Lambīs knuckles on shallots with potato-olive
oil puree:
I donīt mean the haunch here, but the small
front knuckles. To me, they are much jucier, and theyīre cheaper than the
haunch, as well. Well roasted and garnished, they are also a visual dream on the
plate. To this "belongs" a special potato puree, which is whisked
using not milk/cream, but olive oil. I do without a vegetable side, because I
donīt pass the vegetables from the roasting pan through a sieve for the gravy -
as most people do - but use them to garnish the plate. Like this - well roasted
- I like them better and it also saves time.
Ingredients for 4 people:
Salt and pepper the lamb haunches, sprinkle
with flour and set aside for about 20 mins (donīt panic, they wonīt lose
liquid). In the meantime, clean shallots and other vegetables and cut in small
pieces (the shallots only in half).
Roast knuckles really sharply in a big
roasting pan, towards the end add the shallots. Add 1 glass of red wine
(doesnīt have to be a Barolo) and off they go to the oven (360°F). Let simmer
for about 2 hours, turn over and add lamb juice every once in a while. After
about an hour, add the remaining vegetables and the marjoram. For the last 15
mins, I remove the lid and turn the heat to 480°F.
The puree is really quick. Cook potatoes and
mash them. Add the squished garlic cloves and then: tons of olive oil! (Itīs
also good for digestion) Keep adding olive oil with the stirring rod - as for
whipping cream - until the stuff has a consistency similar to cream cheese. Soft
as butter! Tastes totally different from mumīs old mashed potatoes.
Well, and with this of course has to go either
a Bordeaux or something comparable from Italy. With lamb, I prefer a strong
Estčphe (e.g. Cos) or a Giusto di Notri by Tua Rita (despite Ornellaia,
Sassicaia and other noble brews still my favorite from Italy).
Enjoy !
