Roast lamb rack, shoulder croquette, caponata

Serves 4.

Roast lamb rack, shoulder croquette:

½ rack of lamb

420g boneless lamb

shoulder

420g lamb bones

150g potato

80g celery

150g carrot

20g onion

15g rosemary

2 eggs

150g breadcrumbs

150g plain flour

200ml white cooking wine

10g arrowroot spice

40ml cream

40g butter

Pinch of salt

Caponata:

60ml olive oil

1 aubergine

150g shallot

300g plum tomato

10g capers

30g dried sultanas

150g celery

30ml red wine vinegar

20g pine kernels

20g fresh basil

Pinch of salt

Adults need around 2000Kcal/8400kJ a day

Typical values per portion: Energy 836Kcal/3500kJ

1. Roast the lamb bones until well-coloured.

2. Rough chop celery, carrot, onion and garlic and colour in a pan. Add the roasted lamb bones and half the rosemary. Cover with water and simmer for 4 hours to make a stock

3. Season the lamb shoulder and pan fry to colour all over, add the white wine and stock and braise in oven at 150°C for 4 hours, until soft.

4. Make mash potatoes with butter, cream and olive oil.

5. When the shoulder is cooked pick meat and add the mash and some finely chopped rosemary with salt and pepper, pipe the mix into a large sausage around 4 cm in diameter and roll in cling film, tying the ends and chill. Then cut into 6cm bits and flour, egg and breadcrumb.

6. Strain the lamb cooking liquor and reduce until you have a rich flavour. Mix arrowroot with cold water to make a pourable paste and use to thicken the sauce (you may not need all of it so just use enough to give a coating consistency.

7. Season lamb racks and pan fry to colour all over, put in oven at 160°C till its 58°C and rest.

8. Deep fry croquettes until golden and cut lamb into cutlets.

9. Caponata: Pour the olive oil into a large saucepan or casserole dish, place over a medium heat and add the 2cm diced aubergines. Cook for 15-20 minutes until they are soft. Scoop the aubergines out of the pan. Add the finely diced shallots and cook for 5 minutes until they are soft and translucent. Add the tomatoes cut into a 1cm dice and cook slowly, so they break down and turn to a soft mush, then add the aubergines back to the pan. Add in the capers, raisins, celery and vinegar, season well and cover with a lid. Cook over a low heat for 40 minutes, until all the vegetables are soft. Stir gently so it doesn’t break up too much; the stew should smell sweet and sour. Toast the pine nuts and add along with the torn basil at the end.

10. Spoon some caponata onto the plate, place a croquette and two lamb cutlets on top.

11. Finish with some of the sauce.