrant jelly, Worcestershire sauce and browning. Whisk until thickened and bubbling.

  8. Carve the lamb and serve with gravy and potatoes and onion. Serve with green vegetables.