Marinated barbecue lamb with shallot marmalade, served with griddled vegetables

Ingredients

• 4 cannons of lamb
  
   (see Choosing your meat, below), about 170g-200g each
• approx 350ml olive oil
  
• 2 bulbs fennel (trimmed, use fennel tops in marinade)
• 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  
• 1 bunch (about 250g) asparagus
  
• 2 red pepper (Gordon used Romano)
• 6-8 sprigs thyme
• 4 slices sour dough bread

For the marinade

• juice of 1 lemon
  
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 fat garlic clove, crushed or finely chopped
• fennel tops, from above, chopped
• handful mint
  
   leaves, roughly chopped

For the shallot marmalade

• 8 shallot
  
  , halved and sliced
• 4 fat garlic clove, sliced
• 3cm cube fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
• 1 tsp mild curry powder
• 2 tsp golden caster sugar
• 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 3-4 tbsp crème fraîche

  Method

  1. Make the marinade – in a bowl, whisk together 150ml olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, fennel tops and mint, a good pinch sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Pour half the marinade into a long dish, sit the lamb on top and cover with the remaining marinade. Set aside for at least 30 mins so that the flavours develop.
  3. Heat a frying pan over a high heat, add the shallots, garlic, ginger, curry powder, sugar, 4 tbsp oil and fry for 2-3 mins, stirring until caramelised. Turn down heat and add leaves from 4 thyme sprigs. Season and cook on medium heat for about 15 mins, stirring occasionally.
  4. Deglaze with wine vinegar, cook for another 5 mins, then stir in the crème fraîche and cook 2-3 mins. You should have a creamy soft mixture. Set aside to cool. The marmalade will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  5. Lightly trim the fennel roots, then quarter and cut each bulb into 8 wedges. Slash each wedge down the centre almost to the root. Lay on a plate, drizzle with a little oil and the balsamic vinegar. Season lightly.
  6. For the asparagus, cut off woody ends on the diagonal, then split each spear down the centre almost to the tips. Drizzle with a little oil and season well.
  7. For the peppers, remove stalk, slit open, remove seeds and ribs, then open out and cut into long 2cm-thick strips.
  8. Sprinkle the bread slices with crushed salt, more thyme leaves and lightly drizzle some oil. Set all the vegetables and bread aside.
  9. Lift meat from the marinade and lightly shake to remove any excess marinade. Place on the hot griddle (take care, as the griddle will flame up) and cook 6-7 mins each side, moving to the side of the grill if they start to burn. Press meat with the back of a fork to check for doneness (see Gordon’s tips, below). I serve my lamb medium rare. Allow 2 mins extra each side for well done. Remove cooked meat and leave to rest for 10 mins.
  10. Griddle vegetables starting with the fennel, allowing 3 mins each side until chargrilled and lightly softened. Then cook asparagus for 4-5 mins turning once, the pepper strips (3-4 mins) and finally the bread until lightly toasted. Slice the meat thinly lengthways. Spread the toast with shallot marmalade, top with the lamb and serve with the vegetables alongside.
  11. Source: bbcgoodfood.com