Lamb Kleftiko

Make enough brine to cover the lamb shoulder, using 100 grams table salt for every litre of water. Add the lamb shoulder to the brine and leave for 8-10 hours.

Preheat the oven to 130°C.

Remove the lamb shoulder from the brine and pat dry. Heat the vegetable oil in a sauté pan large enough to take the whole shoulder. Brown the lamb evenly all over and set aside.

Lay a large sheet of parchment paper over a medium-sized oven tray and place the chopped carrot, onions, leek and tomato in the centre. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over the vegetables and season with sea salt and ground pepper.

Make small slits in the lamb shoulder and insert a garlic clove and some rosemary into each pocket. Mix the thyme, bay leaves and the remaining rosemary and garlic through the vegetables.

Place the lamb shoulder on top of the vegetables. Slice one lemon and place on and around the lamb shoulder. Drizzle the juice of a second lemon and the remaining olive oil over the lamb shoulder, and sprinkle with a generous amount of ground pepper. Wrap the paper around the lamb and secure the parcel with kitchen string.

Cook the shoulder for 5 hours, or until the lamb is falling apart. It is worth checking after 3½ hours and keeping an eye on the meat. Pull out some of the bones; they should come away from the meat and out very easily. Once cooked, take the lamb out of the oven allow to rest for 30 minutes.

Baste the lamb with some of the juices from the tray and squeeze over the juice from the remaining lemon. Serve it up with the slow-cooked vegetables.