Middle Eastern Lamb Shoulder with Couscous Salad
The flavours of the Middle East resonate with the Australian summer. Mint, figs, pomegranate, cumin, and thyme. This dish is packed with flavour and can be easily cooked in a BBQ with a lid. Just remember to cook it fast to get the golden-brown crust and then low and slow to make the meat inside lip-smackingly tender. This will feed a big family get-together, and you can stretch out the numbers by making more couscous salad.
Lamb
1.5-2kg lamb shoulder
Olive oil
Salt
2 tbsp za’atar
1 tsp cumin
Couscous Salad
500g couscous
1 stock cube
500ml boiling water
2 bunches parsley, leaves only, chopped
1 bunch mint, leaves only, chopped
100g dried cranberries or currants
100g flaked almonds
2 tablespoons thyme leaves
Dressing
125g tahini paste
50ml extra virgin olive oil
50ml lemon juice
Salt and pepper
6 figs, sliced*
70ml pomegranate molasses
Extra parsley leaves to decorate
Preheat the oven to 240ºC. Place the lamb on a roasting tray and rub with oil, salt, and the za’atar and cumin. Place the lamb in the oven and roast for 20 minutes or until the skin begins to brown. Reduce the heat to 140ºC, cover with foil and continue to cook for a further 4-5 hours or until the meat comes off the bone.
Meanwhile make the salad by putting the couscous in a large, pre-warmed bowl. Dissolve the stock cube in the boiling water and pour over the couscous. Mix well. Let stand for 10-15 minutes until cool. Add the other ingredients and mix through. Cover and chill.
Make the dressing by putting the remaining ingredients, except the pomegranate and parsley, in a large jar and shaking well to mix into a thick creamy dressing. (If the tahini is too thick, add a little hot water). Chill.
When the lamb is done, and you’re ready to serve, cover a very large serving platter with the couscous salad. If there is salad leftover, serve this from another bowl. Place the lamb shoulder on the couscous. Separate the fat from the cooking juices and pour the cooking juices over the lamb. Dress the couscous with the tahini dressing, drizzle with the pomegranate molasses and dress with parsley and sliced figs. Carve and serve at the table.
*You can also use fresh pomegranate seeds instead of figs. Simply scatter over salad at the end with parsley.
