Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder With Green Beans

Published Aug. 10, 2022

Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder With Green Beans
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
3½ to 4 hours
Rating
4(314)
Comments
Read comments

There are many ways to achieve a succulent braised lamb shoulder. In a covered grill over indirect heat or in a low oven, it will take about 3 hours, but you could also use a countertop slow cooker. It’ll take longer but you’ll know the meat is ready when it’s well seasoned and nearly falling apart. For convenience, you may prepare the braise a day or two in advance. Then finish it, cooking it with green beans (or a mixture of various summer beans) and hot pepper, then showering it with chopped parsley, dill and mint.

Featured in: Slow-Cooked Lamb That Can Stand the Heat

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
    Subscribe
  • Print Options


Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings
  • 1(3-pound) boneless lamb shoulder roast
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1tablespoon roughly chopped garlic
  • 4rosemary sprigs
  • 6bay leaves
  • ½teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1pound green beans, preferably a mix of green beans, romano beans and yellow wax beans
  • Red-pepper flakes
  • 2tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish
  • 2tablespoons chopped dill, for garnish
  • 2tablespoons chopped mint, for garnish
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

529 calories; 41 grams fat; 17 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 17 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 8 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 32 grams protein; 732 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by
Cooking Newsletter illustration

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare a covered gas or charcoal grill for medium indirect heat, or heat an oven to 325 degrees.

  2. Step 2

    If the roast is tied, remove netting or string. Lay the roast on a work surface and open it flat. Sprinkle the insides with salt, pepper and chopped garlic. Reroll the roast (no need to tie it), leaving the garlic inside. Place the roast seam side down in a small roasting pan or 9-by-13-inch baking dish just big enough to hold it.

  3. Step 3

    Tuck rosemary and bay leaves under the meat. Season the top with salt and pepper, allspice and cloves. Drizzle with olive oil and smear the oil over the surface. Add 1 cup water to the pan.

  4. Step 4

    Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and place in a covered gas or charcoal grill, on set up for medium indirect heat, or in a 325-degree oven. Cook until the meat is fork-tender, 3 to 3½ hours. (Be sure to remove the foil after about 2 ½ hours, so that the meat browns.) From time to time, check that there’s still about 2 inches of liquid at the bottom of the roasting pan, adding more water as necessary. When the meat is done, set aside until cool enough to handle, then tear into large shreds, reserving any of the remaining concentrated pan juices and skim the fat.

  5. Step 5

    Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to the boil and add salt. Blanch beans for about 1 minute, then remove spread out on a baking sheet to cool.

  6. Step 6

    When ready to serve, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. When hot, add blanched beans and cook for 1 minute, then add a pinch of red-pepper flakes, the pan juices and shredded meat, and cook just a bit longer, until everything is warmed through, tossing well. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley, dill and mint.

Ratings

4 out of 5
314 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Comments

I would love the instructions for the slow cooker method

Am I supposed to add the shredded meat to the skillet with the green beans?

" When ready to serve, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add blanched beans and stir-fry for 1 minute, then add a pinch of red-pepper flakes. Cook just a bit longer, until the pan juices and shredded meat are warmed through, tossing well. Transfer to a serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley, dill and mint." A step is skipped in these directions, yes? When you stir fry the beans you add the meat and pan jus?

I slow cooked this recipe by following the directions for seasoning the lamb, then loosely tying it once more so that I could brown the rolled shoulder in a skillet. Once the entire shoulder had a good sear, I placed it in the slow cooker just as directed for roasting, snipped the string to loosen the roast. Deglazed the skillet with the 1 cup of water, and put that in the crockpot too. Cooked for about 6 hours on high and it was delicious over cheesy polenta.

Tasty! I added a touch of vinegar near the end and I was generous with the red pepper. The green beans were perfect and the lamb was delicious and tender.

We made this dish in the oven following the recipe. It was delicious. The aroma alone will make you swoon!

Private comments are only visible to you.

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.