Mint And Pistachio Stuffed Leg Of Lamb Food

MINT AND PISTACHIO STUFFED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place mint, parsley, pistachios, garlic, and lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Pulse to combine. With machine running, add 1/2 cup olive oil through the feed tube; process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lay lamb flat on a clean work surface. Spread mint mixture evenly over lamb, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Starting at the narrow end, roll lamb into a tight log; tie well with kitchen twine.
• Heat remaining tablespoon olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Place lamb in pan, and cook until browned on all sides, 7 to 10 minutes. Place in oven; roast until meat thermometer registers 140 degrees when inserted in the center, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer lamb to a platter or cutting board, and let rest 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make pan sauce: Pour off fat from skillet. Add stock, and deglaze pan by scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Simmer until liquid is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and serve with stuffed lamb.

ROAST LAMB STUFFED WITH APRICOT & MINT

Steps:

• Lay the lamb, skin-side down, on a board - if the joint you bought is tied up, then snip the strings and unroll it. Cut several pieces of string long enough to tie around the lamb, then slide them under the joint so they're regularly spaced out. Mix the stuffing ingredients together, and season well. Spread the stuffing out along the middle of the lamb, then fold the meat over to form a roll. Tie the string so the roll stays together, but don't make it too tight or it will cut into the meat. Tie some string lengthways too, if necessary.
• Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Season the lamb evenly all over. Heat a little oil in a large frying pan, then brown the lamb all over. Start with the side where the seam meets, as this will stop the lamb breaking up when you carve it.
• Tip the veg, garlic and rosemary into a roasting tin and put the lamb on top, seam-side down. Cook the lamb until the core temperature reaches 60C on a meat thermometer - this should take around 1 hr for a 2kg leg. As you rest the lamb, the temperature will continue to rise so don't overcook it.
• Lift the lamb out of the tin and, keeping it warm, rest for up to an hour. Put the roasting tin on the hob. Add the stock, bring to a simmer, then tip the lot into a saucepan, scraping up any bits. Add 500ml water and then simmer again until reduced by half. Pour through a fine sieve and serve with the lamb.

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.