Slow-roast Persian lamb with pomegranate salad

• pomegranate molasses↗4 tbsp tbsp
• ground cumin↗1 tsp tsp
• lemon↗juice 1

  juice 1

• olive oil↗1 tbsp tbsp
• garlic cloves↗2

  minced

• onion↗1

  roughly chopped

• shoulder of lamb↗1

  weighing about 1.6kg, lightly scored

• pomegranates↗seeds 2

  seeds 2

• flat-leaf parsley↗handful

  leaves

• bag watercress↗100g g
• small red onion↗1

  finely diced

• olive oil↗1 tbsp tbsp
• flatbreads

  to serve

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. In a small bowl, mix the molasses with the cumin, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic. Scatter the onion over a casserole dish or a deep roasting tin. Place the lamb on top of the onions. Pour the glaze over the lamb. Rinse the bowl out with about 200ml water, then pour it around – not over – the lamb.

2. 2

   Cover the dish with a lid or the tin with a large piece of foil. Roast the lamb, undisturbed, for 3 hrs, then remove the lid or foil and continue to roast for 30 mins to give the lamb colour. When the lamb has had its time, pour off the juices, remove as much fat as possible, then pour the juices back over the lamb.

3. 3

   Just before serving, gently toss all the salad ingredients together. Serve the lamb with its sauce, the salad and some warmed flatbreads.