Ingredients
- For The Mutton
- 1 x 1.6 kg bone in leg of mutton
- 20 ml olive oil
- 2 tsp. sea salt
- 12 smashed cloves garlic
- 2 large onions cut into rounds
- 1 lemon cut into thin slices
- 2 bay leaves
- Sprig fresh thyme
- Sprig fresh rosemary
- 375 ml red wine
- For The Green Sauce
- Small bunch fresh mint
- Small bunch flat-leaf parsley
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp. capers
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 4 anchovy fillets
- Salt and black pepper
- 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of ½ a lemon
Introduction
A meltingly tender mutton dish enriched with aromatic red wine served alongside a zingy take on the classic Italian sauce salsa Verde.Method
Method for the Mutton
- Massage the meat with the oil, lemon, herbs & spices, the garlic, sea salt & marinate overnight in the chiller.
- Pre heat oven to 210°C fan /230°C (Gas Mark 8).
- Take a large casserole dish big enough to hold the mutton & roast for 25 minutes until well browned then remove onto a clean tray.
- In the same dish brown the onions & garlic with the herbs, lemon & spices from the marinade then lay the mutton on top of the onions.
- Next pour the red wine into the dish then cover with a sheet of damp greaseproof paper & a tight fitting lid or foil to seal.
- Reduce heat to 120°C fan /140°C (Gas Mark 1).
- Cook for 7 hours until meltingly tender then remove the lid; turn up the heat to 210°C fan /230°C (gas 8) & roast for a further 15 minutes until rich & caramelised.
- Pass the cooking juices through a fine sieve & boil to rich, glossy gravy (the gravy can be thickened with a little corn flour if desired).
Method for the Salsa Verde
- Put all the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Put into a sealable jar and pop into the fridge if making in advance.
Serve straight from the oven alongside a big bowl of Parmesan enriched soft polenta, the roasting gravy & freshly made green sauce.