How To Make Kleftiko – Recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass

This Greek classical is said to beryllium named aft nan klephts – sheep rustlers who slow-cooked their ill-gotten gains successful underground pits to debar detection, aliases possibly to debar having to stock nan delicious results. As a law-abiding citizen, I for illustration to usage an oven, but I person to concede that those naughty bandits knew a point aliases 2 astir flavour.

Prep 20 min
Marinate 8 hr+
Cook 4½ hr
Rest 30 min+
Serves 6

1 bone-in lamb shoulder (about 2kg)
1½ heads garlic
Olive oil
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
2 lemons
1kg waxy potatoes (see measurement 3)
1 ample reddish onion
1 reddish pepper
12 cherry tomatoes
2 bay leaves

1 A statement connected nan meat

Kleftiko is traditionally made pinch lamb shoulder, which is ideally suited to slow cooking. You could usage a enarthrosis from an older sheep aliases goat instead, but neither will beryllium arsenic tender arsenic lamb; they will beryllium stronger successful flavour, though. If you for illustration leg, dainty it successful nan aforesaid way, but carnivore successful mind that it will astir apt require a small little clip successful nan oven.

2 Marinate nan meat

Peel and crush nan half caput of garlic, and swipe nan nutrient each complete pinch oliva oil. Sprinkle nan cinnamon, oregano and brackish each complete nan lamb, past apical pinch nan crushed ail and nan juice of 1 lemon, and swipe successful utilizing your hands (wash and swipe your hands pinch nan trim citrus to thief get free of nan smell of ail afterwards). Cover and chill for 8 to 12 hours.

3 A statement connected nan potatoes

Shortly earlier cooking, power nan oven to 160C (140C fan)/325F/gas 3. While it’s heating up, hole nan vegetables. Waxy potatoes (such arsenic charlottes, maris peers, anyas aliases thing described arsenic a crockery variety) are nan champion stake here, because they will support their style during nan agelong cooking time. There’s nary request to peel them unless they’re very dirty.

4 Prep nan vegetables

Cut nan potatoes into wedges (if they’re small, conscionable trim them successful half; time off them full if they’re existent babies). Peel nan bulb (a yellowish bulb would besides beryllium good here, arsenic would shallots, peeled and trim successful half), past trim it into chunky wedges. Halve nan pepper, region and discard nan stalk, pith and seeds, past trim nan soma into heavy strips.

5 Other flavourings

Wash nan tomatoes – if you prefer, usage larger ones, successful which lawsuit trim them successful half or, for really ample fruit, into wedges. You could besides adhd large chunks of feta (don’t crumble it, different it will dissolve into nan gravy) aliases kefalotyri, a fewer sprigs of caller oregano, fennel, aliases moreover chunks of courgette aliases aubergine, though those aren’t strictly traditional.

6 A statement connected nan cooking vessel

Take a ample lidded casserole crockery that’s large capable to clasp nan lamb pinch nan lid connected tightly, aliases usage a roasting tin lined pinch capable baking insubstantial to fold complete nan apical of nan associated connected some sides (you’ll astir apt request astatine slightest 2 sheets of insubstantial group astatine correct angles to each other).

Put nan potatoes, onions, capsicum and tomatoes successful nan casserole aliases tray.

7 Add lemon, ail and bay

Lay nan marinated lamb connected apical of nan vegetables, past move immoderate remaining marinade complete nan top. Cut nan remaining caput of ail and citrus successful half crossed their thickest points, compression nan citrus concisely connected apical of nan lamb (no request to wring it perfectly dry), past tuck nan citrus shells, nan half ail heads and nan bay leaves successful and astir nan joint.

8 Cover and bake

Pour 200ml h2o into nan dish. If utilizing a casserole dish, tuck a damp portion of greaseproof insubstantial connected apical of nan meat, past screen pinch nan lid; if utilizing a roasting tray, sprinkle nan overhanging insubstantial pinch water, past fold it up and complete nan nutrient and tuck successful to shape a sealed package. Bake for 4 to 5 hours, until nan nutrient is very tender.

9 Finishing touches

When nan lamb is soft, move up nan oven to 220C (200C fan)/425F/gas 6 and region nan lid and/or greaseproof paper. Roast for a further 10-15 minutes, past assistance retired nan nutrient and group speech to remainder for astir 30 minutes. Put nan cookware of vegetables backmost successful nan oven for 15 minutes, until they’re starting to brown, support lukewarm until nan nutrient has vanished resting, past carve and service up.