Greek Roast Lamb Food

GREEK ROASTED LAMB

Steps:

• Remove bone and fell from lamb, if necessary.
• Piece together and tie with kitchen twine.
• Mix remaining ingredients and pour over lamb, coating it thoroughly (make additional marinade if needed).
• Marinate lamb 6 hours or preferably, overnight.
• Drain marinade and allow lamb to warm (remove a lot of the chill).
• Place lamb (along with root vegetables, if desired) in roasting pan and roast at 450F for approximately 15 minutes, then reduce oven heat to 350F and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer reads 145-150F for medium rare, or 160F+ for well done, allowing that the meat will raise about 5 degrees as it rests after cooking.
• Start checking your meat temp with the instant read thermometer at about 20-25 minutes per pound.
• Allow the roast to rest undisturbed for about 25 minutes before carving.
• Reduce any drippings, if desired, to serve with the lamb.

GREEK ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH POTATOES

Steps:

• Wash lamb well and pat dry.
• Finely chop 8 cloves of garlic and place in a glass dish or sturdy plastic bag large enough to hold the lamb.
• Stir in 4 tsps each of oregano and rosemary, 1/4 cup of the oil, the wine, zest and lemon juice.
• Place lamb in marinade, turning to coat well on all sides; cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Crush remaining 6 cloves of garlic and stir together with remaining 2 tsps each oregano and rosemary.
• Remove lamb from marinade (keep marinade) and pierce in several places with the tip of a sharp knife.
• Rub garlic-herb-mustard mixture over lamb, pressing into incisions.
• Coat with remaining 2 tbsp of oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.
• Peel potatoes and cut into large wedges or like cottage fries (or if you are using small, new potatoes, leave them whole).
• Toss in the marinade kept from the lamb and 2 additional tablespoons of olive oil and pour all of this mixture into your pan, around the lamb.
• Roast, uncovered, in 190 degrees C (375 F) oven for 1 ½ hours, turn lamb over to make a crust on the other side, give potatoes a stir and continue to roast for another 45 minutes (total roasting time - 2 hours and 15 minutes).
• Greeks do not like to eat lamb anyway but well-done.
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding was SO WRONG when they showed the platter of (red-pink lamb being passed around).
• Do it the way you prefer in terms of timing, but this is the way it would be served here.
• Serve with plenty of crusty bread to dip into the pan juices, a large, leafy salad, and lots and lots of red wine!

GREEK ROAST LAMB

Steps:

• Heat oven to 240C/fan 220C/gas 9. Pound the garlic, half the oregano, lemon zest and a pinch of salt in a pestle and mortar, then add the lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil. Stab the lamb all over with a sharp knife, then push as much of the herb paste as you can into the holes.
• Tip the potatoes into a large roasting tin, then toss in the remaining olive oil and any remaining herb paste. Nestle the lamb amongst the potatoes, roast for 20 mins, then reduce the temperature to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Roast for 1 hr 15 mins for medium-rare, adding another 15 mins if you prefer your lamb medium. Baste the lamb once or twice with the juices and toss the potatoes. When the lamb is done to your liking, remove from the tin and let it rest. Throw the rest of the oregano in with the potatoes, scoop from the tin and keep warm.
• Place the roasting tin over a medium flame, add the canned tomatoes and olives to the pan juices, then simmer for a few mins. Serve the lamb with the potatoes and sauce and a simple salad.

SLOW-COOKED GREEK LAMB

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and sit a shelf as low as possible. Pierce the lamb all over with a small knife, then fill each slit with a garlic clove and half an anchovy fillet. Rub all over with the oil, then season.
• Heat a flameproof casserole dish and sear the lamb all over until well browned. Take off the heat, remove the lamb from the dish and tip in the tomatoes, carrots, sage and rosemary. Sit the lamb on top and scatter over the thyme.
• Cover the dish, slip it onto the bottom shelf of the oven and cook for 4-5 hrs until pull-apart tender. Carefully lift the lamb from the dish, discard the herbs and roughly squash the tomatoes into the juices. Sit the lamb back in the dish and serve in big shredded chunks with tzatziki, chickpea salad and flatbreads for mopping up the juices.

