Roasted Leg Of Lamb With North African Spices Lemon And Onions Food

LEG OF LAMB WITH HARISSA YOGURT CRUST

Steps:

• Trim the fat off the leg if you prefer a leaner version -or leave some on for extra flavor. See notes. Score all sides of leg 1/2 inch deep, 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart (crosshatch if you like), sprinkle generously with salt and bring to room temp for at least 1 hour.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Remove lamb from refrigerator 1 hour before roasting.
• Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C/Gas 6.
• Make small slits just large enough for garlic slivers evenly in the leg of lamb, and insert the garlic slivers.
• Rub all over with lemon juice, then pat the rosemary and black pepper evenly over the surface. Sprinkle with salt to taste. If you're using fresh rosemary, just insert the sprigs with the garlic slivers into the cuts you made.
• Place lamb, fat side up on a rack in an uncovered pan.
• Roast 30 minutes to a pound or until the internal temperature reaches 175-180°F, for meat well done. If you prefer slightly rare lamb, roast until 160-165°F.
• When done, remove from oven, cover the roast in foil and allow it to rest for 20 minutes before carving.
• If you also want delicious rich gravy, place a 1 1/2 cups of lamb or beef stock in the bottom of the pan before you put the lamb in the oven, making sure that the rack sits above the liquid and the meat doesn't touch it. You can also add a sprig or two of rosemary to it and if you want baste the lamb a couple of times while it's roasting. Just before serving bring the liquid to a simmer on the stove top, making sure you whisk it well and scrape all the bits from the sides and the bottom of the pan. If you want more gravy you can add some extra stock or some of the water you have cooked your vegetables inches Mix 1tbsp of cornflour with 2tbsp of water and whisk it into the stock. Simmer until thickened and you have a wonderful gravy.

ROASTED LEG OF LAMB WITH NORTH AFRICAN SPICES, LEMON, AND ONIONS

Steps:

• In a spice grinder, a clean coffee grinder, or a mortar, grind the salt, oregano, rosemary, caraway, cumin, and turmeric to a fine powder. Transfer to a bowl and add the harissa and chopped garlic. Add the olive oil to make a thick paste. Make 8 or 9 deep slits all over the lamb and insert some of the spice paste, rubbing the paste all over the surface of the meat. Cover and let stand for 1 hour at room temperature or, preferably, refrigerate for at least 5 hours or overnight. Bring to room temperature before roasting.
• Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the leg of lamb fat side down in a roasting pan that will hold the onions in one layer. Roast for 20 minutes. Mix the lemon juice and wine in a small bowl. Turn the meat and pour the lemon-wine mixture over it. (If you are roasting the lamb in a clay dish, warm the mixture first, because cold liquid can cause the clay to crack.) Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and roast for 35 minutes, basting every 10 to 15 minutes with the pan juices. If the pan dries out, add a little more wine.
• Transfer the lamb to a plate and add the onions to the pan, tossing them well to coat them with the pan juices. Add the rosemary sprigs or sprinkle with dried rosemary, toss, place the lamb on the onions, and continue roasting, basting often, for another 30 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 135°F. Transfer the meat to a heated platter, cover with a double layer of aluminum foil, and set aside. (Leave the oven on.) If the pan juices are watery, transfer most of them to a saucepan and cook briefly to reduce.
• Meanwhile, return the pan to the oven and continue baking the onions until tender, with browned edges. Turn the oven to broil. Place the lamb on the onions again and broil for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the surface is deep brown and crackling. Carve the lamb and serve, passing the pan juices in a bowl or sauceboat at the table.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH LEMON, GARLIC, AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Place the chopped lemon, rosemary, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a food processor. A blender can also be used, if done in batches. If you have neither, finely chop all ingredients together.
• Open up the lamb and lay it flat. Spread and massage the lemon paste evenly over the inside and outside of the lamb. Place in a baking dish and cover, or in a large resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate overnight to marinate, turning occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Remove the meat from the refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before cooking. Place the lamb on a rack in a foil-lined roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet. Place the meat in the oven and after 5 minutes, reduce the temperature to 425 degrees. Roast for 45 minutes, or until medium rare, 140 degrees on an instant read thermometer. Allow the meat to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving and serving.

