Drop Dead Gorgeous Garlic Studded Roast Leg Of Lamb Recipes

DROP DEAD GORGEOUS - GARLIC STUDDED ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Wash and trim the lamb of any visible and excess fat, dry and set aside.
• Cut the garlic into slivers then, with a very sharp knife, make slits into the meat and insert one in each slit, add a fresh sprig of rosemary if using. Continue until all the garlic (and rosemary) is used up and the meat is studded. Brush the surface of the meat with olive oil then squeeze the lemon juice over the top before seasoning with a mixture of salt, freshly-ground black pepper and a teaspoon of English mustard powder.
• Place the lamb in a roasting tin. Place in an oven pre-heated to 220C/450F/Gas 7 and roast for half an hour. At this point reduce the heat to 160C/320F/Gas 4 and roast the meat for 60 minutes per kilo - a 3 kilo leg will take 3 hours. (A kilo is just over 2 lbs) Simply allow the meat to cook and do not baste.
• When the lamb is ready, take it out of the oven, cover and allow to rest for at least ten to twenty minutes. When you slice the meat you will see that it is studded with garlic, which enhances the flavour of the meat but in a very subtle way.
• Serve with gravy, potatoes of your choice and freshly steamed seasonal vegetables.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut slits in the top of the leg of lamb every 3 to 4 inches, deep enough to push slices of garlic down into the meat. Salt and pepper generously all over the top of lamb, place several sprigs of fresh rosemary under and on top of the lamb. Place lamb on roasting pan.
• Roast in preheated oven until the lamb is cooked to your desired doneness, about 1 3/4 to 2 hours. Do not overcook the lamb, the flavor is best if meat is still slightly pink. Let rest at least 10 minutes before carving.

EASY ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Remove all packaging from the lamb and keep a note of the weight to calculate the roasting time. Make incisions into the lamb using a small sharp knife, at an angle, about 5cm into the meat. Making the holes at an angle will mean more of the meat is flavoured, and the flavourings will be less tempted to be pushed out when roasting.
• Insert a short sprig of rosemary, a garlic slice and a small piece of anchovy (if using) into each of the holes, pressing in well with your finger. Season the meat all over with salt and pepper, then rub the lamb all over with the olive oil. Transfer to a roasting tin, sat on the onion slices. Roast for 20 mins.
• Lower the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and cook for another 15-20 mins per 500g (1 hr - 1 hr 20 mins for 2kg leg) depending on how pink you like your lamb. You can also check the internal temperature of the lamb if you prefer pinker meat - it will be 55C for medium (pink) and 70C for well done.
• Cover with foil and rest for 15 mins before carving. Save the tray juices and onion slices to make gravy.

GARLIC-STUDDED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Peel and sliver 4-5 cloves garlic. Make incisions in the leg with a very sharp pointed knife (such as small French paring knife). Force the slivers into the incisions and rub the roast well with salt, pepper, and rosemary or tarragon. Place on a rack and roast until it registers 130-135°F when tested with a meat thermometer. Salt again just before removing from the oven. Allow to stand about 10 minutes before carving.
• Serve with white beans, blended with the pan juices, and a bit of peeled, seeded and finely chopped fresh tomato. Drink a Chinon or a Bourgeuil.
• Variations
• Provençal I: Cut 4-6 cloves garlic into slivers. Make fairly deep incisions in the leg and alternate garlic and anchovy fillets in the incisions (you will not need to add much salt to this anchovied leg). Roast. Serve with a ratatouille and drink a Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
• Provençal II: Make incisions in the leg and stuff with garlic, pistachio nuts, and anchovies, pushing them deep into the incisions. Rub the leg with a touch of thyme and summer savory and roast. Salt lightly and serve with a gratin of eggplant. Drink a well-chilled Tavel.

ROAST LAMB STUDDED WITH ROSEMARY & GARLIC

Steps:

• Using a sharp pointed knife, make at least 30 small incisions all over the leg of lamb.
• Take 4 cloves from 1 bulb of garlic, peel and thinly slice them, then prod a slice into each incision. Next, take 1 bunch of rosemary, pull off small sprigs and push into the incisions, too.
• If done in advance, cover the leg of lamb well and refrigerate. Remove from the fridge 1 hr before roasting.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Heat a large frying pan, add 1 tbsp vegetable oil and brown the leg of lamb all over.
• Scatter 2 carrots, cut into large chunks, 1 quartered onion, the remaining garlic and rosemary in a large roasting tin, pour in 1 glass of red wine and 1.2l beef or lamb stock, then place the browned lamb in the tin.
• Roast for about 1 hr 45 mins. Turn the leg of lamb halfway through so by the time it's cooked, each side has been in the stock.

GARLIC-ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a blender, process oil, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper until smooth and emulsified, scraping down the sides as needed.
• Place lamb, fat side up, on a rack set on a roasting pan; spread garlic paste all over lamb. Roast in oven until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 135 degrees for medium rare, about 2 hours.
• Transfer lamb to a platter, and discard string; keep warm while you make the Pan Sauce. Slice lamb just before serving.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH GARLIC AND HERBS

Steps:

• Use a paring knife to make a dozen small slits in the meat. Tuck garlic slivers into slits. Place meat in a baking dish.
• In a small bowl, stir together oil, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Pour marinade over lamb, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate, basting occasionally with the marinade, for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees with rack positioned to fit the lamb in a roasting pan. Remove lamb from refrigerator, uncover, and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat a roasting pan with oil.
• Transfer lamb to a rack fitted in the prepared pan, reserving leftover marinade. Season meat with salt and pepper. Roast lamb, basting every 20 to 30 minutes, first with the reserved marinade, and then with juices that accumulate in the pan. The lamb will need to cook for about 20 minutes per pound (2 hours for a 6-pound leg of lamb; 2 hours and 40 minutes for 8 pounds). An instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat, not touching the bone, should read 145 degrees when the lamb is medium-rare.
• Remove pan from oven and transfer lamb to a cutting board. Cover to keep warm; let rest for 20 minutes before carving. Pour pan juices into a fat separator or glass measuring cup; spoon off any fat that rises to the surface and discard. Cover juices to keep warm while lamb rests; add any juices that collect as the lamb sits.
• Carve lamb, and arrange slices on a large warm platter; drizzle with reserved pan juices just before serving.