GREEK SLOW ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 240°C/465°F (220°C fan). (Note 2)
• Use a small knife to make around 25 incisions all over the lamb, with most on the top.
• Cut around 6 cloves into slivers and stuff them into the incisions.
• Sprinkle the lamb generously all over with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Drizzle with olive oil and rub all over the lamb.
• Place the lamb in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes or until it has a nice brown crust.
• Remove from the oven. Turn the oven down to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan).
• Turn the lamb upside down. Pour / place all the remaining ingredients in the pan around the lamb (including remaining garlic cloves). Fill the roasting pan with hot water so it comes up about 1/4 - 1/3 of the way up the height of the lamb.
• Cover with lid or with baking/parchment paper then 2 layers of foil. Bake for 3.5 hours. (Note 3) Top up water if it dries out (e.g. Might happen if your lid is loose)
• Remove the roast from the oven and remove the lid/foil. Turn the lamb over so it is the right side up.
• Cover again and roast for a further 2 1/2 hours, or until you can pull meat apart with forks.
• Remove cover and roast for a further 20 - 30 minutes (to brown). (Note 3)
• Remove from the oven and transfer lamb to serving platter. Cover loosely with foil and rest for 30 - 40 minutes.
• Strain liquid into a clear jug. The fat will rise to the top. Scoop/pour most of it off - I get 3/4 - 1 cup. There should be 2 - 3 cups of Sauce left. Adjust salt, pepper and lemon to taste.
• Serve lamb with the Sauce on the side and Truly Crunchy Roast Potatoes (heat oil while lamb is in the oven, then cook potatoes when the lamb is resting).

ROASTED GREEK LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place the leg of lamb into a large roasting pan. Distribute potatoes, carrots, and celery around the meat. Slice small slits all over the surface of the lamb and stuff them with garlic cloves. Sprinkle oregano and rosemary over meat.
• Mix olive oil, lemon juice, wine, and mustard together and drizzle over the meat and vegetables.
• Bake, covered, in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Uncover and continue baking until browned, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the lamb should read at least 130 degrees F (54 degrees C).
• Let lamb cool for 5 minutes. Serve with the vegetables.

LAMB KLEFTIKO RECIPE (GREEK LAMB COOKED IN PARCHMENT PAPER)

Steps:

• To prepare this Greek lamb kleftiko recipe, start by washing thoroughly the lamb and cut into portions (approx. 5*6 cm). Place in a large bowl or basin and set aside.
• Prepare the vegetables for the lamb kleftiko. Cut the onions in half and then in four wedges. Cut the peppers in 2-3 cm chunks and slice 2 cloves of garlic. Add the vegetables in the bowl with the lamb and pour in the olive oil, white wine and lemon juice. Add the mustard, 2 whole cloves of garlic, sprinkle with oregano and season with salt and pepper. Use your hands to blend all the ingredients together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, chill and let marinade for at least 2 hours. It's best to leave the meat for the lamb kleftiko marinade overnight, to soak up all the wonderful flavours.
• Once the meat for the lamb kleftiko is marinated, return the lamb at room temperature. In the same bowl add the cheese (cut into 2cm cubes) and blend. Preheat the oven to 180C.
• To prepare the potatoes for this lamb kleftiko recipe, peel the potatoes and cut in four pieces. (The lamb kleftiko will require about 2 1/2 hours baking, so it's best to cut the potatoes in large pieces, to keep their shape.)
• Now it's time to wrap the lamb kleftiko in parchment paper. Lay 4 long pieces of parchment paper to form a star. Pop the potatoes in the centre of the parchment paper and season with salt and a pinch of oregano. Pour the marinade from the lamb over the potatoes and set the lamb and vegetables on top of the potatoes. Layer with the sliced tomato and enclose the lamb kleftiko into a pouch. To enclose the lamb kleftiko hold the parchment paper from the edges, crosswise and grab with your hand in the middle, just above the stuffing and squeeze. Use the kitchen string to tie tightly the whole thing together, just above the stuffing and lift into a roasting tin.
• Roast the lamb kleftiko in the oven for about 1 hour 45 minutes until tender. Remove the tin from the oven and increase the temperature to 220C. Unwrap the lamb kleftiko and scrunch the parchment paper under the rim of the tin. Baste the lamb with the juices and return in the oven for a further 20 mins until browned. Remove the pieces of lamb from the pouch and wrap them in some foil to rest. Toss the potatoes and return in the oven for about 20 minutes, until nicely coloured.
• Return the lamb pieces in the roasting tin and serve the lamb kleftiko as it is. Enjoy!

