Slow Grilled Leg Of Lamb With Mint Yogurt And Salsa Verde Recipes

YOGURT-MINT MARINATED GRILLED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Using a paring knife, make several small slits over the entire surface of the lamb, and stuff the slits with the sliced garlic. Add the yogurt, mint, cumin and hot pepper sauce to the work bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Place the lamb on a large baking sheet and rub the entire leg with the yogurt mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat the grill to high. Remove the lamb from the marinade and season well with salt and pepper. Place the lamb, skin side down, on the grill. Grill until the skin side is golden brown, then turn the lamb over, and reduce the heat of the grill to medium so that the grill maintains a constant temperature of 350 degrees F. Continue grilling until a thermometer inserted deep into the meat reaches a temperature of 145 degrees F for medium-rare doneness, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove lamb from grill, cover with foil, and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice the meat on the bias into 1/4-inch thick slices.

GRILLED BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB WITH MINT

Steps:

• Wipe lamb dry with paper towels and remove any large pieces of fat. In a small bowl, mix together mustard, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, rosemary and pepper. Spread mixture over lamb on both sides. Refrigerate for three hours or overnight.
• Preheat coal for grilling. Spread mint leaves on a serving dish so that they make a thick carpet. Lay lamb on a rack and grill seven to eight minutes on each side for medium rare. Cook longer for well done.
• Place lamb on a board and slice pieces thin with a sharp knife. Arrange pieces on top of the mint in overlapping layers and serve.

GRILLED LEG OF LAMB WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Put the lamb in a large roasting pan and pat dry with paper towels.
• In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, garlic, rosemary, lemon juice, oil, salt, and pepper and mix well. Using your hands, rub the paste all over the lamb. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator, turning occasionally, for at least 6 hours or, even better, overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor gas grill until very hot. Rub the grill grates with oil to prevent sticking. Put the lamb on the grill, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, and close the cover. Grill the lamb, turning periodically, until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the lamb registers about 135°F (be careful that the thermometer does not touch the bone), about 1 1/4 hours. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving. The internal temperature will continue to rise 5 to 10 degrees.
• Right before serving, put the lemon halves, cut side down, on the grill and char for 1 minute-you won't believe how much juice you get.
• Carve the lamb and serve drizzled with salsa verde and a lemon half for a good squeeze of lemon juice.
• Salsa Verde
• In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients, mixing well with a spoon.
• A Rainy-Day Method
• Prepare the lamb as above, but roast in a roasting pan in a preheated 325°F oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours for medium-rare.
• Note
• Carving a leg of Lamb
• A leg of lamb is one of simplest roasts to carve. There are no complicated techniques involved and the only tools required are a sharp knife and a cutting board. Hold the leg bone securely with a clean kitchen towel and lift it up slightly so the leg is tilted. Slice the rounded side of the meat into thin pieces until you hit the bone. Turn the leg over so it sits steady on the board and carve the other side in the same manner. To make the most tender slices, always cut across the grain of the meat, which radiates outward from the bone.

GRILLED LAMB WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Stir the first 7 ingredients and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes in a large bowl to blend. Whisk in 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Set the salsa verde aside. Place the lamb in a 15 by 10 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Rub the minced garlic, remaining 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and remaining 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes all over lamb. Pour 1/2 cup of salsa verde over the lamb, turning the lamb to coat evenly. Use immediately, or cover the dish and remaining salsa verde separately with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 1 day.
• Spray the grill rack with nonstick spray and prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill the lamb until a meat thermometer inserted into the thicker parts registers 130 degrees F for medium-rare, turning occasionally, about 40 minutes. Transfer the lamb to a work surface and let rest 15 minutes.
• Cut the lamb across grain into thin slices. Arrange the lamb slices on a platter. Serve the remaining salsa verde alongside.