Herb Crusted Leg of Lamb

At a traditional Greek Easter dinner, lamb is served medium to well done. If you like it rare, roast it for a shorter amount of time.

Ingredients   
2  nine-pound leg of lamb, bone in, trimmed of excess fat    
1  tablespoon plus 1/4 teaspoon olive oil    
1 1/2  teaspoons salt    
1/2  teaspoons freshly ground black pepper    
1  medium head garlic    
1/4  cup extra-virgin olive oil    
1/4  cup fresh lemon juice    
1  tablespoon dried oregano    
1/4  cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley    
1  tablespoon all-purpose flour    
1/3  cup brandy 
1 1/2  cups Homemade Chicken Stock , or canned low-sodium chicken broth, skimmed of fat.


Directions
    
  1. Let lamb stand at room temperature for one hour. Heat oven to 325*F Remove all but a thin layer of fat from the lamb. Rub lamb with 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place on a rack in a heavy roasting pan. 
   
  2. Meanwhile, rub head of garlic with 1/4 teaspoon oil; wrap loosely in foil. Bake until garlic is very soft, about 1 hour. Let cool.   
 
  3. Cut off top of garlic head; squeeze roasted garlic into a bowl. Using a fork, mash garlic to a paste. Add extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, parsley, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix well. 
   
  4. Rotate pan after lamb has roasted 1 1/4 hours. After 30 minutes more, slather lamb with roasted-garlic paste. Roast an additional hour (for a total roasting time of about 2 3/4 hours), or until an instant-read thermometer inserted at the thickest part reads 160*F. Remove from oven, and let rest 20 minutes. 
 
  5. Transfer lamb to a carving board. Pour off fat from roasting pan; place over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with flour, and stir with a wooden spoon. Pour in brandy; scrape up brown bits from bottom of pan. Lower heat to medium; let liquid reduce by half. Add stock, stirring until incorporated. Add rosemary and salt and pepper to taste. 
   
  6. Slice lamb; serve with sauce on the side.  Serves 8 to 10

Source:  www.marthastewart.com
Photo by: Gentl & Hyers

Chef
0 min
Serves 0