Roast Leg Of Lamb With Ginger And Mint Recipes

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:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Put the chopped onions, celery, and carrots in a roasting pan. Sprinkle with a little salt, pepper, and oregano. Add the garlic cloves. Place the lamb in the roasting pan on top of the vegetables. Season the lamb with a little more salt, pepper, and oregano.
• Place in the oven for 15 minutes. Add a couple of cups of water to the pan, enough so it doesn't stick.
• Lower the temperature to 350 degrees and cook for 90 minutes. Remove the lamb, strain the juice from the roasted vegetables left in the pan, and put into another pan. Take strained vegetable juice, and add just enough cornstarch to thicken. This is the lamb gravy.
• Slice the lamb and serve with gravy, roasted potatoes, and choice of vegetable.

BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB ROASTED WITH GINGER AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Put the oil in a small pan over medium heat. When hot add the rosemary, ginger, garlic, 3 teaspoons of the salt, and pepper. Sauté for 1 minute, then remove from the heat. Allow the mixture to cool, then rub the paste into the lamb. Cover loosely and refrigerate for at least 4 and up to 24 hours.
• Take the lamb out of the fridge 2 hours before cooking. Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 400°F.
• Set a large nonstick saucepan over high heat and heat the pan for 2 minutes. Keeping the heat high, sear the lamb on both sides in batches. Scrape any scraps of rosemary and ginger in the saucepan onto the seared meat after each batch.
• Arrange the lamb on a sheet pan and put in the oven to roast. Start checking the smaller pieces for doneness after 10 minutes. The largest piece will take about 20 minutes. If you have a meat thermometer, use it now. My thermometer broke about 6 years ago (memo from the school of antique cooking habits) so I use a metal trussing skewer. I stick the skewer into the center of the meat, wait 5 seconds, then touch the skewer to my cheek. If the metal is warm, the meat is done. This trick caused an uproar of consternation in the catering office, prompting a chorus of "How warm?" -- so maybe a meat thermometer is the way to go. Aim for 350°F.
• Allow the lamb to rest for 20 minutes. Thinly slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

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.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH MINT AïOLI

Steps:

• Marinate lamb:
• Stir together garlic, onion, mint, savory, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and cumin in a baking dish just large enough to hold lamb. Put lamb in dish and turn to coat, rubbing marinade into entire surface. Marinate lamb, covered and chilled, turning once or twice, at least 12 hours.
• Make aïoli:
• Mash garlic to a paste with kosher salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a large heavy knife), then add 1 cup mint and pound to a paste (or mince and mash with knife). Transfer to a bowl and whisk in yolks, then add half of oil, 1 to 2 teaspoons at a time, whisking constantly. Whisk in lemon juice, then slowly add remaining oil, whisking. Season with salt and pepper and stir in warm water.
• Working with several leaves at a time, stack remaining cup mint leaves, then roll up and thinly slice crosswise to make a chiffonade (thin strips). Stir mint into aïoli and chill until ready to use.
• Roast lamb:
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Wipe all of marinade from lamb and discard. Pat lamb dry and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Arrange lamb, boned side up, on a work surface and, beginning with a long side, roll up as tightly as possible and tie tightly with string.
• Heat vegetable oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown lamb on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer to rack set in roasting pan and roast in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into lamb reads an average of 140°F for medium-rare (test in several places, as different muscles cook at different speeds; temperatures should range from 120 to 160°F), 40 to 60 minutes. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before slicing.
• Serve lamb with aïoli.

MINT-MARINATED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Mix first 5 ingredients in large glass baking dish. Season with generous amount of pepper. Add lamb, turning to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Drain lamb and transfer to large roasting pan. Season both sides with salt and generous amount of pepper. Arrange fat side down in pan. Roast 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F and continue roasting until thermometer inserted in thickest part of lamb registers 130°F for rare, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut into slices. Arrange on platter. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.

LEG OF LAMB WITH MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lower third. Rub lamb with a generous amount of salt and pepper, then rub with oil. With the tip of a sharp paring knife, cut twenty 1/2-inch-deep slits all over lamb; insert garlic slivers into openings.
• Place lamb on a roasting rack set on a rimmed baking sheet; place in oven. Immediately reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Roast lamb until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part (avoiding bone) registers 125 degrees to 135 degrees for rare, or 135 degrees to 140 degrees for medium, 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours. Remove from oven; let rest 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile, make the mint sauce: In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, sugar, and water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until liquid is syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in mint, and let cool completely.