Arni Kleftiko Rebel Lamb Recipes

KLEFTIKO

Steps:

• Mix together the lemon juice, oregano and salt and pepper and brush over both sides of the lamb.
• Leave to marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 F.
• Drain the lamb, reserving marinade, and dry lamb with paper towel.
• Heat olive oil in frying pan and cook lamb over high heat just until browned on both sides.
• Transfer the lamb to a shallow pie dish.
• Scatter the sliced onions and bay leaves around the lamb, then pour the white wine and the reserved marinade on top.
• Mix the flour with sufficient water to make a firm dough.
• Moisten the rim of the pie dish.
• Roll out the dough on a floured surface and use to cover the dish so that it is tightly sealed.
• Bake for 2 hours, then break away the crust and serve the lamb hot.
• Potatoes make a great accompaniment.

ARNI KLEFTIKO (REBEL LAMB)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients together and toss well with scrupulously clean hands until everything is well-coated. Season generously with pepper, but go a little easier on the salt than you normally would cause the cheese will also lend its salt to the finished dish.
• If you have a large clay pot, like a bean pot, assemble the ingredients there, cover with lid, and proceed with recipe. If not, cut 6 large sheets of parchment, distribute the kleftiko mixture evenly amongst the 6 sheets, and wrap up envelope-style. You may need to double-wrap cause you don't want any of the lovely juices this recipe emits to get lost in drainage while braising. A large, covered casserole would work well, too. Basically what you want to do is have as little liquid escape during cooking as possible.
• Braise, in the oven, for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. You want the meat to be falling off the bone. Yes, the potatoes and carrot will be very soft and tender, but will be permeated with a deep-rich flavour. Do not judge this dish by the cooking standards you are used to - remember its origins - the conditions these people lived under -- this is gourmet food created during a time of rebellion and should be enjoyed under its own standard.