GREEK ROASTED LEG OF LAMB WITH POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
• Place the garlic on the bottom of the roasting pan. Place the leg of lamb on top of the garlic. Arrange the onions around the lamb.
• Whisk the marinade and pour over the lamb. Rub it all over so that everything is marinated. Sprinkle the salt and black pepper over everything. Make sure that you season all sides of the lamb.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
• In the meantime, peel and quarter the potatoes and place them in a large bowl covered with cold water.
• Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and cook for 1 and 1/2 hour more covered with foil.
• Drain the water out of potatoes and drizzle about 1/4 cup or less olive oil over them. Lightly season them with salt, pepper, and some dried oregano. Add the potatoes to the roasting pan with the lamb and bake covered for an hour.
• Remove the foil and bake for about 30 minutes more or until the meat is falling off the bone. Remember to baste the lamb with the sauce in the pan each time you handle the pan.
• Remove from the oven and let it rest for 25 minutes in the roasting pan. Transfer it onto a nice platter with the potatoes and serve it with a delicious salad and crusty bread! You can also prepare some more ladolemono sauce to serve with the lamb. Enjoy!!
• OPTIONAL: The potatoes can be peeled and left whole so that you may cook them together with the lamb from the start. They will be very flavorful but will become a bit dark. It's up to you! Let me know which way you like it better in the comments section below.

GREEK SLOW ROASTED LEG OF LAMB IN PARCEL- KLEFTIKO

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the garlic cloves, 1 tsp sea salt, the herbs, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, some black pepper, and 2-3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil.Using a sharp knife, create lots of holes all over the lamb. Rub in the paste, push it into the holes. Transfer the lamb to a large pan (cover with cling wrap) or large ziplock bag, and marinate overnight or at least 3-4 hours.
• Use a large roasting pan. Cut two long pieces of parchment paper and place them in the pan in a cross position.
• Cut up the potatoes, tomato, and cheese.
• Place the leg of lamb in the middle of the pan, over the paper. Surround it with the potatoes. Add the tomatoes, cheese, and olives. Tuck some fresh rosemary sprigs and oregano sprigs all over.
• Add some lemon juice all over. Season potatoes and tomatoes with sea salt, and freshly ground pepper and dry oregano, and the rest of the olive oil.
• Fold the parchment paper over the lamb and cover everything. Tuck the paper sides in well. Roast lamb for 3.5 hours in a 320 F°/160°C oven.
• Open the parchment paper and roast lamb for another 30 minutes. Remove the lamb from the oven, and allow to rest for 30 minutes.

SLOW ROASTED GREEK SHOULDER OF LAMB

Steps:

• preheat oven to 200c (390f) on bake, not fan
• keep aside a little of the preserved lemon for garnish
• in a small bowl add all ingredients except lamb and mix to a paste
• spread 3 layers of tin foil, then another 3 layers of foil facing the opposite way
• place lamb on foil and rub marinade all over top and bottom
• wrap foil very tightly around lamb
• sit lamb on a trivet, or cake rack in a baking dish
• place in preheated oven on middle shelf for 10 minutes
• reduce oven temperature to 130c (260f) and cook for 5 hours
• carefully unwrap the foil and drain juices into a small saucepan
• cover lamb with foil
• reduce jus on medium heat until it reduces a little (about 10 minutes)
• pour jus into a serving jug
• sprinkle parsley, preserved lemon and currants over lamb
• serve and enjoy!

ROAST LEG OF LAMB, GREEK STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Under running water, trim the outer layer of fat from the lamb and blot dry. Allow the lamb to reach room temperature and squeeze the juice from the lemons over the lamb. Slice cloves of garlic, lengthwise.
• Put salt and pepper into a small container. Cut 6 small slots into each side of the leg of lamb, about 1-inch deep. Insert garlic slivers, followed by salt and pepper, into the lamb. Lightly sprinkle top of lamb with oregano. Pour the water into a roasting pan, add lamb, and cover with foil. Roast on lowest rack of oven for 40 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove foil, lower heat to 375 degrees and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until lamb reaches desired temperature. Remove and let lamb stand about 30 minutes as the lamb continues to cook.
• To test the temperature of the meat, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the leg without touching the bone. For rare lamb, the thermometer should register 140 degrees. For medium, the thermometer should register 145 degrees.

GREEK ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 °F, 180 °F.Use a sharp knife to cut slits into the leg of lamb. Stick the garlic slivers into the slits. Place the lamb in a large roasting pan. Combine the lemon juice and olive oil together and pour it all over the lamb. Season the lamb on both sides with salt, pepper, and oregano. Add the rosemarry sprigs and the onions to the pan. Pour the water into the pan. Cover the lamb with a sheet of parchment paper and then tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 3-4 hours or until the meat is soft and almost falling off the bone. Remove the foil and parchment and place the pan back into the oven and onto the middle rack. Turn the broiler element on and broil for 5-10 minutes or until the top is golden. Keep a close eye on it so that the lamb does not burn. Serve with roasted lemony potatoes, tzatztki, and Mediterranean Rice pilaf. Enjoy and Kali Orexi!

SLOW ROASTED GREEK LAMB

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF.
• Place the peeled potatoes, onions and lemon peel in a large, oven-proof pot/casserole and season with salt, pepper, oregano and olive oil. Add rosemary and garlic.
• Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons olive oil over the lamb and season generously with salt, pepper and oregano. Place the lamb over the potatoes then pour in the stock and wine.
• Cover with a lid and place in the oven. Allow to roast for 30 minutes then turn the heat down to 160ºC/320ºF for 3-4 hours until the lamb is tender.
• Remove the lid and turn the heat back up to 200ºC/400ºF and allow the lamb to roast until golden brown (approximately 1 hour). At this point you can remove the lamb and cover with foil to rest for at least 10 minutes, ideally up to 30 minutes. Pour the stock into a jug and place the potatoes back in the oven to roast until golden brown and crisp.
• Slice/shred the lamb once rested and serve with the potatoes and gravy.

GREEK ROASTED LAMB AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 F.
• Cut the lamb into 4 equal sized pieces, or as close as possible.
• Add all of the ingredients to a baking dish and mix well with your hands. After mixing, arrange the pieces of lamb on top of the potatoes and zucchini so the potatoes and zucchini are flavored by the meat.
• Bake at 400 F for an hour and fifteen minutes. Halfway through the cooking process, flip the meat and turn the potatoes and zucchini over. This will ensure even cooking throughout. The lamb should be pulling away from the bone when it's done, and the potatoes should be soft throughout.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB, GREEK STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Under running water, trim the outer layer of fat from the lamb and blot dry. Allow the lamb to reach room temperature and squeeze the juice from the lemons over the lamb. Slice cloves of garlic, lengthwise.
• Put salt and pepper into a small container. Cut 6 small slots into each side of the leg of lamb, about 1-inch deep. Insert garlic slivers, followed by salt and pepper, into the lamb. Lightly sprinkle top of lamb with oregano. Pour the water into a roasting pan, add lamb, and cover with foil. Roast on lowest rack of oven for 40 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove foil, lower heat to 375 degrees and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until lamb reaches desired temperature. Remove and let lamb stand about 30 minutes as the lamb continues to cook. To test the temperature of the meat, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the leg without touching the bone. For rare lamb, the thermometer should register 140 degrees. For medium, the thermometer should register 145 degrees.

GREEK SLOW ROASTED LAMB SHOULDER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan assisted/Gas mark 6.
• In a bowl add the marinade ingredients and mix through until fully combined.
• Place 3 large strips off foil on the work surface and massage the marinade all over the lamb until it is fully covered.
• Wrap the lamb tightly in the foil. Place on a rack within a roasting tin. Roast in the oven for 10 minutes.
• Now reduce the heat to 130°C/110°C fan assisted/Gas mark 1/2 and roast for a further 5 hours. Carefully unwrap the foil and add the juices to a pan, place over a medium heat for about 10 minutes until reduced. Meanwhile, cover the lamb in foil and set aside.
• To serve, pour the jus into a serving jug, sprinkle the lamb with parsley and preserved lemons. Serve with Greek Salad, roasted potatoes, pitta and/or seasonal vegetables. Enjoy!