Cannon of Lamb : with celeriac potato cake : Mary Berry

Mary Berry shares her 'Country House Secrets' with this lovely recipe. Cannon of lamb is also known as loin fillet, it's a lovely, tender cut that only needs a quick roast. Served here with crisp celeriac and potato cakes - but swede rosti could be an alternative - it makes for quite a special meal, certainly one to keep in mind.

Ingredients:

Serves Four
For the lamb
2 loins of lamb
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 large sprigs fresh rosemary
salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the celeriac & potato cakes
350g/9oz floury potatoes, peeled
250g/9oz celeriac, peeled
knob of butter
1 tbsp. olive oil
For the mint gravy
knob of butter
1 level tbsp. plain flour
225ml/8fl oz. hot beef stock
100ml/3½fl oz. port
1 tsp redcurrant jelly
dash gravy browning
2 tsp chopped fresh mint

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.

2. To make the celeriac and potato cakes, grate both the potato and celeriac into a bowl using a coarse grater. Squeeze to drain all the water out, then tip onto a clean tea towel and squeeze again to ensure that every drop has been removed. Season with salt and pepper. Split into four and shape each portion into a cake (similar to a fish cake). Set aside.
3. To make the lamb, brush the loins with oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat a frying pan over a high heat and fry them for 30 seconds on each side, or until browned. Lay the rosemary in a roasting tin, sit the browned lamb on top and roast for 8 minutes. Remove and leave to rest – the lamb will remain pink inside.
4. To make the gravy, heat the butter in a pan, add the flour and whisk until combined. Gradually whisk in the stock and port and bring to the boil. Add the redcurrant jelly and gravy browning. Simmer until smooth and glossy.
5. To cook the celeriac & potato cakes, heat the butter and oil in a frying pan and fry the cakes for about 5–6 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown and crisp.
6. Add the mint to the gravy just before serving. Carve each loin into four slices on the diagonal. Divide the celeriac & potato cakes between four plates. Sit two pieces of lamb on top of each potato cake and pour the gravy around the edge. Serve...

Alternative:

Should you wish to serve the lamb with swede (rutabaga) rosti, you can find the recipe here

Mary Berry's original recipe is here 

sharing some country house flowers - image from here

You will find a variety of recipe ideas within this blog, but please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan