Shuwa (Omani Slow-Roasted Spiced Lamb)
Local name: شوا
In short: Lamb marinated overnight in garlic, vinegar, chili and warm spices, wrapped tightly and roasted low and slow until it pulls apart. It takes about 4 h 25 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 4 h
- Resting
- 12 h
- Total
- 4 h 25 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 390 kcal
Shuwa is the festive dish of Oman, cooked for Eid. A whole lamb or goat is rubbed with garlic, vinegar, chili and warm spices, wrapped in banana or palm leaves and lowered into a sealed underground fire pit, where it cooks slowly for up to two days. Families open the pit on the last day of the holiday and share the meat from huge platters. This oven version keeps the same ideas on a smaller scale, with a long marinade and a long, low roast.
Instructions
- Blend the garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, date paste, oil, all the spices and the salt into a thick paste.
- Cut deep slashes, about 2 cm (3/4 in) deep, all over the lamb. Rub the paste over the meat and into the cuts. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 12 hours, or up to 48 hours.
- Heat the oven to 150°C (300°F). If using banana leaves, soften them by dipping them in hot water for 30 seconds, then wrap the lamb in them. Wrap the whole parcel in two layers of heavy-duty foil and crimp the edges to seal.
- Set the parcel on a rack in a roasting pan with the water in the base. Roast for 4 hours, until the meat is very tender and pulls away from the bone (about 90°C / 195°F).
- Rest the parcel for 20 minutes before opening it carefully, because hot steam will escape.
- Pull the meat from the bone in large pieces, spoon the juices over it and serve with rice.
Tips
- Banana leaves add a faint grassy aroma, but two layers of heavy-duty foil work almost as well. Seal the parcel well so the steam stays inside.
- Goat shoulder is traditional and needs about 30 minutes longer. A bone-in leg is leaner, so cut the roasting time to about 3 1/2 hours.
Questions and answers
How long should shuwa marinate?
At least 12 hours, but 24 to 48 hours gives the deepest flavor, as it does in Oman. Keep it covered in the fridge and turn it once.
What do you serve with shuwa?
Rice, often flavored with saffron or turmeric, along with a tomato and chili sauce and a simple salad.
Can I cook shuwa in a slow cooker?
Yes. Cook the marinated lamb on low for 9 to 10 hours with 120 ml (1/2 cup) of water, then brown it under a hot broiler for 5 to 10 minutes to finish the surface.
How long does it take to make Shuwa (Omani Slow-Roasted Spiced Lamb)?
About 4 h 25 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 4 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Shuwa (Omani Slow-Roasted Spiced Lamb)?
About 390 kcal per serving, with 36 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 25 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 390 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 36 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 25 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 920 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
