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Kleftiko

By Groceree

Lamb shoulder sealed in a parcel with potatoes, lemon, garlic and oregano and cooked for three and a half hours, so nothing escapes until it is opened at the table.

Last updated

A foil parcel opened to reveal falling-apart lamb shoulder with potatoes, lemon and oregano
Servings
4 servings
Prep
25 min
Cook
3 h 45 min
Total
4 h 10 min

Ingredients

  • bone-in lamb shoulder1½ kg
  • potatoes1 kg
  • garlic cloves8
  • lemons2
  • dried oregano2 tbsp
  • olive oil80 ml
  • bay leaves3
  • feta (optional)150 g
  • salt
  • black pepper

Instructions

  1. 01

    Halve the . With a small sharp knife, cut 16 deep slits all over the and push half a garlic clove into each.

  2. 02

    Squeeze the juice of one of the and rub it over the with the , and plenty of and freshly ground . Leave it covered in the fridge for 1 hour if you have time.

  3. 03

    Heat the oven to 160°C.

  4. 04

    Line a deep roasting tin with two long sheets of baking paper crossed over, and a layer of foil under them.

  5. 05

    Peel the , cut them into large chunks, toss them with a little and and sit them in the base. Slice the other and lay the on top with the slices and , and pour over any remaining marinade.

  6. 06

    Bring the paper and foil up and crimp it into a completely sealed parcel. Any gap lets the steam out and the will roast rather than braise.

  7. 07

    Cook for 3.5 hours, undisturbed.

  8. 08

    Turn the oven up to 220°C. Open the parcel, break the into chunks and tuck them in, if using, and return it uncovered to the oven for 15 minutes to colour the top.

  9. 09

    Serve straight from the parcel, pulling the apart with two forks.

Notes

  • Kleftiko means stolen: the story is that it was cooked in a sealed pit so no smoke would give away the thieves. The sealing is the technique, not just the legend.
  • The potatoes sit underneath deliberately, cooking in lamb fat and lemon rather than in the oven’s dry heat.
  • No liquid is added. Everything it braises in comes out of the lamb and the lemon.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
880 kcal
Protein
53 g
Carbs
45 g
Fat
54 g

Estimated from the ingredients.

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