Lancashire Hotpot

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven

   1 min

   Set your oven to 160°C (fan 140°C, gas mark 3) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for even cooking. This will prepare it for the hotpot to come, allowing for a proper bake.

2. 2

   Brown the lamb

   23 min

   In a large, shallow casserole dish, add butter and heat over medium-high until melted. Add the lamb pieces in batches, ensuring they brown evenly on all sides, which should take about 5-7 minutes per batch. Once browned, transfer them to a plate to rest.

3. 3

   Brown the lamb kidneys

   15 min

   Using the same casserole dish, add the lamb kidneys and cook them over medium heat until they are nicely browned, approximately 4-5 minutes. This step builds flavor in the dish and utilizes the residual butter from the lamb.

4. 4

   Sauté onions and carrots

   17 min

   Add the sliced onions and carrots to the pan, cooking them together until the onions turn translucent and start to caramelize, about 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.

5. 5

   Incorporate flour and sauces

   12 min

   Sprinkle plain flour over the sautéed vegetables and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Then, mix in Worcestershire sauce followed by pouring in chicken stock. Bring this mixture to a boil, which will help thicken it slightly.

6. 6

   Combine meat and bay leaves

   3 min

   Gently fold the browned lamb and bay leaves into the pot, ensuring the meat is well coated with the sauce. Once combined, turn off the heat as you're ready to layer the dish.

7. 7

   Layer the potatoes

   4 min

   Arrange the sliced potatoes evenly over the top of the meat mixture, slightly overlapping them for a nice presentation. Drizzle with additional melted butter to enhance flavor and promote browning during baking.

8. 8

   Bake the hotpot

   1 min

   Cover the casserole dish with a lid and place it in the preheated oven for about 1½ hours. This slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld and the potatoes to become tender.

9. 9

   Finish with a golden crust

   22 min

   After 1½ hours, carefully remove the lid and brush the top of the potatoes with more butter. Increase the oven temperature to 200°C or place the dish under the grill for 5-8 minutes until the potatoes are golden and crisp on top.