Saddle Of Lamb Recipes

SADDLE OF LAMB

Steps:

• Wash and dry the meat and season with salt and pepper. Trim the leeks and spring onions and cut into rings. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Heat 1-2 tbsp oil and sweat the leeks, spring onions and garlic until the leek is soft but still retains a little bite. Season the leek and spring onion mixture with salt and pepper and stir in the mustard and chopped rosemary. Open out the meat, stuff with the mixture and then close the meat up around the stuffing. Tie with string. Heat the rest of the oil in a flameproof roasting tin on the hob and brown the meat on all sides. Peel the carrot, onion and celeriac and cut into pieces. Wash and roughly chop the parsley. Add the vegetables and tomato puree to the roasting tin and cook briefly, then add the parsley and stir in the wine and stock. Add the rosemary and put into a preheated oven (180 °C with top and bottom heat) for about 60 minutes, or until the meat is done. Then take the meat out of the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Strain the sauce through a sieve, catching the liquid, season to taste and thicken with cornflour if you wish.

SADDLE OF LAMB

Steps:

• First, make the stuffing. In a large pan, melt the butter over a gentle heat and add the shallots. Cook slowly for about 10 mins until softening, then add the garlic and stir to combine for 1 min. Turn up the heat and add the pancetta and a little seasoning. Cook until the pancetta is crisp, and the shallots are tender and turning golden. Take off the heat, add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine (it should not be too wet, as the stuffing should absorb some of the lamb juices when cooked). Set aside to cool.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Lay the lamb saddle out on a board, fat-side down. Arrange the stuffing in a line down the middle, bring the sides up and roll into a large sausage shape so the stuffing can only be seen at the ends. Using string, tie the saddle, tucking the rosemary under the string, then rub with salt and a little pepper.
• Heat the oil in a large pan over a high heat and place the rolled lamb in the pan to seal the outside, turning every minute or so, until golden - about 6 mins. Remove from the pan and place in a roasting tin. Pour the vinegar over - this will help to crisp the skin - then cook in the oven for 1 hr. Leave to rest for at least 10 mins on a board covered loosely with foil.

SADDLE OF LAMB STUFFED WITH RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• First make the ratatouille. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion, peppers, aubergine and courgette. Season with salt and pepper, then sizzle for 10 mins, tossing occasionally. Add the tomatoes, garlic, basil and tomato purée, plus a drop more oil if the pan is dry. Sprinkle over the sugar, add the vinegar and continue to cook for 5 mins more. Tip into a bowl and leave to cool slightly.
• Open out the saddle of lamb and remove the 2 small, loose fillets of meat. Make a cut into each fillet, but do not completely cut them in two. Open them up and flatten them out, then set aside.
• Place the saddle on a board, skin-side down, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon about one-quarter of the ratatouille down the gap in the centre between the main fillets of meat, then lay the 2 flattened smaller fillets over the ratatouille.
• Lift one of the flaps up and over the meat and ratatouille, then repeat with the other flap to make a neatly packaged joint. Place the joint, flap-side down, on the board ready to be tied.
• Using a good 3m length of butcher's string, tie the meat around the width twice. Secure with a knot but do not trim. Use the long piece of string to make a loop, then pull it over the lamb like a lasso. Pull to secure, but not too tightly. Repeat 6 times at even intervals along the joint. Flip the joint over and weave the string through the loops on the bottom of the joint. Tie the string and trim with scissors. You are now ready to roast your lamb.
• Heat oven to 240C/220C fan/gas 9. Put the lamb in a roasting dish and drizzle with oil. Season generously, then roast, undisturbed, for 20 mins. Lower oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and continue to roast for 40 mins. Remove the lamb and leave to rest for 30 mins.
• Cut off the string, pour the roasting juices into a bowl, then remove the lamb to a board. Spoon off all the fat and, if needed, reheat the juices in a pan. If the remaining ratatouille is cold, reheat in the microwave. Dress the salad in a drizzle more oil and plate up.
• Neatly carve the lamb into slices about 3cm thick. Carefully lift the slices and place onto warmed plates. Use a couple of tablespoons to shape 2 quenelles of ratatouille and place them next to the lamb. Pile a few dressed salad leaves between the lamb and ratatouille. Serve straight away with the roasting juices on the side.

SADDLE OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Rub lamb well with a little salt, pepper, and rosemary. Place on a rack and roast, allowing about 12 minutes per pound, until the internal temperature has reached 145°F. Salt again just before removing from the oven. Let stand for 10 minutes in a warm place before carving.
• Remove the strings which hold the roast together and with a sharp knife cut the meat in long, thinnish slices parallel to the spine. Run the point of the knife along the bone to loosen the slices. Repeat on the other side. Turn the roast over and remove the small filets on the underside. Slice them in rounds. Serve each person a long slice and one or two of the small slices from the filet, with some of the pan juices.
• Potatoes Anna and lightly sautéd zucchini are excellent with this. Drink a good red Chassagne-Montrachet.
• Season the saddle well with rosemary and a little garlic. Roast as directed. Broil or roast at least one lamb kidney, trimmed and soaked in milk for 1 hour, for each serving. Carve the roast and garnish it with the kidneys and the rounds of the filet. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, buttered crumbs, and salt to taste. Serve with Hollandaise sauce seasoned with garlic and finely chopped anchovy filets to taste.