Ingredients
2 kg (4 lb 8 oz) lamb shoulder, bone in
2 tablespoons olive oil
organic hay, for roasting
SMOKED POTATOES
1 kg (2 lb 4 oz) small potatoes
1–3 tablespoons butter
MINT SAUCE
80 g (2¾ oz/1 bunch) mint, leaves picked, stalks reserved
100 ml (3½ fl oz) cider vinegar
50 g (1¾ oz) sugar
Method
Preheat the oven to 160°C (315°F/Gas 2–3).
Rub the lamb with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay a couple of handfuls of hay in a roasting tin, cover with a layer of muslin (cheesecloth) or a wire rack and put the seasoned lamb on top. Roast in the oven for 5 hours, basting the lamb with the juices as it cooks.
Boil the potatoes in salted water until just cooked, then strain. To smoke them, you will need a large saucepan or tray with a fitted lid, and a wire rack or metal steamer basket that fits inside but is raised from the base of the saucepan. Place the saucepan over high heat and add a handful of hay. Once it begins to smoke, ignite it with a match, quickly put the wire rack on top and add the potatoes, then cover with the lid to snuff out the flames. Place outside for 20 minutes to allow the potatoes to absorb the smoke.
Meanwhile, put the mint stalks in a medium saucepan and add the vinegar, 100 ml (3½ fl oz) of water, the sugar and a pinch of salt. Bring to a light simmer and infuse for 20 minutes then allow to cool. Strain. Finely chop the mint leaves and add to the infused liquid.
Toss the smoked potatoes with butter, and season with salt and pepper. Serve the lamb and potatoes with the roasting juices and the mint sauce separately in a small pot.
This week’s recipe is brought to you by Scott Pickett and is taken from the newly released Bistronomy – French Food Unbound, by Katrina Meynink.
Published by Murdoch Books. RRP: $49.95
