Greek Lamb Marinade Recipes

GREEK LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Using paper towels, pat dry chops and discard any shards or bone fragments.
• Mix all of the ingredients together in a small jug or bowl.
• Arrange lamb chops in a large baking dish or on a large plate, and pour the marinade all over the lamb, rubbing it into the meat. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for half an hour, or for a deeper flavour, marinate overnight in the refrigerator, turning the chops from time to time (before cooking, let lamb chops sit at room temp 30 minutes).
• Heat oil in a pan (cast iron preferably or grill plates) over high heat until just starting to smoke. Fry or grill lamb in 2 batches for 3-4 minutes each side, depending on thickness until done to your liking. (Usually, at 3 minutes per side they are medium, and at 4 minutes they are medium-well.)
• Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.Sprinkle with a little extra dried oregano for added flavour and a little extra lemon juice (optional).

MARINATED GREEK LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together including the lamb chops.
• Cover and refrigerate for 4hours or overnight, turning occasionally.
• Arrange the chops on a rack in a pan, drizzle with any remaining marinade and grill/broil in oven for about 3 minutes each side at medium high heat for medium-rare, or until cooked to your liking.
• These can also be cooked on an outdoor grill/barbeque.

GREEK LAMB SOUVLAKI SKEWERS

Steps:

• Marinate the lamb. Add cubed lamb into a zip-loc bag, and add 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, cumin, salt and pepper. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the marinade around the lamb to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes or overnight, to infuse all the seasoning and spices into the meat.
• . Thread the lamb onto skewers, and lightly brush some olive oil.
• . Preheat a grill pan over medium high heat for 4-5 minutes and lightly brush the grill with remaining olive oil. You should notice the oil shimmer and sizzle when it's hot and ready. Grill the lamb skewers for 8-10 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature for the lamb reaches 155 F. For well done, cook 1-2 more minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches above 160 F.

BARBECUED GREEK LAMB WITH TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Mash the garlic to a paste with a pestle and mortar. Mix with the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, thyme and bay, and season with a little salt and plenty of pepper. Place the lamb in a large porcelain dish. Pour the marinade over the lamb and massage into the meat. Leave the lamb for at least 1 hr at room temperature, or longer in the fridge, but no longer than overnight or the meat will become too soft.
• To cook the lamb, fire up the barbecue, or heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. To cook on the barbecue, wait for the coals to turn ashen, then lay the lamb on the grill and cook for 15 mins on each side for meat that is pink, or 20 mins on each side for well done. To cook in the oven, place the lamb in a shallow roasting tin and roast for 30 mins for pink or 40 mins for well done, turning the lamb halfway through. Leave the meat to rest for 10 mins before carving.
• Meanwhile, make the tzatziki. Coarsely grate the cucumber, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and squeeze out all the liquid. Tip into a bowl with the yogurt, garlic and mint, and mix well. Carve the lamb into thick slices and serve with the tzatziki wrapped up in warm flatbreads.

GREEK BUTTERFLIED LAMB LEG

Steps:

• Mix marinade ingredients in a large ziplock bag.
• Add lamb, massage bag well to get the marinade into all the meat cracks and crevices.
• Seal bag and marinate for 24 hours (3 hours minimum).
• Remove lamb from the fridge 1 hour prior to cooking (to take fridge chill out for more even cooking).

GRILLED MARINATED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Combine oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in sealable plastic bag. Add lamb and seal bag, pressing out air. Turn bag to coat lamb, then put bag in a shallow baking pan and marinate, chilled, turning bag over occasionally, at least 8 hours.
• Bring lamb to room temperature, about 1 hour, before grilling.
• Prepare grill for cooking over direct heat with medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas); see Grilling Procedure.
• Remove lamb from marinade (discard marinade) and run 3 or 4 skewers lengthwise through lamb about 2 inches apart. Grill on a lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using gas grill, turning over occasionally and, if necessary, moving around on grill to avoid flare-ups, until thermometer registers 125 to 128°F, 8 to 14 minutes total for medium-rare.
• Transfer lamb to a cutting board and remove skewers. Let lamb stand, loosely covered with foil, 20 minutes. (Internal temperature will rise to 135°F while meat stands.) Cut across the grain into slices.

GREEK LAMB MARINADE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Juice 2 lemons into a small bowl.
• Slowly drizzle olive oil into the lemon juice while whisking. This will help to emulsify the mixture.
• Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
• Allow the mixture to stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before using.

GREEK MARINATED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place lamb leg into a large resealable plastic bag. Make the marinade by combining in a medium bowl 3 tablespoons lemon juice, lemon zest, 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, 1/4 cup fresh oregano, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, onion powder, and 1 teaspoon black pepper and mix well.
• Pour marinade over lamb, making sure the meat is completely coated. Seal bag well and place in the refrigerator. Marinate for 4 to 6 hours before grilling.
• Heat the grill to medium or medium-low if your grill runs hot. Remove lamb from​ the bag and discard the marinade. Thread lamb onto the spit and secure tightly.
• Place the spit on the grill and cook until the interior of the meat reaches 145 F, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Remove the lamb roast from the grill and from the rotisserie forks. Cover meat lightly with aluminum foil for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Carve the meat, arrange on a platter, and drizzle with herb dressing, serving the remaining dressing in a small pitcher or bowl on the side.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Place 1/4 cup chopped oregano, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and a dash of freshly ground black pepper into a blender or food processor and pulse until mixed well.
• Store any leftovers in a screw-top jar at room temperature or refrigerated. Allow it to come to room temperature before using.