Name: Slow-cooked lamb in Soave with roast cherry tomatoes and semolina gnocchi
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 145 min
Total time: 175 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 boneless lamb shoulder (about 2kg), fat trimmed (see note); 10 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 15 anchovy fillets; ½ bunch each of oregano and thyme; 4 rosemary sprigs; 200 ml extra-virgin olive oil; 400 ml semi-dry white wine, such as Soave; 1 litre (4 cups) chicken stock; Semolina gnocchi; 600 ml milk; 175 gm white semolina; For seasoning: freshly ground white pepper; 2 eggs; 180 gm finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano; 100 gm butter, melted, for brushing; Roast cherry tomatoes; 1 bunch basil; 300 gm (2 branches) truss cherry tomatoes; 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 40 ml extra-virgin olive oil

Slow-cooked lamb in Soave with roast cherry tomatoes and semolina gnocchi

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for slow-cooked lamb in Soave with roast cherry tomatoes and semolina gnocchi by Nicky Riemer from Melbourne Wine Room.

Serves 6

Prep

30M

Cook

2H 25M

Total

2H 55M

“Jenny Anderson supplies me with the most wonderful lamb, which you can order online. Use the boned shoulder cut of lamb or even a boned leg. You can make the gnocchi the day before (it’s better this way).”

Ingredients

1 boneless lamb shoulder (about 2kg), fat trimmed (see note)

10 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

15 anchovy fillets

½ bunch each of oregano and thyme

4 rosemary sprigs

200 ml extra-virgin olive oil

400 ml semi-dry white wine, such as Soave

1 litre (4 cups) chicken stock

Semolina gnocchi

600 ml milk

175 gm white semolina

For seasoning: freshly ground white pepper

2 eggs

180 gm finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

100 gm butter, melted, for brushing

Roast cherry tomatoes

1 bunch basil

300 gm (2 branches) truss cherry tomatoes

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

40 ml extra-virgin olive oil

Method

Main

1.For semolina gnocchi, bring milk to the boil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan, then add semolina in a thin steady stream, whisking continuously. Bring back to the boil, stir continuously until thick (5-7 minutes), season to taste and remove from the heat. Meanwhile, lightly whisk eggs with half the Parmigiano-Reggiano, then add to semolina mixture, stirring to combine. Pour into a lightly oiled 20cm square cake tin and refrigerate until chilled (3-4 hours), then turn out, cut into triangles and set aside.

2.For roast cherry tomatoes, preheat oven to 180C. Place basil in a roasting pan, top with tomatoes, scatter with garlic and drizzle with olive oil. Roast until just tender and skins start to split (10-15 minutes), set aside and return to oven to warm through during last 5 minutes of baking semolina.

3.Reduce oven to 160C. Place lamb shoulder skin-side down on a work surface and scatter with one-third of the garlic and 5 anchovies. Season to taste, roll into a cylinder and tie at intervals with kitchen string.

4.Scatter half the herbs over base of a casserole, place lamb on top, then pour over olive oil. Rub remaining herbs and garlic over lamb, add wine, stock and remaining anchovies. Cover with lid, ensuring lamb is not touching lid. Bake for 45 minutes, reduce heat to 140C and cook until very tender and juices run light pink when centre of lamb is pierced with a skewer (45-50 minutes). Rest, covered, for 10 minutes.

5.Increase oven to 200C. Place semolina triangles on a buttered baking tray, brush with butter, scatter over remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake until golden (5-10 minutes). Serve immediately with thickly sliced lamb, pan juices and roast cherry tomatoes.