Slow Cooked Lamb Shawarma

This meltingly tender Slow Cooked Lamb Shawarma is the stuff food dreams are made of!! Slathered in a deceptively simple shawarma spice rub then slow cooked until fall apart, the flavour and fragrance of this lamb is absolutely heavenly. This recipe is ideal for butterflied lamb leg OR lamb shoulder.
While it takes time to roast, it’s a very straightforward recipe – and will feed a crowd. Sensational for finishing on the BBQ!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2kg / 4 lb lamb shoulder (bone in) or 1.7 kg / 3.5 lb butterflied lamb leg (Note 1)

SHAWARMA PASTE:

• 3 garlic cloves , minced
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp ground cardamon
• 1 tbsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (1/2 tsp = not spicy)
• 1/4 cup / 65 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 2 - 3 tbsp / 40 - 60 ml lemon juice
• 2 tsp smoked paprika (ordinary also ok)
• 1 1/2 tsp salt

COOKING:

• 2 cups / 500 ml water

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F (standard) or 160C/320F (fan forced / convection).
2. Place Paste ingredients in a bowl, starting with 2 tbsp lemon juice, and mix. It should be a wet paste that can be slathered onto the lamb (see video).
3. Place lamb in a large roasting pan. Slather all over with paste. Optional: Marinate 24 hours (not mandatory, I usually skip).
4. Position the lamb with the fat side up. Pour water around, cover tightly with foil.
5. Roast 3 hours, removing from the oven 2 - 3 times to spoon over pan juices (ie baste).
6. Remove foil. Meat should be tender - check with 2 forks.
7. Baste again, then return to oven for 30 minutes to get a nice crust.
8. Remove lamb from roasting pan - reserve juices.

FINISH ON BBQ, OPTIONAL (NOTE 2):

1. Cool the lamb for 20 minutes or so (so it firms up slightly, easier to handle).
2. If you used shoulder, pull the meat off the bone in 4 or 5 chunks (see video).
3. Preheat BBQ to medium and oil if required.
4. Coat lamb in pan juices. Sear on both sides until deep golden and a crust forms. Dab with pan juices on both sides.

SERVING:

1. Slice or shred lamb, as desired. Drizzle with plenty of juices.
2. Make Lamb Shawarma wraps by serving with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and minted yoghurt (Note 3) or pile over Lemon Herbed Couscous (Note 4) and garnish with pomegranate seeds and parsley or chopped coriander/cilantro (if desired). Both pictured in post.