Home whole hogget/lamb roast DIY

I’m having a big party next month and have promised to roast a whole hogget/lamb. I’ve no idea what I’m doing, have no equipment and starting to feel worried about my promise.

I have lots of outdoor space – my current plan is to make a big fire in a half oil drum and to buy some kind of spit roast thing with a motor.

Does anyone have any tips or a guide?

Dig  big hole and cook it in a fire pit? Unless standing there for hours on end fettling the fire and turning the spit is part of the spectacle.

The river cottage meat book has a lengthy guide.

My in laws do it occasionally. You really need a couple of friends to help as it takes hours and involves some lifting and setting up the spit.

If you haven’t got the setup then you might want to look at hiring it from someone unless you have a welder hander. Even a lamb is pretty heavy so the spit needs to be heave duty.

longdog has it. Pit roast a long slow cook at firepit mk1 until it’s falling off the bone. No need to carve just fork it apart.

Anoint carcase in olive oil, salt and pepper plus some rosemary, garlic cloves into the thicker parts of the meat, slivers in the thinner parts. I’ll be along once it’s done to QC the results.

We did a whole piglet in an oil drum BBQ.  Low and slow, cooked it for about 6 hours,  Plenty of olive oil and salt, lots of turning. Nom

Lovely jubbly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaOCKxZkcE0&ab_channel=JamieOliver

Thanks @woodlikesbikes I have ordered an old copy of the book off amazon for £3.

@Longdog and @sandwich will have a look at that idea as well.

@woodlikesbikes that was a superb suggestion. What a guide and what a great book. Can’t believe I’ve never seen it.

Thanks!

No problem! It’s a great book. I once spent a most of a night reading it whilst working my way through a bottle of red!