Slow Cooker Lamb with Red Wine Gravy

Having never owned a slow cooker, I was very pleased when Appliances Direct recently sent me a Crockpot slow cooker to try. I’ve slowly roasted joints in the oven but have never used a slow cooker before and wasn’t sure what to expect. Slow cookers seem to be big business in American kitchens but not so many of us seem to use them over here. I’d like to rectify that with my one-woman slow cooking revolution!

Appliances Direct is a web store selling everything from kettles to fridge freezers. As well as all their kitchen supplies, they also sell TVs and other electrical items. This lovely red original Crockpot is just over £59 but they have other brands and smaller and cheaper options to suit all budgets so take a look!

I was surprised to see that you can even make puddings (cakes… yes really) so its really not just about meat. However, everyone has to start somewhere so I’ve started with meat, maybe the cakes will come later! Here’s the best of my experiments to date

Slow roast lamb with red wine gravy

Ingredients serve 4

• 1/2 courgette cut into chunks
• 2 large carrots, peeled and halved
• 2 red onions, peeled and cut into quarters
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed but still whole
• half leg of lamb
• 300ml  vegetable stock
• 200ml good red wine
• 2 sprigs of rosemary and a small pinch of thyme
• S & P to taste

Method: 

• Put the vegetables and garlic in the slow cooker
• Add the lamb, stock and wine and season with salt, pepper and the herbs.
• Turn your slow cooker onto low. Add the lid and cook for 6 – 6 1/2 hours until the meat falls easily off the bone.
• Remove the meat and transfer to plate.
• Strain the liquid through a sieve into a small pan and bring to the boil, adding a small amount of cornflour to thicken to a gravy.
• Serve the lamb with the gravy, (a few of the vegetables if you wish) mashed potato and some steamed broccoli.

The finished thing – slow cooker lamb served with some of the slow-cooked vegetables, mash and broccoli.