• 1 leg of lamb, preferably salt-marsh, about 2.5 kg
• 8 garlic cloves, peeled and split, any green germ removed
• 2 sprigs of rosemary, picked
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Olive oil

For the Salt Crust

• 1 kg ordinary table salt
• 1 kg flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 egg, beaten
• A little Maldon or rock salt
• Handful of herbes de Provence

Prick the lamb deeply here and there all over with a small sharp knife and insert the garlic and rosemary into the holes. Season well and then colour the lamb all over in the olive oil until nicely golden. Season again and leave to go cold.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6.

To make the salt crust, mix the table salt and flour together, then add just enough water to bind to a pliable dough. Allow to rest for 5–10 minutes.

Roll the pastry out, liberally dusting it with flour, until big enough to enrobe the lamb completely. Place the lamb inside and completely wrap, sealing with egg wash as you go. Brush all over the outside with egg and, for a better presentation, dust the top with a little Maldon or rock salt and some dried herbs. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes – this will set the paste immediately. Turn the oven setting down to 180°C/gas 4 and roast for a further 1½ hours.

Take the lamb out of the oven and leave undisturbed for 20 minutes.

With a serrated knife, cut around the crust to open the top – ideally this should be done in front of your guests, so the salty, garlicky, herby aromas combine with the smell of the lamb... Heavenly!