Whole Lamb Shoulder

Method

• step 1

  Rinse the lamb shoulder and pat dry with kitchen roll

• step 2

  Smear the whole joint in yellow ballpark/swedish mustard and then liberally coat with California Rancher Santa Maria Seasoning finishing with a sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves

• step 3

  Leave covered in the fridge for at least 4 hrs, then remove 45 mins before you plan to cook.

• step 4

  Set your BBQ up to cook indirectly at around 120C. A smoker is great for this. Then set the lamb on the grill with a small handful of woodchips on the coal - nothing too strong as we don't want to overpower. Allow to cook for around 2-3 hrs.

• step 5

  Whilst this is cooking - chop up a couple of onions, carrots and stalks of celery. Saute gently with half a dozen cloves of garlic then pour in a bottle of red wine and a generous squeeze of tomato puree.

• step 6

  Cook this mixture down for 20 mins then set aside.

• step 7

  When the lamb has developed a golden crispy hue, it's time to start phase two - the braise. Tip your veg mix into a baking tray then sit the lamb on top. Cover tightly with two layers of thick foil.

• step 8

  This can either be put in a low oven or back on the smoker/BBQ. Either way it will need another 3-4 hrs. A good way to tell it is done is to wiggle the bone - if it is loose then you're done and you should be able to cut the meat with a wooden spoon.

• step 9

  Strain the veg and juice out of the tray, separate the fat then simmer down to reduce and use as gravy.