Roast Lamb Recipes

ROSEMARY ROASTED LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a small bowl, combine the oil, garlic, salt and rosemary; rub over lamb. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Place lamb, fat side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan., Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°; bake 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours longer or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°), basting occasionally with pan juices. Let stand 15 minutes before slicing.

ROSEMARY AND GARLIC ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Using your hands, rub the lamb all over with the lemon juice. Pat the garlic and rosemary evenly all over the surface of the meat. Season the meat with the salt and pepper and place the lamb in a roasting pan. Place the lamb in the oven and roast for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue to cook for about 1 hour longer for medium-rare, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the roast registers about 145 degrees F to 150 degrees F (be careful that the thermometer does not touch the bone.) Remove lamb from pan and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
• Position the roasting pan over your stove burners. Add mixed herbs and onions to pan, and stir to combine with pan drippings. Add chicken stock and wine to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to release any fond. Reduce over high heat until sauce consistency. Strain before serving, if desired. Slice lamb and serve with sauce drizzled over the top.

HERB-ROASTED LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven so the lamb will sit in the middle of the oven.
• Peel 6 of the cloves of garlic and place them in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the rosemary, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and butter. Process until the garlic and rosemary are finely minced. Thoroughly coat the top and sides of the lamb with the rosemary mixture. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Toss the potatoes and remaining unpeeled garlic in a bowl with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place in the bottom of a large roasting pan. Place the lamb on top of the potatoes. Roast for 20 minutes. Turn the heat down to 350 degrees F and roast for another 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until a meat thermometer registers 130 to 135 degrees F for medium-rare. Place the lamb on a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Slice and serve with the potatoes.

ROAST LAMB

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Use a small sharp knife to make about a dozen incisions, each about 2 inches deep, through the fat that covers the top of the meat. Using a mortar and pestle or a blender, blend 2/3 of the anchovies (or 2/3 of the mustard if using), the rosemary leaves and the garlic cloves into a chunky paste. Using your fingers, press paste deeply into incisions.
• Mix remaining anchovies (or mustard) and the butter into a paste. Smear this mixture all over the surface of the roast. Season liberally with black pepper. (Do not add salt; the anchovies are salty enough, and so is the mustard.) Place the lamb on a rack in a roasting pan, fat side up, and squeeze the lemon halves over. Pour the wine around the roast into the pan.
• Roast 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and roast until internal temperature reaches 130 to 135 degrees (for medium-rare or medium meat), about another 60 to 90 minutes. Baste every 20 minutes or so with the wine and drippings in the pan, adding more wine as needed to keep the liquid from scorching. If possible, for the last 15 minutes of cooking, use convection or a broiler to crisp the fat on the roast.
• Remove pan from the oven, remove rack from the pan, and let the roast rest on the rack for at least 15 to 20 minutes in a warm place, tented with foil. The internal temperature will rise to about 140 to 145 degrees.
• To make sauce from the pan drippings, remove a few tablespoons of fat by tipping the pan and spooning off the top layer. Put the pan over medium heat until the liquid simmers. Taste the simmering liquid and whisk in more wine, 1/4 cup at a time, until the consistency and flavor are right. Do not let the mixture become syrupy; it should be a sharp jus, not a thick gravy.
• Carve lamb into 1/2-inch-thick slices and arrange on a heated platter, decorated with rosemary sprigs. Serve with piping hot gravy.

ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• For the cleanest-looking presentation, trim 1 1/2 inches of flesh from the shank bone with a sharp paring knife. (Your butcher may be willing to do this for you.)
• The fell is a thin outer layer of fat that you may find if you buy an untrimmed leg from a butcher. It's very tough, so it's important to remove all of it. A long knife with a sharp thin blade is the best tool for the job.
• Trim the excess fat that lies beneath the fell, but leave enough to enrich the meat and gravy. It also crisps up nicely when broiled, which helps give the carved slices great texture. Use shears to trim the fat pads around the hip, or large end.
• Make incisions 1 inch long and 1/2 inch deep all over the leg; they?ll allow the aromatic rub to penetrate the meat more easily. Roughening the surface in this way also results in a crisper, more flavorful crust after broiling.
• Stir together salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary, mustard, and oil in a small bowl until it forms a wet paste. Spread rub evenly over lamb, working it into the incisions. Let lamb sit at room temperature, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Transfer lamb, fat side up, to a large roasting pan fitted with a rack, and add broth. Roast lamb 20 minutes. Reduce temperature to 325 degrees, and roast until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of flesh near the bone reaches 130 degrees to 135 degrees (medium-rare), about 55 minutes. Increase temperature to broil; broil until surface sizzles and becomes brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer lamb to a platter or carving board; let rest at least 20 minutes before carving.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Remove lamb from refrigerator 1 hour before roasting.
• Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C/Gas 6.
• Make small slits just large enough for garlic slivers evenly in the leg of lamb, and insert the garlic slivers.
• Rub all over with lemon juice, then pat the rosemary and black pepper evenly over the surface. Sprinkle with salt to taste. If you're using fresh rosemary, just insert the sprigs with the garlic slivers into the cuts you made.
• Place lamb, fat side up on a rack in an uncovered pan.
• Roast 30 minutes to a pound or until the internal temperature reaches 175-180°F, for meat well done. If you prefer slightly rare lamb, roast until 160-165°F.
• When done, remove from oven, cover the roast in foil and allow it to rest for 20 minutes before carving.
• If you also want delicious rich gravy, place a 1 1/2 cups of lamb or beef stock in the bottom of the pan before you put the lamb in the oven, making sure that the rack sits above the liquid and the meat doesn't touch it. You can also add a sprig or two of rosemary to it and if you want baste the lamb a couple of times while it's roasting. Just before serving bring the liquid to a simmer on the stove top, making sure you whisk it well and scrape all the bits from the sides and the bottom of the pan. If you want more gravy you can add some extra stock or some of the water you have cooked your vegetables inches Mix 1tbsp of cornflour with 2tbsp of water and whisk it into the stock. Simmer until thickened and you have a wonderful gravy.

ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil. Using paper towels, pat lamb dry. Using a sharp knife, score the top side of the lamb by making shallow cuts all over. In a small bowl, combine garlic, olive oil, rosemary, thyme, Dijon, salt and pepper. Place lamb, fat side up, on a rack in the prepared roasting pan. Spread garlic mixture evenly over the lamb, rubbing in thoroughly into the scored cuts. Place into oven and roast until it reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees F for medium, about 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, or until desired doneness. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing. Serve immediately with mini hasselback potatoes.

PERFECT BONELESS LEG OF LAMB ROAST RECIPE:

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine garlic, rosemary, and pepper. Add olive oil and lemon juice. Mix until all ingredients are combined.
• Remember - Do not remove the netting that is around the lamb roast.
• Rub the Herb Seasoning Rub mixture all over the outside of the lamb.
• Room Temperature: To cook evenly, the lamb roast must not be cold - let it stand at room temperature, loosely covered, for approximately 1 hour or even more. This time can vary depending on how big or small your lamb roast is. I can not give you an exact time on this. If you do not let the roast come to room temperature, it will take longer to cook your roast. Your roast will not cook evenly, and you will end up with well-done slices on the end and raw meat in the center. Use your best judgment!
• Previously Frozen: If your boneless leg of lamb is frozen, let it thaw completely in the refrigerator. Remove the roast from the refrigerator about 2 to 4 hours before cooking to let it come to room temperature. Depending on the size of your roast, the time to come to room temperature may vary. I can not give you an exact time on this. Use your best judgment!
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Pat the room-temperature boneless leg of lamb roast dry with paper towels or napkins. Using your hands, rub the outside of the lamb roast with olive oil or with the Herb Seasoning Rub (see above Herb Seasoning Rub).
• Do NOT salt the outside of your lamb roast, as salt draws out moisture from the meat while cooking. You can use other seasonings or the Herb Seasoning, if desired, but I find it is not necessary. I know that some people do salt their meats before cooking, but trust me and do not salt - the result will be a juicy and delicious lamb roast to serve your family and guests!
• Place the lamb roast on a roasting rack in a heavy stainless-steel pan or other metal roasting pan. NOTE: Select a roasting pan that has sides at least 3-inches deep. (I do not recommend using nonstick pans, as these pans yield fewer of the cooked-on bits that make the tasty au jus juice.)
• Sear the lamb roast for 15 minutes at the higher oven temperature (450 degrees F.), then turn the oven to the lower temperature (325 degrees F.) for the rest of the cooking time. Do Not Cover the roast.
• NOTE: If you ignore every other bit of advice I have given, please pay attention to this - For a perfectly cooked leg of lamb roast, invest in a good meat thermometer. Internal temperature, not time, is the best test for doneness and you don't want to blow this meal!
• Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of lamb (not resting in fat). Cook until the lamb roast reaches an internal temperature of 120 degrees F. Remove from oven, cover with aluminum foil, and let sit approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Remember, the lamb roast will continue to cook as it sets. The temperature will rise to 125 degrees F. to 130 degrees F. internal temperature (medium rare) at 15 to 20 minutes. If allowed to rest as long as an hour, the temperature will rise even higher. So, pay attention to how long you let the cooked lamb roast sit.
• About 1/2 hour before the estimated end of the roasting time, begin checking the internal temperature.
• Place the cooked lamb roast on a large Meat Cutting Board with a well at one end to hold the juice.
• Using your scissors, cut off the netting to remove and discard it. Using a sharp knife, slice the meat across the grain into whatever thickness you prefer. Sharpen your Carving Knife, if necessary using either a sharpening rod or stone.
• Steel Sharpening Rod: To use a Steel Sharpening Rod or Steel, pull the edge down and across the rod, holding the carving knife at the same angle. Do this anywhere from 5 to 10 times.
• Sharpening Stone (whetstones): To use a Sharpening Stone (whetstones), hold the carving knife at a 10 to 15-degree angle to the stone. Push back and forth in smooth, steady strokes.
• Au Jus is aFrench term meaning "with juice." The term is used to describe the serving of meat, most often prime rib roast, but this technique works great with Leg of Lamb, surrounded in or served with a container of the natural juices that were produced as drippings while the meat was being cooked. It is not thick like a typical sauce or gravy.
• While the cooked lamb roast is resting, now is the time to make a sauce from the drippings. Carefully spoon off any excess fat and discard. Scrape the bottom of the roasting pan to loosen the sediment. Pour the lamb juices (from the bottom of the roasting pan) into a saucepan. Add some red wine and some of the herbs (if used) that are left in the roasting pan.
• IMPORTANT: Making Au Jus is more of a technique and not a recipe. You will have to do this by feel or guess work. It depends on how much juice is left in your pan (plus the juice from slicing the lamb roast), and how many people you will be serving.
• Add the wine to the saucepan with the lamb juices and bring to a boil, and cook until the stock is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. NOTE: Au jus is not thick like a typical sauce or gravy. Add the butter and mix it in by swirling the pan. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a gravy boat.
• Serve this sauce on the side when serving the sliced lamb roast. NOTE: Some chefs will strain the sauce before adding the butter (your choice).

PERFECT ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7. Roughly chop the celery, carrots and onions, throwing into a large roasting tray as you go, with the bay leaves.
• With a sharp, pointed knife, follow the lamb bone down about 10cm to 12cm (you are just making a 'tunnel' where you are cutting the meat away from the bone). Do this from the top end and the bottom end. Pierce the skin at an angle with a sharp pointed knife 6 or 8 times at random around the leg, then open up the incisions by poking your fingers down them to make a bit of space. Rub the lamb all over with olive oil, sea salt and black pepper.
• Strip the leaves off the rosemary sprigs and peel and finely slice the garlic, then toss in a little drizzle of olive oil and a splash of red wine vinegar. Push a little rosemary, a couple of slices of garlic and an anchovy fillet (if using) into each hole, adding any leftovers and a good splash of water to the trivet tray with the veg.
• Place the lamb directly on the bars of the middle shelf of the oven, and place the tray on the shelf beneath. Turn the oven down to 180°C/350°F/gas 4 and cook to your liking (see timings below).