Lamb With A Dukkah Crust And Herb And Cucumber Relish Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Put the almonds and garlic in a food processor and process to a rough paste. Brush the fat side of the racks with a little mustard, then press the almond crust onto it. Roast for 30-40 mins until the lamb is browned on the outside and pink inside. Leave to cool, then wrap in foil and chill for up to 24 hrs.
• Put all the herb relish ingredients in the food processor and process to a rough paste. Pour into a small bowl. When ready to serve, cut the lamb between the bones into little cutlets and arrange over a platter. Spoon a little herb relish onto each or serve separately in a small bowl.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Use a sharp knife to make little slits all over the lamb, then insert a slice of garlic into each hole. Tip the onions and carrot into a large flameproof roasting tin, then place the lamb on top and season. Pour 250ml water into the base of the tin and roast in the oven for 30 mins.
• Meanwhile, make the crust by mixing together all the ingredients and seasoning well. Remove the lamb from the oven and turn the heat down to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Brush the lamb all over with the mustard, then pack on the crust in a thick layer - don't worry if any falls in the tin, this will be used in the gravy later (you probably won't use the entire crust, so set aside what's left for later). Return the lamb to the oven and cook for a further 1 hr 30 mins. Check the lamb during cooking and add more water to the base of the tin if it dries out.
• Remove the lamb from the tin, cover lightly with foil and leave to rest for 30-40 mins - if covered too tightly, the crust will go soggy.
• To make the gravy, put the roasting tin with the vegetables still in it directly on the heat and whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 min, then add the wine, scraping any flour from the bottom of the tin. Let it bubble for 1 min, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 10-15 mins until thickened, stirring in a little of the reserved crust for a thicker gravy. Strain the gravy through a sieve into a pan, discarding the vegetables left in the sieve. Add mustard to taste and stir through the butter. Keep warm until ready to serve.