Barbecued lamb with salsa verde
Give your barbecue a makeover with this succulent and colourful dish that’s perfect for cooking for friends.
Ingredients
- 1 double lamb rump, boned and butterflied to equal thickness
- half bunch fresh parsley
- half bunch fresh mint
- half bunch fresh oregano
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1 small green chilli, deseeded
- 4 tsp capers
- 250ml/9fl oz olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
- 200g/7oz large pitted green olives, roughly chopped
- sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
For the couscous
Method
Put the lamb in a large shallow dish. Blend the parsley, mint, oregano, garlic, chilli, capers and 150ml/5fl oz oil in a food processor. Pour two thirds of the mixture over the lamb, cover with clingfilm and marinate in the fridge for 24 hours. Reserve the remaining mixture in the fridge, covered.
When you are ready to cook, preheat your barbecue to hot. The flames should have died down and the coals will be covered with white ash.
For the couscous, melt the butter with the oil in a heavy-based saucepan over a medium heat. Add the couscous and fry until dark and well toasted. Pour in 300ml/10fl oz cold water and cover with cling film, then set aside.
Mix the olives with the remaining 100ml/31/2fl oz oil, cover and set aside.
Cook the lamb on the barbecue for 4 minutes on each side, or until well browned but still pink in the middle. Transfer it to a serving plate, drizzle with oil and leave to rest for 20 minutes.
To finish the couscous, toast the almonds in a hot frying pan for 2-3 minutes. Fluff the couscous up using a fork, mix in the almonds, a drizzle of oil and a spoon of the reserved salsa verde and season with salt and pepper.
Arrange the couscous on plates and garnish with the olives. Add a spoon of the salsa verde. Carve the lamb and divide equally between the plates, drizzling with the resting juices.
