Seven Hour Spoon Lamb Recipes

MEAN'S LAMB YOU CAN EAT WITH A SPOON

Steps:

• Cut most of the fat from the lamb.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in the pot and brown lamb slowly on all sides, about 15 minutes.
• Or you can brown in the oven in a roasting pan on high heat.
• preheat oven to 325°.
• Remove browned lamb& set aside.
• Sauté onion, shallots and garlic ( with pancetta, if used) until caramelized-about 20 minutes.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Discard fat in pan.
• Add wine and 2 cups stock and boil rapidly until reduced by half, scraping up any browned bits.
• Add herbs,tomato paste and reserved vegetables to pan.
• Return lamb, fat side up, to the pot.
• If needed, pour in enough additional stock to reach two-thirds of the way up sides of meat.
• Cover tightly and bake until done, basting often to keep the lamb from becoming dry.
• As the meat cooks and is constantly basted, the rich sauce is absorbed and the meat becomes very succulent.
• The dish is done when the lamb falls off the bone in pieces when prodded with a fork - this takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour per pound (lb) (metric = 1 hour per 450 g).
• (after browning).
• Plan on seven hours total for an entire leg of lamb. ( example calculation is based on a 2.8 kg / 6.1 lb leg).
• Remove the lamb to a platter.
• Cover with heavy foil to keep warm.
• Pour off all the liquid into a saucepan, skim the fat and boil down about 20 minutes, until it is rich and thick.
• Correct the seasoning and serve as a sauce over the lamb and vegetables.
• SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve with Potato & Root Vegetable Mash or Roasted Vegetables.

GIGOT A LA CUILLèRE - FRENCH SLOW COOKED SPOON LAMB

Steps:

• TRADITIONAL OVEN METHOD.
• Preheat the oven to 120 degrees C or 248 F, gas mark 1/2. Season the leg of lamb with salt and pepper to taste.
• Put the casserole or roasting tin on the hob and brown the lamb thoroughly on all sides (it is important to do this now as the meat will not brown in the oven). If the lamb sticks add a little oil to the casserole. Use the cooker extractor fan to disperse any smoke. Drain away any fat that has gathered in the bottom of the pan.
• Add the vegetables to the casserole along with the white wine and stock. Season and bring to the boil.
• Put on the lid or cover tightly with tin foil and place in the pre heated oven. Bake for 7 hours, turning twice during this time. The meat will be cooked after 5 hours and offer no resistance to the knife.
• The meat requires no resting time when cooked in this way. Transfer the meat and vegetables to a serving platter. Strain the meat juices into a jug and pour or blot away the fat with kitchen paper. Pour the juices into a pan and boil vigorously until reduced by a quarter.
• Adjust the seasoning and add the Armagnac or Madeira. Garnish the lamb with the sprigs of thyme and serve with the sauce. Use a spoon to carve and serve the lamb - a la cuillere as the French call it. It will be tender, succulent and delicious !
• CROCK-POT COOKING METHOD.
• Carry out steps 3 and 4 as shown above; then place into the crock-pot and cook on high for 2 hours and then on low for about 6 hours, or until the lamb is cooked as instructed above - soft and spoonable!
• Serve as before.

AMBASSADE D'AUVERGNE'S SEVEN-HOUR LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Layer onions, carrots, garlic, bay leaves and thyme on bottom of nonreactive covered roaster large enough to hold lamb.
• Place lamb on top of onion and carrot mixture. Roast, uncovered, at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove roaster from oven. Generously season lamb to taste with salt and.
• pepper. Return to oven and roast another 30 minutes.
• Remove roaster from oven, leaving oven on. Place roaster on top of stove, slowly pour wine over lamb, cover, and bring liquid to a boil.
• Return roaster, covered, to oven. Roast 4 to 5 additional hours until lamb is fork tender, but not falling off bone. (Timing will vary according to size and age of lamb and type of roasting pan used,).
• Check on lamb, reducing oven temps if lamb begins to burn or liquid begins to evaporate too much. When lamb is fork tender, bury potatoes and tomatoes in liquid. Cover and roast until potatoes are cooked through, about 1 hour more. Lamb should now be very tender, still juicy and falling off bones.

SEVEN HOUR LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Heat a big stockpot full of water, when it boils plunge the lamb in, restore heat and simmer 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
• In a deep pan or skillet, melt butter and brown lamb all over. Flambe with the brandy or gin and when the flame dies add the rest of the ingredients and season to taste.
• Place a lid or cover on the dish and bake at 120C degrees for seven hours, turning twice.
• Once cooked, use an eggflip as well as a fork or similar to lift out the lamb to a serving dish. The meat will be falling apart -- mmmm.
• Puree the remaining sauce, return to the dish and reduce to a sauce consistency ( the garlic will help thicken it ).
• Check the seasoning and serve in a small jug. This lamb needs lots of mash or bread or both to mop up the juices, as well as plenty of good red wine on the table.