SPICE-CRUSTED LAMB SHOULDER WITH TRUFFLED MUSHROOM, BRIOCHE, WALNUT STUFFING

by Leah Halmagyi

Ingredients

  • LAMB SHOULDER
  • 500g button mushrooms
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • sea salt flakes and freshly-ground black pepper
  • ½ cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped
  • 1 bunch oregano, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 15g truffle, finely grated
  • ½ cup brioche crumbs
  • 1.4kg boneless butterflied lamb shoulder
  • CREAMED KALE
  • 1 bunch kale leaves, ribs removed
  • 2 cups white wine
  • 1 Tbsp cider vinegar
  • ½ brown onion finely sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 300ml cream
  • sea salt flakes and freshly-ground white pepper
  • TRUFFLE-HONEY CARROTS
  • 4 carrots, peeled
  • 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 75g unsalted butter
  • 75g honey
  • sea salt flakes and freshly-ground black pepper
  • 5g truffle, finely grated
  • ¼ bunch parsley, very finely grated
  • TO SERVE
  • red wine jus
  • toasted hazelnuts

Instructions

LAMB SHOULDER
1 Preheat oven to 200°C. Toss the mushrooms, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and half the oil, season with salt and pepper, then put in an oven dish and bake for 30 minutes. Transfer to a food processor with the walnuts, oregano and garlic and pulse until a coarse paste forms. Fold in the truffle and brioche.
2 Lay the lamb shoulder skin side up and score diagonal to the grain with a sharp knife. Turn over, spread with the mushroom stuffing, then roll up gently and tie securely. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.

CREAMED KALE
1 Blanch the kale leaves in rapidly-boiling salted water until wilted drain well, then refresh until cold running water.
2 Combine the wine, vinegar, onion, garlic and bay leaf in a saucepan and simmer rapidly, until reduced by half. Strain into a second saucepan with the cream and bring to a simmer again. Put in a. blender with the kale leaves and purée until smooth. Season with salt.

TRUFFLE-HONEY CARROTS
1 Cut the carrots into batons. Heat the oil and butter in a large pan over a moderate heat. Add the carrots, cook for 3 minutes, then add the honey and season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens, then mix in the truffle and parsley.

TO COOK
1 Preheat oven to 200°C. Heat the remaining oil in a large pan over a moderate heat, then fry the lamb for 15 minutes, until browned all over. Transfer to a baking dish and roast for 30 minutes. Cover with foil, reduce the oven to 150°C, then bake for 2½ hours. Carve and serve with the creamed kale, carrots, jus and hazelnuts.