Four Sisters Food

Ingredients

Lamb:

Leg or shoulder of lamb

Lots of garlic (I use a whole head)

Lemon pepper seasoning

Roast Potatoes:

1 – 2 potatoes per person

Rice bran oil

Mint sauce:

2 handfuls mint

Brown vinegar

Sugar

Method

For the lamb:

Heat oven to 160°C / 320°F fan bake

Place lamb in a roasting pan and season with lemon pepper seasoning on the top side.  Surround with unpeeled garlic cloves.  Add water so pan is around three quarters full.  Bake for about half an hour then turn the lamb and season the other side.  Add more water until pan is again three quarters full.  Bake again for about 1½ to 2½ hours, turning every half hour.  Let the water evaporate a bit until there is enough left to make as much gravy as desired.  The lamb is done when it is very tender but not falling apart.  Remove from the pan to a serving dish, cover with foil and let rest for about 25 minutes. 

To make the gravy, squash the garlic from the husks and discard the husks.  Check the seasoning and thicken with enough cornflour mixed with water to give preferred consistency. (Some like it runny, some like it thick)

For the potatoes:

Peel the potatoes and cut into quarters for small potatoes and sixths for larger ones.  Add to salted boiling water and cook until ¾ done.  Pour into a colander, be a bit rough with them, the more you rough them up, the crisper they will turn out.  Heat some rice bran oil in a large pan.  Add the potatoes and cook slowly, turning occasionally until golden and crisp.  For even more crispness, use a knife to partially halve the pieces of potato while cooking in the oil.

For the mint sauce:

Make early and let steep for as long as possible.  Finely chop the mint and place in a small bowl.  Add enough vinegar to just cover.  Add 3 teaspoons sugar and stir until dissolved then taste.  Keep adding sugar, stirring and tasting after each spoon until desired balance of sugar and vinegar is achieved.