Connemara Easter Lamb with a Herb & Mustard Crust

Lamb is everyone’s favourite for Easter Sunday. It’s an incredibly versatile meat which takes flavours of all kinds really well. This Easter lamb recipe is from our book ‘The Proof is in the Pudding’ sold in aid of Cystic Fibrosis West. It’s from Tim O’Sullivan, Executive Chef at Renvyle House Hotel in lovely Connemara. Tim’s recipe is:

How to Cook Connemara Easter Lamb with a Herb & Mustard Crust

by Tim O’Sullivan, Renvyle House Hotel

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 Racks of Lamb (Trimmed)
• Salt & Pepper
• Rosemary, as Required
• 2 Teaspoons Dijon Mustard
• Herb & Apricot Stuffing
• 75-100g/ 3-5 oz Butter
• 2 Shallots
• 100g / 4 oz Fresh Herbs (Parsley, Thyme, Mint)
• 50g / 2 oz Dried Apricots
• 100g Kelly’s Black Pudding
• 100g / 4 oz Fresh White Breadcrumbs

• Ratatouille
• ½ Aubergine
• 2 Peppers, Deseeded
• 2 Courgettes
• 6 Mushroom
• 1 Clove Garlic
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 Tomatoes (skinned, deseeded & chopped)

• Rosemary Jus
• 1 Glass Of Red Wine
• Rosemary
• 1 Tsp Redcurrant Jelly
• 25g / 1 oz Butter

• To Finish
• Pesto
  

• Garnish
• 1 Parsnip (Thinly Sliced)
• Flat Leaf Parsley

Method

How to prepare the lamb

1. Heat a large griddle pan and season the lamb with salt and pepper.
2. Seal the lamb on both sides in the pan, add a little rosemary and place in a roasting tin in a fairly hot oven, 400°F / 200°C / Gas Mark 6, for 18 minutes or until it is cooked as you like it.

How to make the stuffing

1. Melt the butter in a pot, add most of the herbs with the chopped apricots Kelly’s Black Pudding and diced shallots.
2. Cook for about 3 minutes, mix in most of the breadcrumbs and keep warm.

How to make the Ratatouille

1. Dice all of the listed vegetables finely and cook in oil with the crushed garlic and the tomatoes for 5 minutes. Keep warm.

How to make the sauce:

1. Remove the lamb from the oven and set aside; for the sauce.
2. Deglaze the pan with red wine and a pinch of chopped rosemary.
3. Add the redcurrant jelly and work in 25g / 1 oz of butter.

How to finish the lamb and garnish

1. Coat the outside surface with a mixture of mustard, the remaining crumbs and the rest of the mixed herbs.
2. Finish under a hot grill for 2 minutes to crispen and brown.
3. Garnish: Deep fry the sliced parsnips in hot oil until crispy, chop the parsley finely and decorate.