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

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

“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).”

Serves 6

Cooking Time Prep time 30 mins, cook 2 hrs 25 mins (plus cooling)



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


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.

Note Rutherglen Premium Lamb delivers around Australia.

Drink Suggestion White Soave Classico.

RECIPE Nicky Riemer, Melbourne Wine Room PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Chen STYLING Geraldine Munoz and Emma Knowles DRINK SUGGESTION Max Allen


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