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Greek Roast Leg of Lamb

By
Andrew Chase
  • Blend it for baby
  • Kid-friendly
  • Gluten free
  • Lactose free
Greeks generally roast their lamb with the addition of liquid until it is well done, mouth-wateringly tender and juicy. The use of butter here rather than olive oil might surprise you; however, in much of northern Greece, especially in Greek Macedonia, cow or sheep's milk butter is commonly used in cooking.

Ingredients

  • 1 leg of lamb (4 to 6 lb/2 to 2.7 kg) or 2 legs suckling lamb (2 to 3 lb/1 to 1.5 kg each)
  • 6 small garlic cloves, halved lengthwise
  • 1-1/4 tsp  (6 mL)  ground allspice
  • 1 tsp  (5 mL)  salt
  • 1/2 tsp  (2 mL)  each cinnamon and black pepper
  • 1/3 cup  (75 mL)  butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup  (75 mL)  lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp  (15 mL)  crumbled (preferably Greek) oregano
  • 1 tbsp  (15 mL)  tomato paste

Preparation

Trim fat from lamb. Cut 12 slits all over lamb; insert garlic half in each. Mix allspice, salt, cinnamon and pepper; sprinkle all over lamb. Place in roasting pan; roast in 400F/200C oven for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix together butter, lemon and oregano; baste lamb with half of the butter mixture. Roast for 30 more minutes and repeat basting with remaining mixture.

Pour 1-1/2 cups/375 mL boiling water into pan; cover with foil. Reduce heat to 350F/180C. Roast, basting with pan juices every 20 minutes, until meat is well done and tender, about 1-1/2 hours.

Transfer meat to cutting board; let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir tomato paste into pan juices until dissolved. Cook over medium-high heat until slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.

Carve roast; place meat in warmed serving dish. Pour pan juices over meat.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

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