Welsh Honeyed Lamb Food

HONEYED WELSH LAMB

Steps:

• Set oven to 400F or Mark6. Place the leg of lamb on kitchen foil in a roasting tin. Brush with 4 tablespoons of warm honey and season with salt and pepper. Place the sprig of rosemary on top of the joint. Draw uo the foil to form a tent and roast for 15 minutes. Lower the heat to 350F or Mark4 and continue roasting for 15 minutes. Lower the heat to 350F or Mark4 and continue roasting for 1 1/2 hours until the juice just runs pink or longer if preferred well done. Open up the foil to crisp and brown the skin for the last 20 minutes of cooking time. Remove the lamb from the oven and keep warm. Pour off the fat from the pan and make the gravy from the meat residue, adding half a pint of cider and 2 tablespoons of honey. Reduce to two thirds by boiling.

ROAST LEG OF WELSH LAMB WITH GINGER, HONEY, CIDER AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Heat the oven 375°F/190°C.
• Cut the ginger into slivers.
• Using a sharp knife, make small cuts in the leg of lamb and insert the ginger and rosemary.
• Mix the butter and honey together and spread this over the lamb.
• Put in a roasting tin, pour in half of the cider and cover loosely with foil.
• Roast in the oven allowing 25 minutes per pound.
• When three-quarters cooked, remove the foil and continue cooking, basting frequently with the juices from the roasting tin, adding more cider if necessary.
• Remove the joint from the oven, lift out of the pan, removing any excess fat, and pour in the rest of the cider to deglaze the pan.
• Boil this up well, return the non-fatty juices and thicken with a little arrowroot if you wish.
• A well seasoned mixed mash of carrot, parsnip, turnip and potatoes tastes perfect with the roast leg of lamb.

WELSH LAMB WELLINGTON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200C/180Cfan. Sprinkle the rosemary onto a plate. Season the lamb with salt and black pepper then roll it in the rosemary.
• Heat half the oil in a frying pan and sear the lamb for 2-3 minutes each side until brown all over, be careful not to overcook. Remove and set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in the pan and gently fry the mushrooms, leeks and garlic for about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the wine and cook until evaporated. Leave to cool slightly.
• Cut pastry block in half and roll into a large rectangle about 5mm thick (big enough to wrap around the lamb). Spoon half the mushroom mixture down the centre of the rectangle and place the lamb on top.
• Brush any exposed pastry with the beaten egg and then wrap the pastry around the meat, sealing tightly - trim the top and bottom if a little too much pastry. Place on a baking tray, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining pastry and second piece of lamb.
• Brush the pastry all over with the remaining beaten egg and decorate with pastry trimmings if you wish. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until pastry is golden brown. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before carving into thick slices.