This cooking method is known as Salt-Baked Lamb, an ancient technique that seals in the flavors and juices of the meat. Here's a brief overview of how it’s typically done:
Preparation
1. Ingredients: Whole lamb, coarse salt (lots of it), water, and optional spices or herbs.
2. Stuffing: The lamb is often stuffed with aromatic herbs (like rosemary, thyme, or garlic) to enhance its flavor.
3. Seasoning: The lamb may be lightly seasoned with spices before being encased in salt.
Building the Salt Mountain
1. Salt Mixture: Mix coarse salt with water to create a paste that clumps together.
2. Encasing the Lamb: The lamb is completely covered in a thick layer of the salt mixture, forming a "salt mountain."
Cooking Process
The salt-crusted lamb is baked in a large oven or a traditional pit. The salt layer hardens into a shell, creating an oven within an oven.
This method ensures that the lamb cooks evenly, remaining moist and tender while infusing it with a unique flavor.
Serving
Once cooked, the salt crust is broken and removed. The lamb is then carved and served, revealing incredibly juicy and flavorful meat.