Tender Lamb in Rich Puttanesca Sauce

Preheat the oven to 130°C fan bake or 150°C conventional bake.

Lamb

Heat a little oil in a large heavy-based frying pan over a very high heat.

Pat the lamb dry with a paper towel, trim any fat and season with a little salt and pepper. Add 2-3 chops to the pan and cook until browned on one side. Turn over and cook for another few minutes. Transfer to a warmed plate and repeat with the remaining chops.

Discard any fat from the pan and return to a medium heat. Add a little oil and the garlic, onion, anchovies, oregano and rosemary. Cook for 7-10 minutes until the onion is soft. Add the tomato paste, tinned tomatoes, chilli powder (if using), stock and sugar. Stir to combine and nestle the chops in so they’re covered. Bring to a boil then turn off the heat straight away.

If your pan is ovenproof, cover and cook in the oven for 3 hours. If not, transfer everything to a covered casserole dish before placing in the oven.

With 15 minutes remaining, add the olives and capers (if using).

Remove from the oven, stir, and then check the seasoning. If the sauce seems a little thin, remove the lamb then simmer rapidly in an uncovered saucepan for 5-10 minutes to thicken it.

Mash

Steam or simmer the kumara pieces in a covered pot until tender – about 15-20 minutes.

Drain the water off and place back over a low heat, uncovered, for a few minutes to evaporate the excess moisture. Add the butter, Parmesan and parsley, and mash well to combine. Season to taste and keep warm.

To serve

If you like, you can pull the meat off the bones before you serve it. Spoon some mash into warmed serving bowls or plates, then top with meat and a few spoonfuls of the sauce. Sprinkle with parsley, Parmesan and a splash of balsamic vinegar.