Ingredients
- 1 lamb shoulder (room temperature, approximately 2 to 2.3kgs)
- 1.5 bulbs garlic (1/2 peeled, the remainder broken up with skin on).
- 1 bunch rosemary
- 4 small onions, halved
- 1 and 1/2 cups strong chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 140 degrees celcius (fan forced).
Peel half a bulb of garlic (approx 6 pieces) and grind in a mortar and pestle with the leaves from 3 to 4 rosemary sprigs and the olive oil.
Slash the lamb every inch or so along the top, the cuts should be about 1/2cm deep.
Rub the garlic/rosemary paste mixture over the top and sides and into the cuts.
Season generously with pepper and a bit of salt.
Spread the unpeeled garlic cloves, onion and most of the remaining rosemary (save some to put on top) around the bottom of a deep roasting pan and sit the lamb on top of it.
Place the remaining rosemary sprigs on top of the lamb.
Pour the chicken stock into the pan (pour it in the edge of the pan, not over the lamb).
Cover the pan tightly with aluminium foil, you might need several layers, and put it onto the bottom rack of the oven away from the heating element.
Cook for 4 hours at 140C, then take off the foil and cook for 20 mins at 180C to crisp the surface of the lamb. (or 5 hours at 120C if you have the time).
Let rest for 10 - 20 mins and enjoy.