Roast Leg Of Lamb With Mint Aïoli Recipes

ROASTED LEG OF LAMB WITH SERRANO CHILE-MINT JELLY AND ROASTED NEW POTATO MEDLEY

Steps:

• Preheat large, roasting pan in a 550 degree oven.
• Rub lamb with olive oil. Generously salt (gros sel) the lamb. Mix the peppercorns together and pat on lamb. (This should be done at least 4 hours in advance, preferably overnight).
• In a large bowl, mix together potatoes, onions, carrots, garlic and thyme. Add oil, season and mix well.
• When pan is hot, pull out and dump veggies into the pan. There should be a good sizzle. Mix the veggies around and roast for 10 minutes. Mix again and place lamb on top. Place in oven and roast until brown, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Turn oven down to 375 degrees, cover the lamb with foil to prevent burning and roast another 20 to 30 minutes. I shoot for medium rare, about 130 degrees. Mix veggies a couple of times during the cooking.
• Place lamb on a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Make sure the veggies are fully cooked and check for seasoning. If not, place back in oven another 10 minutes.
• Serrano Chile-Mint Jelly: In a non-reactive pan, dissolve sugar in juice and water. Pour 2 tablespoons of the warm liquid in a small saucepan and add gelatin. Dissolve on low heat and set aside. Raise to medium-high under the first saucepan and add the chiles, mint, zest and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, occasionally stirring. Remove from heat and add dissolved gelatin. Store in refrigerator overnight, stirring occasionally to break up the gelatin. It will be a soft jello-like consistency.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH MINT AïOLI

Steps:

• Marinate lamb:
• Stir together garlic, onion, mint, savory, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and cumin in a baking dish just large enough to hold lamb. Put lamb in dish and turn to coat, rubbing marinade into entire surface. Marinate lamb, covered and chilled, turning once or twice, at least 12 hours.
• Make aïoli:
• Mash garlic to a paste with kosher salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a large heavy knife), then add 1 cup mint and pound to a paste (or mince and mash with knife). Transfer to a bowl and whisk in yolks, then add half of oil, 1 to 2 teaspoons at a time, whisking constantly. Whisk in lemon juice, then slowly add remaining oil, whisking. Season with salt and pepper and stir in warm water.
• Working with several leaves at a time, stack remaining cup mint leaves, then roll up and thinly slice crosswise to make a chiffonade (thin strips). Stir mint into aïoli and chill until ready to use.
• Roast lamb:
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Wipe all of marinade from lamb and discard. Pat lamb dry and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Arrange lamb, boned side up, on a work surface and, beginning with a long side, roll up as tightly as possible and tie tightly with string.
• Heat vegetable oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown lamb on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer to rack set in roasting pan and roast in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into lamb reads an average of 140°F for medium-rare (test in several places, as different muscles cook at different speeds; temperatures should range from 120 to 160°F), 40 to 60 minutes. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before slicing.
• Serve lamb with aïoli.

ROASTED RACK OF LAMB WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Let the lamb come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before you are ready to roast. Season the lamb on all sides with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet with a heatproof handle over medium-high heat. Put the rack into the pan, fat side down, and sear it until it is browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the rack over and sear the other side for 2 minutes. Put the pan into the oven, and roast the lamb until it is medium-rare, or until the internal temperature reaches 125 to 130 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the lamb from the oven, cover it with foil, and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing into chops. Serve with the Mint Pesto.
• Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture is almost smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper, to taste. The pesto may be made 1 day ahead, covered and refrigerated. Bring the pesto to room temperature before serving.

SUMAC-RUBBED LAMB WITH MINTY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 275°F. If lamb is tied or trussed, remove any twine or netting. Sprinkle lamb all over with 3 Tbsp. sumac, 5 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. Morton kosher salt, and 1 Tbsp. pepper.
• Reroll lamb so the fattier side is on top (it doesn't have to be tight; you can just close it back up like a book). Using 3-4 pieces of kitchen twine, tie lamb in 2" intervals to close. Place bottom halves of both garlic heads, cut side up, in the center of a 13x9" baking dish and set lamb, fat side up, on top (the garlic acts as a makeshift, better-tasting wire rack). Scatter cloves from remaining top halves of garlic heads around lamb, then tuck artichokes and sprigs from ½ bunch oregano around. Pour in wine and oil; season vegetables with salt and pepper. Roast lamb and artichokes until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of lamb registers 135°F for medium-rare, 2-2 1/2 hours.
• Remove lamb and artichokes from oven and increase temperature to 500°F (taking the lamb out while the oven heats up prevents the meat from overcooking).Once oven temperature is at 500°F, slide baking dish back into oven and roast until fat on lamb is golden brown and artichokes are sizzling and starting to crisp around the edges, 10-12 minutes. Carefully transfer lamb to a cutting board and let rest at least 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, scatter half of mint leaves over artichokes and toss well to coat. Toss radishes, shallot, and vinegar in a small bowl to combine; season radish salad with salt and pepper.
• Thinly slice lamb and arrange on a platter or serve directly on cutting board and spoon some of the artichoke mixture and any pan juices over. Scatter sesame seeds, oregano leaves, more sumac, and remaining mint on top.
• Spoon some aioli into a bowl and serve lamb with radish salad, aioli, and remaining artichoke mixture alongside.
• Do Ahead: Lamb and artichokes can be roasted 3 hours ahead. Let sit at room temperature. Reheat artichokes just before serving.

