Slow-Cooked Christmas Spiced Lamb Shoulder with Herbs & Pomegranate

Orange, warming spices and pomegranate molasses turn a bone-in lamb shoulder into a centrepiece for six. The slow roast does most of the work; fresh herbs and pomegranate finish the platter.

Serves 6 · Prep 25 min · Cook 4 hours (plus 15 min resting)

Ingredients

• 1.8kg lamb shoulder, bone in
• 3 green chillies
• 6 garlic cloves
• 3cm knob ginger
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 tsp flaky salt
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cardamom pods
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 3 cloves
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 20g walnuts, toasted
• 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Zest and juice of 1 orange
• 200ml chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1/2 cup mint leaves
• 1/2 cup coriander leaves
• 1/3 cup (55g) pomegranate seeds
• 2 tbsp olive oil, extra
• Salt, to taste
• Vegetable oil, as needed for frying the herb sprigs

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 150°C fan-forced.
2. Toast the cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, cloves and cumin in a dry pan for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, then grind to a powder.
3. Blitz the chillies, garlic, ginger, onion, ground spices, toasted walnuts, flaky salt, pomegranate molasses, olive oil, orange zest and juice into a thick paste.
4. Cut a few deep gashes into the lamb shoulder and rub the paste all over, working it into the cuts.
5. Place the lamb in a large roasting dish, pour the stock around the base, and cover tightly with foil.
6. Roast for 3.5-4 hours, until the meat is falling off the bone, removing the foil for the last 30 minutes to colour the top.
7. Rest the lamb, loosely covered, for 15 minutes.
8. Roughly chop the parsley, mint and coriander and toss two-thirds with the extra olive oil, reserving a few whole sprigs.
9. Heat vegetable oil in a small saucepan to 180°C. Make sure the reserved herb sprigs are completely dry. Carefully fry them, one at a time, for 15-20 seconds until crisp and vivid green, then drain on paper towel and season with a pinch of salt.
10. Shred or pull the lamb at the table, spoon over the pan juices, scatter with the chopped herb mix, pomegranate seeds and crispy fried herbs, and serve.

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Lamb Shoulder Bone-in

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Plan your Christmas table

Lamb shoulder makes a slow-cooked centrepiece alongside our Christmas ham, pork and turkey options. Shop our Christmas range for the current selection, ordering information and Christmas collection and delivery dates.