
Ingredients
- 1 (450g) tub sheep’s milk yoghurt
- 25g flat-leaf parsley, thick stalks discarded
- 25g dill, thick stalks discarded
- 1 large garlic clove, plus 1 garlic clove, crushed or finely grated, for the salad
- 25g unsalted butter
- 25g pistachios
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 French-trimmed rack of lamb (approx. 456g)
- 1 tbsp sumac
- 2 tbsp agave nectar
- 2 limes, zested and juiced
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 250g peas in pods, shelled
- 125g purple or green asparagus, shaved into ribbons with a veg peeler
- 1 (80g) pack pea shoots
- 15g mint, leaves picked
- 1 good pinch pul biber
Method
Step 1
To make the labneh, mix the yoghurt with a pinch of salt; place in a muslin-lined sieve set over a bowl. Tie at the top to make a bag; strain in the fridge for at least 4 hrs or until thickened.Step 2
Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. For the crust, blitz the parsley, dill, large garlic clove, butter, pistachios and salt in a blender until combined. Tip the mixture out onto a large sheet of baking paper, cover with a second sheet and roll it out to roughly the size of the lamb. Chill until firm.Step 3
Heat a large frying pan over medium heat with the vegetable oil. Sear the lamb, fat-side down, until golden. Transfer to a roasting tin; drape the crust over the fat, trimming to fit and avoiding covering the bones. Roast for 15 mins, until cooked but still pink. Leave to rest for about 7 mins.Step 4
For the salad, combine the sumac, agave, lime zest and juice, olive oil, crushed or grated garlic and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Add the peas, asparagus, pea shoots and mint; toss to coat.Step 5
Spread the labneh over a plate and top with the salad. Carve the lamb and arrange on top; sprinkle with pul biber. Serve any remaining salad on the side.