PERFECT ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Bring the leg of lamb to room temp. Take the leg of lamb out of the refrigerator and leave in room temperature for about 1 hour. In the meantime, prepare the remaining ingredients and make the lamb rub.
• Prepare the seasoning. To make the rub or seasoning, in a food processor, combine the rub ingredients. Blend until smooth. Set aside (or in the fridge, if preparing in advance).
• Salt the meat. When ready, pat the lamb dry and make a few slits on both sides. Season with salt and pepper.
• Sear the Lamb. Turn the oven on broil. Place the leg of lamb on a wire rack and put it directly on the top rack so that it's only a few inches away from the broiler element. Broil for 5-7 minutes on each side or until the leg of lamb is nicely seared. Remove from the oven, then adjust the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• Apply the seasoning or rub. When the lamb is cool enough to handle, insert the garlic slices in the slits you made earlier. Now cover the leg of lamb on all sides with the wet rub and place it in the middle of a roasting pan with an inside rack. Add two cups of water to the bottom of the roasting pan.

LEMON AND MINT ROASTED LAMB

Steps:

• In large zip-top bag, add lamb, lemon pepper marinade, minced garlic, paprika, and mint. Squeeze out air and let marinade at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place sliced onions in bottom of roasting pan. Remove lamb from bag and place on top of onions. Pour marinade mixture over lamb.
• Place in preheated oven and immediately reduce heat to 375 degrees F. Roast for approximately 30 minutes per pound or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 165 degrees F.
• Remove from oven and tent with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
• Serve with Saffron Couscous.
• In a medium saucepan, bring broth, saffron, and salt to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in couscous. Cover and set aside for 5 minutes.
• Transfer cooked couscous to a medium bowl and fluff with a fork. Add remaining ingredients and toss to combine.

NORTH AFRICAN LEG OF LAMB WITH COUSCOUS AND GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• 1. In a food processor combine the marinade ingredients and process until an almost smooth puree forms. Place the lamb, opened flat, in a large glass baking dish or on a sheet pan. Spread the marinade evenly all over both sides of the lamb. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 to 24 hours. Allow the lamb to stand at room temperature for 45 minutes to 1 hour before grilling (do not scrape the marinade off the lamb). 2. Cut off the thick stalks and the root ends from the fennel bulbs and discard. Finely chop and reserve the fronds for garnish. Cut each fennel bulb in half lengthwise and then cut each half into 1/3-inch slices. In a large bowl combine all the cut vegetables. Add 1/4 cup of the oil, the salt, and pepper and toss gently, being careful not to break the vegetables. If the vegetables seem dry, add one more tablespoon oil. 3. Prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium heat (350? to 450?F). 4. Brush the cooking grates clean. Grill the lamb, fat side down first, over direct medium heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 125? to 130?F, 30 to 45 minutes for medium rare, turning once after 20 minutes. 5. About 15 minutes before the lamb is done, prepare the couscous. In a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the shallots and garlic and saut? until golden and tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cumin, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken broth and bring to boil. Stir in the couscous. Remove from the heat, cover, and let stand 5 to 10 minutes (keep the couscous covered to keep warm). 6. Remove the lamb from the grill, tent with aluminum foil, and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Maintain the heat of the grill. 7. While the meat is resting, grill the vegetables over direct medium heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, until they are tender and lightly charred on the outside, turning occasionally. The fennel and squash will take 10 to 12 minutes, the peppers will take 6 to 8 minutes, and the zucchini will take 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the grill as they are done. 8. Cut the lamb crosswise into slices. Spoon the couscous on half of a large platter and the vegetables on the other half. Top the couscous with 1/2 cup of the mint and sprinkle the fennel fronds over the vegetables. Arrange the lamb slices on the couscous. Top the lamb with the remaining 1/4 cup mint. Drizzle the lamb with any accumulated juices. Serve warm.

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.

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.