Lamb Shoulder with Mint Chutney

This is the last of the series of recipes I have developed for JamieOliver.com and his series of ’10 recipes to save your life’. Slow cooked Lamb Shoulder with a mint chutney is probably one of my most cooked meals when entertaining a crowd as it can be prepared ahead and requires little time of me in the kitchen once the guests arrive (I hate missing out). This makes it a timely recipe ahead of the festive season and one I know you are just going to love.

The chutney is optional but highly recommended. We make it spicy, but you can always leave out the chilli if spice isn’t your thing. It does seem to loose some of it’s spiciness when combined with the lamb (my kids handle a two chilli chutney fyi).

Health benefits

Lamb is a great source of protein, zinc, and vitamin B12, which supports energy levels and immunity. Unlike store-bought marinades, this homemade version uses fresh herbs and minimal salt, making it a healthier choice. The fresh mint sauce not only adds a burst of flavour but also aids digestion, making this meal as nutritious as it is delicious.

Ingredients

For this recipe, you’ll need a bone-in lamb shoulder, which gives the best flavour and texture. Fresh rosemary, garlic cloves, and lemon infuse the lamb with rich, savoury notes, while the mint chutney adds brightness. The ingredients are simple but deliver big on taste.

How to make this slow-roasted lamb shoulder

To make this dish, you’ll slow-cook the lamb shoulder over lemon halves, which act like a natural rack and infuse the meat with subtle citrus notes. After cooking the lamb for 4 hours, blend up the mint chutney in a food processor. Once the lamb is tender, remove the foil, grill the top for a crispy finish, and serve with the chutney.

Serving suggestions and how to store

Serve this lamb shoulder with a simple side salad or steamed veggies dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, and seasoning. Store any leftover meat in an airtight container in the fridge, and reheat it in the oven, covered, for 15 minutes at 150℃. This lamb is perfect for making ahead for a stress-free gathering.

Vary this to suit your dietary needs

For a garlic-free version, replace garlic with cumin powder and a pinch of chilli flakes in the baste. You can also swap the garlic inserted into the lamb with anchovy fillets, and omit the garlic in the mint chutney.

Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.

For moreeasy to make, delicious meal recipes, click HERE.

Lamb shoulder with Mint Chutney

Prep 15 minutes minutes

Cook 4 hours hours

Total 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Serves: 4

This lamb shoulder with mint chutney is a tender, fall-apart roast that’s easy to prepare and perfect for feeding a crowd. The slow-cooked lamb is infused with garlic and rosemary, while the fresh mint chutney adds a zesty kick. It’s a hearty, delicious meal that pairs beautifully with simple salads or roasted veggies.

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Ingredients

• 1 lamb shoulder (1.5-2kg approx.) bone in (if it has the shank attached, have your butcher cut the tendon at the base so it doesn't pop up when it is cooking and pierce the foil)
• 1 lemon/s -halved and bases trimmed so they can sit flat, flesh side up
• 6  clove/s garlic -peeled and halved (or quartered if large)
• 160 ml water (⅔ cup)

Baste

• 2 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves - chopped finely
• 1 clove/s garlic - peeled and crushed
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil - extra virgin
• 1 tsp sea salt - or to taste
• ground black pepper - to taste

Mint Chutney

• 1 bunch/s fresh mint leaves - large (1 cup firm packed), leaves picked off the stems
• 1 clove/s garlic - crushed
• 1 red chilli/s - whole
• ½ tsp sea salt - or to taste
• 1 lemon/s - juice
• 1 tsp red wine vinegar

Method

• Preheat the oven to 250℃/480℉ (fan-forced).
• Prepare the baste by mixing all of the ingredients together in a small bowl.
• Place the lemon halves in a large roasting tray, flesh side up.  Sit the lamb on top of the lemons (so the lemon acts like a rack).
• Pierce the flesh of the lamb with a pairing knife 12-14 times. Push the slivers of garlic into the holes.
• Rub the lamb with the marinade and add the water to the bottom of the tray.
• Now cover with foil making sure the edges are sealed well. I use at least 3 pieces of foil and tuck it under the tray so it is firmly sealed. The lamb needs to steam to make it fall apart when it's done. Any gaps in the foil it can dry out so take your time and seal it carefully.
• Put it in the oven and immediately turn it down to 150℃/ 290℉. Cook for 4 hours.
• Whilst that's cooking make the chutney by combining the mint, garlic, chilli and salt in a food processor and processing to a paste. Mix in the lemon juice and vinegar and store in the an airtight container in the fridge until the lamb is ready to serve.
• When the lamb is ready, remove the foil and put it under the grill for 5-10 minutes or until the top is crispy.
• Rest the lamb for a few minutes before serving with the mint chutney and tongs to pull apart the meat.

Make-ahead

• If you want to make this ahead, cook it for the full 4 hours, but don't remove the foil until you are ready to serve.
• Reheat it in a 150℃ oven (still covered) for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and put it under the grill for 5-10 minutes or until the top is crispy.

Store

• Any leftover meat in an airtight container in the fridge.

Variations

Serve

I love this with a big fresh salad or steamed veggies simply dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. My ebook 'Well Nourished - Sides and Salads' has plenty of fabulous accompaniments to this delicious meal - it's a bargain at $9.95. Check it out HERE.

Garlic-free

Replace the garlic in the baste with 1 tsp of cumin powder and a good pinch of chilli flakes. Replace the garlic (that's inserted into the meat) with pieces of anchovy fillets. Omit the garlic in the mint chutney.

 

I'd love to hear how you like this, one of my families all time favourite meals. Post a comment below or rate this recipe.

Course: Main Course

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