Cookery blog: 11.5.09
A BBQ with a difference!
Bank holidays are always good for bbq's providing the weather is kind.
We decided to try our hand at pit roasting some lamb for a change.
The lamb was locally sourced at the P.E.Mead farm shop in Wilstone, it's a frozen half lamb that is all portioned up for you and because the lamb was around 10 months old when slaughtered, the joints are all of a good size.
Provided you have some freezer space, this is an economical way of buying lamb.
The leg of lamb was a good size which would easily feed eight of us, so we decided to use that, although we could have used the shoulder which would have worked equally well.
The lamb defrosted overnight and we had marinated it with garlic, rosemary and lemon wedges.
The following morning when it had defrosted, it was wrapped up in a double layer of foil with some more lemon and herbs.
It was time to dig the pit. We set some charcoal burning in the bbq whilst we dug the hole and then lined it with bricks. A layer of white hot charcoal was placed at the bottom of the pit followed by the lamb.
It was covered with more hot coals, a few terracotta tiles and then we buried under earth.
We anticipated that it should take between 4-5 hours to cook but we weren't sure how hot it was going to get so there were a few nervous moments as the afternoon wore on.
The earth on top of the pit was warm though which we thought was a positive signs !
At 5 o'clock we dug out the earth and were very relieved to see steam on the tiles and we could smell the fabulous aroma of roasted lamb.
It was delicious; the slow roasting had ensured that the meat was tender and the fat had melted away, making it was lean and juicy.
We served it with salad, new potatoes and a fresh courgette and tomato ratatouille - delicious.
It was so easy, we didn't have to keep watching the food, nothing got burnt and we didn't smell of smoke at the end of it.
I suppose some people may prefer the rituals of the more traditional BBQ, but for us it was actually quite nice not to have to do all of that and just sit back and relax.
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Weather for Tring
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -7 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
