Braised Lamb Shoulder with Vegetables and Pistachios

This recipe comes from Sam Smith of Tusk in Portland, Oregon. Smith notes: "I like to eat it with a steak knife, keep some texture". Serve this with lots of bread for soaking up the juices; a simple mixed green salad with champagne vinegar, black pepper, and edible flowers if available; and a super cold rose or white wine.

3 lb lamb shoulder, in one large piece
¼ cup sea salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. black pepper, freshly ground
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground sumac
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup carrots, finely chopped
1 cup onion, finely chopped
¼ cup garlic, thinly sliced
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, minced
1 preserved lemon, seeds removed, finely chopped
2 cups meat stock (lamb, chicken, beef, pork or a mix)
1 Tbsp. rose water
2 cups baby turnips, kept whole if small, or halved or qtered needed; leaves reserved if possible
2 cups carrots, coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
dried edible rose petals
3 Tbsp. pistachios, roasted and chopped
pistachio or extra-virgin olive oil
flaky sea salt

Set the lamb shoulder in a large roasting pan or baking dish.

In a small bowl, mix the salt with the sugar, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and sumac. Rub the mixture all over the lamb and transfer to the refrigerator. Let sit, uncovered, overnight. The next day, retrieve the lamb from the refrigerator and discard any liquid that accumulated in the container. Using clean paper towels, dry the lamb well. Using butcher's twine, roll up and tie the lamb. Let sit out until it comes to room temperature, 1-2 hours.

Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C/130°C fan, Gas Mark 2).

Set a large Dutch oven over high heat. Add 3 Tbsp. olive oil and heat until shimmering, about 90 seconds. Lower the heat to medium-high and add the lamb shoulder; let cook, rotating as needed, until well-seared on all sides, about 8 minutes. (Be careful about temperature: the spices burn easily if the pot becomes too hot.)

Remove the lamb to a clean plate. Discard all but about 3 Tbsp. of fat from the pan. Lower the heat to medium-low and add the carrots, onion, garlic, cilantro, preserved lemon, and a pinch of kosher salt. Cover and let the vegetables steam a little, stirring every few minutes, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the stock and the rose water. Carefully return the lamb shoulder along with any resting juices to the pot. (The liquid should only come partially up the side of the lamb shoulder.)

Bring to a simmer, top with a round of parchment paper, and cover with the lid. Transfer to the oven and cook until the lamb is tender but not falling apart, about 2½ hours. (You should be able to poke through with a skewer, and feel just a little resistance.)

Retrieve the lamb from the oven and remove the lid and the parchment. Transfer the lamb to a large plate and set aside.

Add the turnips and carrots to the pot and return the pot to the oven, uncovered. Cook until the vegetables are softened, but still maintain a bit of their integrity, about 30 minutes. Retrieve the pot from the oven and stir in the turnip greens if using. Return the lamb to the pot and bake again, uncovered, to heat the lamb through, 10 minutes.

Remove and transfer the lamb to a clean cutting board. Cut away the twine and slice the lamb into thick slices. (They may fall apart slightly.)

Add the braising liquid to a shallow serving bowl and stir in the lemon juice. Add the sliced lamb. Top with a drizzle of pistachio or olive oil, the chopped pistachios, and some rose petals and finishing salt to taste.