LEG OF LAMB WITH MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lower third. Rub lamb with a generous amount of salt and pepper, then rub with oil. With the tip of a sharp paring knife, cut twenty 1/2-inch-deep slits all over lamb; insert garlic slivers into openings.
• Place lamb on a roasting rack set on a rimmed baking sheet; place in oven. Immediately reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Roast lamb until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part (avoiding bone) registers 125 degrees to 135 degrees for rare, or 135 degrees to 140 degrees for medium, 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours. Remove from oven; let rest 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile, make the mint sauce: In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, sugar, and water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until liquid is syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in mint, and let cool completely.

LAMB WITH AIOLI

Steps:

• Heat oil in small saucepan; deep-fry thyme briefly, only about 5 seconds til fragrant. Remove thyme from oila and drain on absorbent paper.
• Prehead oven to moderate.
• Cut potatoes into 1cm slices; heat 2 tablespoons of the reserved thyme oil in ovenproof/flameproof baking dish; cook potato slices in batches til lightly browned on both sides. Return all potatoes to baking dish; add lamb and roast, uncovered for about 15 minutes or unil cooked as desired.
• Meanwhile, make aioli.
• Boil, steam or microwave spinach til just wilted; drain. Heat remaining thyme oil with butter in small saucepan; cook mushrooms and garlic til softened. Cut each lamb rack into 4 cutlets; divide among serving plates with spinach, potato and mushrooms. Top with aioli, garnish with fried thyme and drizzle with vinegar.
• Aioli: whisk mustard, vinegar, garlic and egg yolks in a small bowl til combined; gradually add oil in a thin, steady stream, whisking constantly, til aioli thickens. Whisk in lemon juice.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut slits in the top of the leg of lamb every 3 to 4 inches, deep enough to push slices of garlic down into the meat. Salt and pepper generously all over the top of lamb, place several sprigs of fresh rosemary under and on top of the lamb. Place lamb on roasting pan.
• Roast in preheated oven until the lamb is cooked to your desired doneness, about 1 3/4 to 2 hours. Do not overcook the lamb, the flavor is best if meat is still slightly pink. Let rest at least 10 minutes before carving.

LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Cut five slits in the meat; insert garlic. Combine salt, pepper, thyme and garlic powder; rub over meat. Place on a rack in a roasting pan. Broil 5-6 in. from the heat until browned; turn and brown the other side. Turn oven to 350°. Add 1/2 cup water to pan. Cover and bake for 25 minutes per pound or until internal temperature reaches 140° for medium or 145° for medium-well. Remove to carving board and keep warm. Pour pan drippings into a large measuring cup, scraping brown bits. Skim fat; reserving 1/4 cup in a saucepan; add flour. Add water to drippings to equals 2 cups; add all at once to flour mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes more. Slice lamb and serve with gravy.

MINT CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Cook mint leaves in a pot of boiling water for about 10 seconds.
• Transfer mint leaves to a bowl of ice water; soak for 30 seconds, drain and squeeze dry.
• Combine blanched mint with garlic, olive oil, bread crumbs, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend for 20 to 30 seconds until fine and crumbly.
• Transfer mint mixture to a large bowl; stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, set aside.
• Combine 1/4 cup Dijon mustard and 2 teaspoons honey in a small bowl, set aside.
• Combine extra-virgin olive oil, rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a jar with a lid. Shake vinaigrette vigorously until combined, about 30 seconds. Set vinaigrette aside.
• Slice 1/2 to 1-inch slits between each bone of the lamb racks to assure the meat roasts evenly.
• Season each rack with salt and black pepper on all sides.
• Heat vegetable oil in skillet over high heat. Brown each lamb rack for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
• Transfer lamb racks to the foil-lined baking sheet.
• Brush each rack with mustard and honey mixture. Sprinkle mint mixture over the top and sides of each rack.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned on top and medium rare in the center, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 125 to 130 degrees F (52 to 54 degrees C). Remove from oven and allow lamb to rest for 10 minutes before serving, drizzled with honey mustard vinaigrette.