Mozzarella Stuffed Leg Of Lamb Recipes

OLIVE-STUFFED LAMB ROULADE WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and the coriander and cook, stirring often, until the garlic is softened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes and the lemon zest. Let cool completely.
• Generously season the lamb with salt and pepper on both sides, then rub all over with the garlic oil. Let sit at room temperature 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Set a rack in a large roasting pan; set aside. Pulse the olives, 1/4 cup parsley, 1 teaspoon oregano and 1 tablespoon each lemon juice and olive oil in a food processor until a coarse paste forms. Place the lamb fat-side down and spread the olive paste over the top. Starting from a short side, roll the lamb into a log; tie in 1-inch intervals using kitchen twine.
• Transfer the lamb, seam-side down, to the rack in the pan. Roast until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 130 degrees F to 135 degrees F, 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 1/2 hours. Let rest in the pan 30 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 500 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, make the salsa verde: Pulse the remaining 2 cups parsley, 1 tablespoon oregano, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes and the capers in the food processor until coarsely chopped. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, the vinegar, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. With the machine running, gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil until a chunky sauce forms. Season with more salt and pepper.
• Return the lamb to the oven and roast until browned, about 20 more minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 20 minutes.
• Remove the twine and cut the lamb into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Transfer to a platter and top with the salsa verde.

STUFFED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Pat dry the lamb and season it with salt and pepper.
• In a skillet set over moderate heat, cook the bread crumbs in the oil until golden brown, transfer to a bowl, and add the garlic, cheese, parsley, and salt and pepper.
• Spread the bread-crumb mixture on the cut side of the lamb, roll to enclose, and tie with string.
• Arrange the lamb on a rack in a baking pan, add about 1-inch of water to the pan, and roast for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is medium rare. Let it stand for 10 minutes before carving.

STUFFED LEG OF LAMB, MIDDLE EASTERN STYLE

Steps:

• Marinade: In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon zaatar mix and 3 cloves of garlic, crushed and minced. Season the trimmed leg of lamb with salt and pepper, to taste, and put it into a resealable plastic bag. Pour in the marinade and seal the bag. Refrigerate and let sit as long as you can, even overnight.
• Light the grill, putting the coals all on 1 side.
• Stuffing: Put the remaining garlic cloves in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the feta and pulse just to break it up, then slowly drizzle in just enough olive oil so the consistency is just barely creamy but not too loose (about 1/4 cup), stopping to scrape down the sides. Add the blanched spinach, 1 tablespoon of the zaatar spice mix, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and a little black pepper, and mix until blended but still a little chunky.
• Take the lamb out of the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the inside with lemon zest and fresh thyme, then add a layer of arugula leaves. Carefully spread stuffing over the inside of leg, being careful not to spread it all the way to the edge. Grab the end closest to you and slowly roll the leg up. Tie well with butchers twine. Liberally sprinkle the outside of the lamb with shawarma spice.
• Put the lamb directly over the coals on the hot side of the grill and sear it quickly, until the outside develops a nice crust, maybe 2 minutes per side. Then move the lamb away from the coals, cover the grill and let it cook for 45 minutes or so, checking after 30 minutes and turning several times. When the lamb is done, take it off the grill, put it on a cutting board and let it rest for about 10 minutes. To serve, cut in 1 1/2-inch thick slices, and arrange on a serving platter, making sure to remove any pieces of twine.

STUFFED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rub lamb inside and out with garlic clove. Stuff leg of lamb and tie securely; sprinkle meat with rosemary.
• Put stuffed lamb on a rack and roast for 1 3/4 hours to 2 hours or until meat is 135 to 140 degrees. Remove from oven as you finish sauce.
• Discard fat in roasting pan. Add wine and broth and reduce. Add tomatoes and olives and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat add parsley.

STUFFED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Remove plastic netting or twine from around the leg of lamb, if any, and open up the roast on a cutting board. Place the boned side of the roast up. With a sharp paring knife, cut away any excess fatty areas. Use a sharp knife to cut 1/2-inch deep slits in the meat about 2 inches apart, to help the meat lie flat. Cover the meat with a sturdy piece of plastic wrap or a cut-apart food storage bag, and pound the meat with a mallet or the edge of a small plate until the roast is about 3/4 inch thick everywhere, and 10 to 14 inches square.
• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Sprinkle the upper side of the meat with salt and pepper, and then spread spinach leaves over the top of the roast to within 1/2 inch of the edges. Break up the goat cheese and sprinkle it evenly over the spinach, then sprinkle the pine nuts over the cheese.
• Roll the roast up into a tight cylinder, and tie the roast together with kitchen twine at 2 inch intervals. It's okay if a little stuffing protrudes from the sides of the roast.
• In a flat dish, mix together the flour, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of pepper, the thyme, and the fennel seeds, and press the tied roast firmly into the flour mixture to coat all sides.
• Heat the sesame oil in a heavy oven-proof or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers, and sear all sides of the roast, including the ends, to a golden brown color. Lay the roast into the skillet, place into the preheated oven, and roast to your desired degree of doneness, or an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (65 degrees C) for medium, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

STUFFED LEG OF LAMB WITH BALSAMIC-FIG-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine the chopped prunes and currants with the creme de cassis in a small bowl, and set aside. In another small bowl, combine the rosemary, thyme, coriander, salt, and pepper; set aside.
• Untie and unroll the lamb, lay it out flat on the work surface. Trim off excess fat, and cut any thick parts open so that it is evenly thick and somewhat rectangular in shape. Sprinkle half of the herb mixture over the lamb. Mix the almonds and chopped mint into the prune mixture; spread evenly over the lamb. Roll up starting at one of the short sides, and tie with kitchen twine in 1-inch intervals. Cut 9 slits about 1-inch deep into the top of the lamb, and insert a slice of garlic in each. Rub with olive oil, and sprinkle with the remaining herb mixture.
• Place lamb seam-side up on a rack set in a roasting pan. Roast in the preheated oven to desired doneness. For medium-rare, a thermometer inserted into the center will read 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Remove lamb from the oven and cover with foil. Allow to rest for 15 minutes while proceeding with the recipe.
• While the lamb is resting, bring the balsamic vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Boil until the vinegar has reduced by half, 4 to 5 minutes. Once reduced, stir in the butter, honey, and sliced figs. Stir until the butter has melted, then remove from the heat, stir in the chopped basil and set aside.
• To serve, remove the twine from the lamb and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices. Arrange on a warm serving platter and drizzle with the fig sauce, garnish with mint and basil leaves.