Slow Roast Lamb Shoulder | Greedy Gourmet

Q: What can you do with leftover lamb?

Use leftover lamb to make sandwiches , salads, or shepherd's pie. You can even make leftover turkey goulash , leftover turkey nachos , and leftover turkey lasagna .

Question 1

Do you need to debone the lamb shoulder?

Accepted Answer

My slow-cooked shoulder of lamb recipe calls for leaving the bone in for two good reasons. First, the bone helps preserve the bold flavor of the lamb as well as make it so tender. Second, it makes the lamb meat more delicate, and pulling the meat off the bone is so visually appealing.

Actually, there's a third reason: presentation and overall impression. The shoulder of lamb seems more festive when presented on the dish with the bone.

You can opt to make this slow-cooked shoulder of lamb recipe boneless. However, you must adjust the cooking times and limit the amount of dry heat the lamb is exposed to. Otherwise, you risk making the lamb meat tough and dry.

If you want to use a rolled boneless lamb shoulder in this recipe, ensure you have a cooking thermometer to monitor the cooking temperature. That's the only way to ensure you will cook the lamb sparingly.

Question 2

How long should you cook slow roasted lamb shoulder?

Accepted Answer

For me, four hours is a good amount of time. Slow-cooking lamb can take as long as seven hours, but I prefer a slightly higher temperature and shorter cooking time.

Question 3

Does lamb shoulder get more tender the longer you cook it?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for certain cuts. Slow-cooking lamb shank or lamb shoulder in liquid for a long period of time gives you incredibly tender meat.

Cooking cuts such as lamb chops over a long period of time can lead to the meat being dry and chewy.

Question 4

What temperature should lamb shoulder be cooked at?

Accepted Answer

This lamb shoulder should be cooked at 180°C/350°F (160°C fan).

Question 5

How do you know when a slow roast shoulder of lamb is cooked?

Accepted Answer

Slow-roasting lamb shoulder for over four hours will ensure the lamb is cooked properly. Just to be sure, lamb is cooked properly after it has reached an internal temperature of 60°C.

Question 6

Is it better to cook lamb shoulder fast or slow?

Accepted Answer

Cuts like shoulder of lamb need to be slow roasted to achieve wonderfully tender, melt-in-the-mouth melt, especially when cooked in liquid.

Searing the lamb shoulder on high heat before cooking it low and slow produces the best results. This is because you want that marvelous caramelized finish on the outside of the meat.

Browning the meat at a high temperature creates the Maillard reaction.

Question 7

What's the maillard reaction?

Accepted Answer

It’s a chemical reaction between the meat's reducing sugars and amino acids. It’s what gives browned food that incredible flavor.

Different foods react in different ways to being cooked on a high heat. Meat such as lamb is amazing when browned before being cooked low and slow.

Question 8

How do you stop slow cooked lamb shoulder from drying out?

Accepted Answer

Ensure enough liquid is in the pot to keep the meat succulent and moist. If you notice the pot is drying out, add more liquid.

Question 9

How do you skim fat off the top of the meat juices?

Accepted Answer

The simplest way is to use a large spoon to 'skim' the fat from the top of the juices.

However, you can also use a few little ingenious tricks. Use a slice of bread or a paper napkin to soak up the fat floating on the surface. Another idea is to allow the meat juices to cool. The fat will begin to solidify, allowing you to remove it from the surface easily.

Question 10

What can you do with leftover lamb?

Accepted Answer

Use leftover lamb to make sandwiches, salads, or shepherd's pie.

You can even make leftover turkey goulash, leftover turkey nachos, and leftover turkey lasagna.

Question 11

What herbs go with lamb?

Accepted Answer

Lamb is such a robust ingredient, it pairs exceptionally well with herbs. These include traditional bold herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, as well as spices like cumin and many more.

Question 12

Do balsamic onions go with lamb?

Accepted Answer

This lamb pairs perfectly with balsamic onions, which are integral to balancing this dish. When you make these balsamic onions, follow the recipe. However, instead of keeping the onions whole, you can cut them into sections to be soft and tender.

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