Marrakech lamb with tahini squash gratin

Sunday lunch recipe for 6 people, takes only 50 mins; recipe has lamb, rapeseed oil, red onion, garlic clove, ground coriander, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, sumac, breadcrumb, parsley, mint, pistachio, feta, sour cherry, preserved lemon, tahini, saffron yogurt, butternut squash, tahini, double cream and lamb stock.

Marrakech lamb with tahini squash gratin

Marrakech lamb with tahini squash gratin

Recipe by Chef Soomro Course: Sunday lunch
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

30 mins

Ingredients

  • Garlic Clove: 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • Red Onion: 1 red onion, chopped
  • Mint: small bunch mint, chopped, plus a few whole mint leaves to serve
  • Parsley: small bunch parsley, chopped
  • Tahini: 3 tbsp tahini
  • Ground Cumin: 2 tsp ground cumin
  • Butternut Squash: 1 large butternut squash, or 2-3 smaller seasonal squashes like acorn or onion
  • Feta: 100g feta, crumbled
  • Rapeseed Oil: 2 tbsp olive or rapeseed oil
  • Breadcrumb: 50g fresh breadcrumbs
  • Ground Cinnamon: 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • Lamb: 1.6-1.8kg boned shoulder of lamb (ask the butcher to do this for you)
  • Ground Coriander: 2 tsp ground coriander
  • Double Cream: 100ml double cream
  • Pistachio: 85g pistachios, roughly chopped
  • Preserved Lemon: 2 small preserved lemons, rind only, finely chopped
  • Sumac: 1 tsp sumac
  • Sour Cherry: 60g pack dried sour cherries
  • Lamb Stock: 300ml chicken or lamb stock
  • Saffron Yogurt: Saffron yogurt, to serve (see tip for recipe)

Directions

  1. Remove the lamb from the fridge and allow to come to room temperature while you prepare the stuffing. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and fry for 8-10 mins until starting to turn golden. Add the garlic and spices and cook for 1 min more, then scoop out into a large bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, herbs, pistachios, feta, cherries, lemon and tahini. Season and mix everything together. Unroll the lamb and season well on both sides. Pack the stuffing down the centre of the lamb, pressing to help it stick, then re-roll and tie up with kitchen string (see tip, below left). Flip the lamb over so it is seam-side down, and pack any stuffing that has fallen out back in. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
  2. Now assemble the gratin. Slice the squash in half to separate the thinner top half and the bulbous bottom half. Peel both pieces with either a sturdy peeler or a sharp knife. Cut down the centre of the thinner piece, then slice very thinly into half moons. Halve the bottom piece and scoop out the seeds, then thinly slice this too. Whisk the tahini, cream and stock in a jug with some seasoning. Arrange the sliced squash in a shallow ovenproof baking dish, approximately 22 x 30cm, seasoning well between the layers. Finish with a layer of neatly lined-up half moon slices. Pour over the tahini stock.
  3. Place the lamb on top of the gratin, seam-side down, and rub with the remaining oil. Place in the centre of the oven and roast for 1 hr 20 mins for slightly pink lamb. Lift the lamb off the gratin and transfer to a plate, covered with foil to keep warm, and leave to rest. 4 While the lamb rests, increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Spoon any excess fat off the top of the gratin, then return to the oven for 20 mins until golden and crisp. Place the lamb back on top of the gratin to serve, scattered with mint leaves and a pot of Saffron yogurt (see tip, below left) on the side.