Drop Dead Gorgeous Garlic Studded Roast Leg Of Lamb Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Stir 1/4 cup pomegranate molasses, garlic, rosemary, kosher salt, black pepper, Aleppo pepper, mint, and cumin together in a bowl.
• Arrange the butterflied leg of lamb onto a work surface with the fatty side facing down. Cut 2 deep slashes in each of the the fleshy ends of the meat. Flip the lamb and cut 10 to 20 shallow slashes across the surface of the fat.
• Spread 3/4 the pomegranate molasses mixture onto the meat-side of the lamb to coat completely. Fold meat together and turn into a large bowl. Spread remaining pomegranate mixture over the fatty side of the meat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place a roasting rack in the bottom of a roasting pan.
• Remove lamb from marinade and discard excess marinade. Gather roast and place onto a work surface with fatty side facing upwards. Tie the center section of the roast with kitchen twine to cinch the roast together. Repeat ties four times along the length of the roast.
• Season roast with salt and transfer to prepared roasting pan. Pour water below the rack to cover the bottom of the pan.
• Roast in the preheated oven until hot and slightly pink in the center, about 1 3/4 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 135 degrees F (57 degrees C). Rest for 15 minutes, transfer to a plate, and brush with remaining pomegranate molasses.

ROAST LAMB STUDDED WITH ROSEMARY & GARLIC

Steps:

• Using a sharp pointed knife, make at least 30 small incisions all over the leg of lamb.
• Take 4 cloves from 1 bulb of garlic, peel and thinly slice them, then prod a slice into each incision. Next, take 1 bunch of rosemary, pull off small sprigs and push into the incisions, too.
• If done in advance, cover the leg of lamb well and refrigerate. Remove from the fridge 1 hr before roasting.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Heat a large frying pan, add 1 tbsp vegetable oil and brown the leg of lamb all over.
• Scatter 2 carrots, cut into large chunks, 1 quartered onion, the remaining garlic and rosemary in a large roasting tin, pour in 1 glass of red wine and 1.2l beef or lamb stock, then place the browned lamb in the tin.
• Roast for about 1 hr 45 mins. Turn the leg of lamb halfway through so by the time it's cooked, each side has been in the stock.

DROP DEAD GORGEOUS - GARLIC STUDDED ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Wash and trim the lamb of any visible and excess fat, dry and set aside.
• Cut the garlic into slivers then, with a very sharp knife, make slits into the meat and insert one in each slit, add a fresh sprig of rosemary if using. Continue until all the garlic (and rosemary) is used up and the meat is studded. Brush the surface of the meat with olive oil then squeeze the lemon juice over the top before seasoning with a mixture of salt, freshly-ground black pepper and a teaspoon of English mustard powder.
• Place the lamb in a roasting tin. Place in an oven pre-heated to 220C/450F/Gas 7 and roast for half an hour. At this point reduce the heat to 160C/320F/Gas 4 and roast the meat for 60 minutes per kilo - a 3 kilo leg will take 3 hours. (A kilo is just over 2 lbs) Simply allow the meat to cook and do not baste.
• When the lamb is ready, take it out of the oven, cover and allow to rest for at least ten to twenty minutes. When you slice the meat you will see that it is studded with garlic, which enhances the flavour of the meat but in a very subtle way.
• Serve with gravy, potatoes of your choice and freshly steamed seasonal vegetables.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB, GREEK STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Under running water, trim the outer layer of fat from the lamb and blot dry. Allow the lamb to reach room temperature and squeeze the juice from the lemons over the lamb. Slice cloves of garlic, lengthwise.
• Put salt and pepper into a small container. Cut 6 small slots into each side of the leg of lamb, about 1-inch deep. Insert garlic slivers, followed by salt and pepper, into the lamb. Lightly sprinkle top of lamb with oregano. Pour the water into a roasting pan, add lamb, and cover with foil. Roast on lowest rack of oven for 40 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove foil, lower heat to 375 degrees and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until lamb reaches desired temperature. Remove and let lamb stand about 30 minutes as the lamb continues to cook.
• To test the temperature of the meat, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the leg without touching the bone. For rare lamb, the thermometer should register 140 degrees. For medium, the thermometer should register 145 degrees.

GARLIC-ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a blender, process oil, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper until smooth and emulsified, scraping down the sides as needed.
• Place lamb, fat side up, on a rack set on a roasting pan; spread garlic paste all over lamb. Roast in oven until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 135 degrees for medium rare, about 2 hours.
• Transfer lamb to a platter, and discard string; keep warm while you make the Pan Sauce. Slice lamb just before serving.

GARLIC-STUDDED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Peel and sliver 4-5 cloves garlic. Make incisions in the leg with a very sharp pointed knife (such as small French paring knife). Force the slivers into the incisions and rub the roast well with salt, pepper, and rosemary or tarragon. Place on a rack and roast until it registers 130-135°F when tested with a meat thermometer. Salt again just before removing from the oven. Allow to stand about 10 minutes before carving.
• Serve with white beans, blended with the pan juices, and a bit of peeled, seeded and finely chopped fresh tomato. Drink a Chinon or a Bourgeuil.
• Variations
• Provençal I: Cut 4-6 cloves garlic into slivers. Make fairly deep incisions in the leg and alternate garlic and anchovy fillets in the incisions (you will not need to add much salt to this anchovied leg). Roast. Serve with a ratatouille and drink a Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
• Provençal II: Make incisions in the leg and stuff with garlic, pistachio nuts, and anchovies, pushing them deep into the incisions. Rub the leg with a touch of thyme and summer savory and roast. Salt lightly and serve with a gratin of eggplant. Drink a well-chilled Tavel.