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Smoked, barbecued goat.
Smoked, barbecued goat shoulder with cajeta barbecue sauce. Photograph: Elena Heatherwick
Smoked, barbecued goat shoulder with cajeta barbecue sauce. Photograph: Elena Heatherwick

An American barbecue recipe for smoked goat shoulder

America’s southern states argue about what ‘barbecue’ means. But whether it’s pig, cow, lamb or even goat, our resident has tips on how to cook it, as well as a buxom blueberry cobbler for dessert

We live in a house divided. Ten years ago, I married a barbecue-beef-loving girl from Kansas City, Missouri. Until we met, I’d assumed that Memphis, Tennessee – the home of Elvis and Sun Records – was also the capital of the slow-and-low cooking style that we call “barbecue” and, more importantly, that it only referred to pork. On my first visit to Kansas City, Molly was quick to correct me: the Midwestern town claims to be the world capital of barbecue, which means beef brisket (affectionately ordered at her local as “beef on bun with fry’” or beef brisket, sliced bread, pickle and french fries).

We both believe we’re right about what animal one is referring to when speaking of barbecue, so it’s best to check your geography before speaking out of turn. Pig reigns as the meat of choice throughout the Deep South states between Louisiana and the Carolinas, where I’ve spent most of my time. Just outside, in Kansas and the west of Texas, barbecue refers to beef. Originally from the Mississippi delta, I never knew a piece of brisket until I first visited my in-laws. But, regardless of these hyper-regional identities and nuances, barbecue pork is arguably the first cuisine of the south.

Everyone agrees that wood fire has transcendental powers over food. In the south, slowly smoked meats have sustained our culture for centuries. Whether done hot or cold, smoking continues to be a fiercely protected cooking style in all southern states, each one giving it a unique character.

When I was growing up in the south, there were so many good smoke joints surrounding my home that I never really bothered to try smoking my own. It came to me much later. As a young chef, I spent more of my training years looking outward to other cultures and, as a result, have only recently come to a better understanding of how properly to cook slow and low.

Hands-on experience and proper kit are key factors, but understanding the science behind what’s happening is also helpful. Barbecue can be a laborious process, requiring time, attention and far more finesse than backyard aficionados and even some restaurant critics give it credit for. Before starting that fire, take note of these key points on barbecue process and how to cook your meat to the optimum temperature.

My final advice on barbecue? Don’t overdo it. Its richness is such that I no longer eat a large portion at any one meal.

Also, save room for dessert. Pie, of the sweet variety, is particularly southern and is the perfect pudding to follow a barbecued meal. Cobbler – a sort of crustless version – falls loosely enough into the category of pie. This simple, unglamorous dessert rarely fails to please, and can be put together with very little effort. Use the recipe below as a base, and substitute your choice of summer fruits and spices as you like.

Three steps to great barbecue

The cooking process breaks down easily into three sections.

The initial cooking period. From the moment you put your rubbed meat into the smoker, most of what you’re accomplishing during this period is taking on smoke flavour. That is, your rate of cooking is relatively constant for the first couple/few hours. But when you begin to get above 70C/160F:

The cooking slows down, and you enter “the stall”. This is the second, purgatorial portion of the cook where collagen begins to break down, but it’s neither raw nor done. The rate of cooking slows down during this part of the process because of evaporative cooling, the method by which the meat is giving off moisture from the internal cells to the surface in order to cool off (similar to your body sweating). This in turn slows the rate of the heat penetrating the meat. After a certain amount of time, though, the harder collagen tissue within (the bits that make tough meat tough) will have dehydrated enough in order to dissolve, and the meat will quickly resume a sharper rate of temperature incline, called “the jump.’” This is the point where many professionals will wrap their meat in butcher’s paper, which helps to retain moisture near the surface and insulates the meat from drying out during the final bit of cooking.

