Lemon, Garlicky, Rosemary Lamb Shoulder
The lamb shoulder is infused with lemon, garlic, and rosemary before being cooked over hot coals (or a gas BBQ). Enjoy this epaule d'agneau au citron, ail, et romarin from the French Grill cookbook by Susan Herrmann Loomis.
Equipment
- cutting board, large plastic with grooves to catch the juices
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup fresh rosemary leaves
- 2 garlic cloves green germ removed if necessary
- 1 zest of one lemon
- 1 lamb shoulder boned, about 3 to 3-1/2 lbs or 1.5- 1.75kg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp coarse sea salt
- 1 tsp green peppercorns coarsely ground (or white and black peppercorns)
Instructions
- Mince together the rosemary leaves, garlic, and lemon zest and transfer to a small bowl.
- Make six ½-inch (1.25cm) deep slits in the lamb shoulder. Insert as much of the rosemary mixture as you can in each slit. Mix the remaining mixture with the olive oil and rub it over the lamb shoulder. Let the lamb sit at room temperature for 2 hours up to overnight. If leaving the lamb overnight, wrap and refrigerate it and remove it from the refrigerator at least 2 hours before grilling so it is at room temperature.
- Build a good-sized fire about 25 minutes before cooking the lamb shoulder. When the coals are red and dusted with ash, divide them in the barbecue, putting half the coals on either side. Set a BBQ grill pan in the middle of the coals, then set the grill over the coals.
- When the grill is hot, place the lamb shoulder in the centre over the drip pan. Sprinkle salt and a bit of freshly ground pepper over the shoulder, and close the grill, ensuring the air holes are open on the top and the body of the barbecue. Grill for 12 minutes until the shoulder is pale gold on the grill side. Turn the shoulder, season with salt and pepper, and grill for another 12 minutes.
- Transfer the shoulder to the part of the grill over the coals, cover, and grill until the shoulder is deep golden, about 10 minutes. Turn and repeat.
- NOTE: The interior temperature of the lamb should now be about 150ºF (65.5ºC), which means it is medium and, to my way of thinking, perfectly cooked. If you like it rarer, brown it on just one side; if you like it more well done, adjust the initial cooking time in the centre of the grill accordingly.
- Transfer the lamb from the grill to a cutting board that will catch the juices. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes and up to 20 minutes before slicing the lamb. Drain the juices into a small pitcher and serve alongside the meat.
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