Grilled Leg Of Lamb With Zinfandel Marinade And Mint Pesto Recipes

GRILLED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• To a blender, add: the oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, thyme, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard, season with salt and pepper, to taste. Blend until thoroughly combined. Pat the lamb dry and put it on a shallow platter. Season all over with salt and pepper. Pour half of the vinaigrette over the lamb, turning the meat to get it well coated. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Remove the marinated meat from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before grilling.
• Heat the grill (or large cast iron skillet) and oil it lightly. Remove the lamb from the marinade and grill for about 15 to 20 minutes per side for medium-rare. (Adjust the time accordingly for other degrees of doneness.) Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Toss the mache (or mixed baby greens), mint leaves, and scallions in a bowl and dress the salad with about 3 tablespoons of the reserved vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper. Slice the lamb into thick slices and serve with greens.

GRILLED LEG OF LAMB WITH ZINFANDEL MARINADE AND MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Quickly rinse the lamb under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Trim off any excess fat. With a small, sharp knife, make 1/2 inch deep slits every 2 inches around the entire surface of the meat and insert a garlic sliver into each slit. Transfer to a nonreactive container.
• For the marinade: In a bowl, combine the wine, sugar, mustard, soy sauce, shallots, rosemary and black pepper. Whisk in the olive oil. Pour the mixture over the lamb. Cover and refrigerate for 48 hours, turning the meat at least 3 times.
• About two hours before grilling, remove the lamb from the refrigerator.
• Prepare a covered grill for moderate indirect-heat cooking. Position a drip pan in the center of the fuel grate.
• Remove the lamb from the marinade and set aside. Pour the marinade into a saucepan; place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, then set alongside the grill.
• When the fire is ready, lightly brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the lamb in the center of the rack, cover the grill and cook, turning and brushing with the marinade every 10 minutes, until done to preference when cut into with a small, sharp knife (35 to 40 minutes for medium-rare).
• For the mint pesto: In a medium bowl, combine the mint, peanuts, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar and garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and set aside. (Pesto can also be prepared in a food processor or blender, which is what I prefer to do).
• Remove the lamb to a cutting surface, cover loosely with aluminum foil and let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.
• To serve, thinly slice the lamb on the diagonal across the grain. Arrange the slices on a warmed serving platter and place the mint pesto alongside.

GRILLED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Combine the yogurt, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a large non-reactive bowl. Add the lamb, making sure it is covered with marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator, covered, overnight or for up to 3 days.
• Bring the lamb to room temperature. Prepare a charcoal grill with hot coals. Scrape the marinade off the lamb, wipe the meat with paper towels, and season it generously with salt and pepper. Brush the grill with oil to keep the lamb from sticking, and grill on both sides until the internal temperature is 120 to 125 degrees for rare. This will take 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how hot the grill is.
• Remove the lamb to a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 20 minutes. Then slice and serve.

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.

GRILLED LEG OF LAMB WITH ANCHO CHILE MARINADE

Steps:

• Combine wine, oil, garlic, 3 tablespoons oregano, ancho chile powder, lemon juice, 1 green onion, sugar, salt, and pepper in blender. Blend mixture until smooth. Transfer marinade to 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Add lamb and turn to coat evenly. Cover dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Grill lamb with some of marinade still clinging to surface until lamb is cooked to desired doneness, 15 to 16 minutes per side for medium-rare (130°F). Transfer lamb to carving board. Let lamb rest 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, finely chop remaining green onion and 1 tablespoon oregano leaves; combine in small bowl.
• Thinly slice lamb across grain. Arrange lamb slices on platter. Pour over any accumulated juices. Sprinkle with onion-oregano mixture and serve.
• * Available in the spice section of many supermarkets and at Latin markets.

MARINATED GRILLED LAMB

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, combine first 9 ingredients; add lamb and turn to coat. Cover; refrigerate 4 hours. , Prepare grill for indirect medium heat. Drain lamb, discarding marinade. Place rosemary sprig on lamb; roll up and tie with kitchen string, leaving a portion of the sprig exposed. If desired, sprinkle with additional salt and pepper., Grill lamb, covered, over indirect medium heat 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°). Remove from grill; tent with foil and let stand 15 minutes before slicing. Discard rosemary sprig before serving.

DELICIOUS SIMPLE MARINADE FOR ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Mix together all the ingredients. Taste and make adjustments to seasoning according to taste.
• Using a sharp knife, make several small slits into the leg of lamb to allow marinade to penetrate. Thoroughly baste the leg of lamb in the marinade.
• Place the lamb, along with the marinade, in a dish big enough to hold the meat. Pour the remaining marinade over it, and place in the refrigerator.
• Allow to marinate overnight, turning once. Baste meat once more before putting into the oven to roast.
• Enjoy!

GRILLED LEG OF LAMB WITH GARLIC AND MINT

Steps:

• Combine oil, mint, garlic, zest, 3 tablespoons salt, and the red-pepper flakes; season with pepper. Reserve 1/2 cup marinade.
• Pound lamb to an even 1-inch thickness. Place lamb in a baking dish, and massage marinade into meat. Refrigerate overnight.
• Let lamb stand at room temperature for 1 hour before grilling. Heat grill to medium-high. Brush grates with oil. Remove lamb from dish, and brush off any excess marinade. Grill lamb, flipping every 5 minutes for even cooking, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 130 degrees to 135 degrees for medium-rare, 8 to 10 minutes per side. Let stand for 10 minutes. Slice lamb across the grain. Drizzle with reserved marinade.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH BASIL & MINT PESTO

Steps:

• First, make the pesto. Put all the ingredients (except the olive oil and lemon juice) and a pinch of salt into the small bowl of a food processor. Pulse until very finely chopped. While the processor is on, drizzle the olive oil in to make a paste. Tip the pesto into a small bowl and stir in the lemon juice.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the scored lamb leg in a large roasting tin and use half the pesto to generously coat the skin and flesh, pressing it between all the cracks for extra juiciness. Put the rest of the pesto in the fridge, covered with cling film, and remove just before serving.
• Roast the lamb for 1 hr 45 mins. Check during cooking that it's not drying out - if the base of the roasting tin starts to look dry, spread a little more pesto over the top of the lamb.
• Remove the lamb from the tin, cover with foil and leave to rest for 30-40 mins before serving on lemon slices and fresh garden herbs, if you like. Carve at the table and serve with the remaining pesto to drizzle over.