The jump. This is the most crucial of the three sections to keep an eye on, because you don’t want to overshoot your ideal cooking temperature (between 91-95C when the collagen has fully turned into tender, meat jelly). I like to pull my meat when it’s between 89-90C internally. You can place it into a small container, such as a thermobox or insulated cooler and the temperature will continue to rise and carry over into the temp zone of 91-95C, where you’ll get the moist and tender meat you’re aiming for.

Brad McDonald: ‘My final advice on barbecue? Don’t overdo it. And save room for dessert!’ Photograph: Elena Heatherwick/The Guardian

Smoked goat shoulder (pictured main)

You will need a barbecue that has a lid, and preferably a built-in thermometer, to smoke the meat. Adding wood chips to the hot coals provides the smoke. Follow the same time and temperature instructions if cooking in the oven.

Serves 6
1 goat shoulder (around 1.25-1.5kg), shank removed
25g salt
100g black treacle
10g black peppercorns, crushed

1 Rub the goat shoulder with the salt and set aside for 10-15 minutes, or until the surface begins to sweat.

2 Rub the treacle all over the shoulder, then season with pepper. Smoke slowly in the covered barbecue at around 110C/230F for 2 hours.

3 Remove the shoulder, wrap it in greaseproof paper, then return it to the barbecue smoker for another 2-3 hours, or until a probe thermometer reaches 90C/195F. Allow the meat to rest in a warm area for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Cajeta barbecue sauce

Sauce matters: a good barbecue sauce stays with you all your life. Cajeta is a Mexican confection made from sweetened, caramelised goat’s milk; it’s similar to dulce de leche.

Serves 6
For the barbecue sauce

530g ketchup
40g tomato puree
360g apple cider vinegar
60g yellow mustard
1 heaped tsp garlic powder
1 heaped tsp salt
240ml water
450g light brown sugar

For the cajeta
500ml goat’s milk
140g sugar
1 vanilla pod or ½ tsp vanilla extract
1 cinnamon stick
½ tsp salt
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

1 Combine all the ingredients for the barbecue sauce, then simmer, stirring very frequently, until it reaches the thickness of ketchup. Set aside.

2 Now, make the cajeta. In a big pot, at least 3 times the volume of the goat’s milk, bring the milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt to a boil. Once boiling, remove from the heat.

3 Mix the bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) to a paste with 1 tbsp water. Add to the hot milk (it will foam up and bubble, but don’t be alarmed). Put it back on a low heat, stirring regularly. Simmer until it is caramel-coloured and thick, like toffee sauce. Reduce the heat as you go. It will take between 45-60 minutes.

4 To make the finished sauce, combine equal quantities of cajeta and barbecue sauce, then mix together until smooth.

Blueberry cobbler. Tip: freeze the blueberries the day before to release more of their juices in the final cobbler. Photograph: Elena Heatherwick/The Guardian

Blueberry cobbler

Serves 6
90g butter (ice cold)
210g flour
15g brown sugar
180ml buttermilk

For the filling
1kg blueberries
120g caster sugar
15g cornflour
1 cinnamon stick
½ vanilla pod, seeded
40g butter, melted

1 Cut the butter into the flour and sugar until it has the texture of rolled oats. Stir in the buttermilk to bring the mass together. Wrap in clingfilm and store in the fridge while you make the filling.

2 Set the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 5. Toss all of the filling ingredients (except the butter) together and pour it all into an 25cm square baking pan. Top with the melted butter, distributing well. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the blueberries begin to release some of their juices. Remove from the oven and use a greased spoon to scoop small, scone-sized dollops of the biscuit dough all over the fruit.

3 Return to the oven and bake for another 25-30 minutes, or until the cobbler topping is cooked through and lightly browned, and the fruit juices are bubbling. Allow to set for 20-30 minutes before serving warm, with vanilla ice-cream.

  • Brad McDonald is chef patron at The Lockhart and Shotgun in London. His book, Deep South (Quadrille) is out now. @bradmcdonald01

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