I love lamb, I love slow cooking, I love leftovers, and I love reheated lamb at sea. This one is easy, essentially foolproof, and delicious. On this occasion I served it with Yotem Ottolenghi’s sweet potato chips and steamed greens.
I’ve done this in the yacht on a Saturday delivery for a Sunday race, and it is a winter favourite on a Sunday afternoon at home. The leftovers for lunch or reheated in foil containers are better than the first time around!
Roughly grind the fennel 
Anchovy, lemon, rosemary, garlic = delicious 
In my favourite roasting dish
INGREDIENTS:
- lamb shoulder – about 1.2kg
- 5 tablespoons of fennel seeds
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 12 anchovies (or more/less to taste)
- 2 sprigs of rosemary
- peel from two lemons
- a glug of olive oil
METHOD:
Pre-heat the oven to 90 degrees.
Crush the fennel seeds roughly with a mortar and pestle, then add the garlic, anchovy, rosemary and peel. Mash to a course paste. Press it into the lamb, all over. Put the shoulder in a heavy roasting tin with a lid or casserole dish, skin side up. Pour over a glug of olive oil and pour a cup of water down the side, so it doesn’t wash off the marinade.
With the lid on, roast for three hours. Usually the meat gives up liquid, but if it dries out, add some more water. Once the meat is beautifully tender (but still holding its shape), take the lid off and crank the heat to 200 degrees, for a further 30 minutes. This will dry out the fat and give it a lovely crispness.
It was at this stage I put in the chips. After 30 minutes I took the lamb out of the oven, put the lid back on, and let if rest for another half an hour while the chips finished cooking.
The photos below show it on the dinner table, and then in my biome lunch box for tomorrow’s lunch.
