Best Lamb Kleftiko Recipes

KLEFTIKO-STYLE LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Put the lamb shanks in a large bowl with the garlic, rosemary, thyme, dried oregano, cinnamon, bay leaves, lemon juice (drop in the juiced halves as well), and olive oil. Season well, then toss everything together. If you have time, chill overnight.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/ gas 5. Tip the potatoes and peppers into a large roasting tin, then pour over the wine. Remove the lamb from the marinade and set aside, then pour the leftover marinade over the veg. Toss to combine, then arrange the lamb on top of the veg. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 2 hrs 30 mins. Remove the lamb from the tin, turn all the veg over, then turn the lamb over and return to the tin on top of the veg. Drizzle over a little more oil, if the tin seems dry. Bake for 30 mins more, uncovered, until the lamb is falling off the bone and the potatoes are golden around the edges. Leave to rest for 5 mins, then scatter over the feta and fresh oregano, if using.

LAMB KLEFTIKO

Steps:

• Crush together the garlic cloves and 1 tsp salt using a pestle and mortar. Add the herbs, lemon zest, cinnamon, some black pepper, crush a little more, then stir through 2 tbsp of the olive oil.
• Using a sharp knife, create lots of holes all over the lamb, and rub in the paste, pushing it deep into the holes. Transfer the lamb to a large food bag, pour in the lemon juice and marinate overnight.
• The next day, take the lamb out of the fridge 1 hr before you want to cook it. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.
• Lay 2 long pieces of baking parchment on top of 2 long pieces of foil - one widthways, the other lengthways to form a cross. Pop the potatoes in the centre of the parchment and toss with the remaining oil and some seasoning. Bring up the sides of the foil, then pour the marinade from the lamb over the potatoes and throw in the bay leaves.
• Set the lamb on top of the potatoes and scrunch the foil together tightly to completely enclose the lamb. Lift into a roasting tin and roast in the oven for 4½ hrs until very tender.
• Remove tin from the oven and increase the temperature to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Unwrap the parcel and scrunch the foil and parchment under the rim of the tin, baste the lamb with the juices and return to the oven for a further 20 mins until browned. Remove the lamb from the tin, wrap in foil and rest.
• Turn the potatoes over and return to the oven for 30 mins, then season with salt. While the potatoes are cooking, stir together all the ingredients for the yogurt.
• Combine the red wine vinegar, oil and some seasoning to make a dressing for the salad. Toss together the remaining salad ingredients, adding the dressing when you're ready to eat. Serve the lamb with the potatoes and meaty juices, with the salad and yogurt on the side.

ARNAKI KLEFTIKO (BANDIT'S LAMB)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 480°F
• Rub the lamb with a little olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
• With a sharp knife, pierce the lamb and insert a clove of garlic and a piece of cheese into each opening. Do this until the cloves are all inserted into the lamb.
• Drizzle the potatoes and carrots with any remaining oil, season to taste with salt and pepper.
• On a clean work surface, spread out the parchment sheets and lay the lamb in the center, with the potatoes and carrots. If there is any remaining cheese, add as well.
• Close the parchment paper and secure well, tucking the sides underneath to make a packet.
• Fill a roasting pan 1/3 full of water, add the packet and cook for 2 hours 30 minutes, adding more water to the pan as needed to keep from getting dry.
• When done, lift the entire packet onto a serving platter, and cut open at the table to serve.
• Alternate preparation: Cut meat into serving size portions and wrap each portion, together with portion-size serving of potatoes and carrots, individually. Set side by side in roasting pan to cook, and serve one packet to each plate.

ARNI KLEFTIKO (REBEL LAMB)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients together and toss well with scrupulously clean hands until everything is well-coated. Season generously with pepper, but go a little easier on the salt than you normally would cause the cheese will also lend its salt to the finished dish.
• If you have a large clay pot, like a bean pot, assemble the ingredients there, cover with lid, and proceed with recipe. If not, cut 6 large sheets of parchment, distribute the kleftiko mixture evenly amongst the 6 sheets, and wrap up envelope-style. You may need to double-wrap cause you don't want any of the lovely juices this recipe emits to get lost in drainage while braising. A large, covered casserole would work well, too. Basically what you want to do is have as little liquid escape during cooking as possible.
• Braise, in the oven, for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. You want the meat to be falling off the bone. Yes, the potatoes and carrot will be very soft and tender, but will be permeated with a deep-rich flavour. Do not judge this dish by the cooking standards you are used to - remember its origins - the conditions these people lived under -- this is gourmet food created during a time of rebellion and should be enjoyed under its own standard.

LAMB KLEFTIKO

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a frying pan and brown the lamb on all sides. Place in the slow cooker.
• Wash and slice the potatoes and tomatoes, and add to the slow cooker.
• Peel and chop the onions and garlic and add to the cooker with the remaining oil, lemon juice, bay leaves and oregano.
• Season with the salt and pepper to desired amount and cook on the low setting for at least 6 hours.
• In the final 30-60 minutes add the crumble feta and stir.

LAMB KLEFTIKO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Cut a piece of aluminium foil to twice the length of a 2 liter baking dish. Lay the foil inside the dish and lay a piece of baking parchment over the foil.
• Place the potatoes in the dish with the lamb, onions, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, half the parsley and all of the broth. Mix well.
• Layer the tomatoes over the top, season with freshly ground black pepper then fold over the foil and baking parchment and secure by crimping the edges.
• Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until the lamb is tender and the vegetables are cooked.
• Cut off and remove the top of the foil and baking parchment and sprinkle over the parsley to serve.

LAMB KLEFTIKO

Steps:

• Use an oven proof cooking pot with good fitting lid.
• Heat oven to 150c.
• Squeeze all the lemons, rub lemon juice over the meat. Work some of the dried oregano into the meat.
• Place all the meat in the pot and pour in the remaining lemon juice.
• Sprinkle the rest of the herbs onto the meat.
• Remove the papery skin from the garlic bulb and slice it in half across its waist.
• Nestle both halves of the garlic down into the pot.
• Add a little salt and pepper, add the olive oil.
• Finally add wine or water and seal the pot (use foil to create a good seal under the lid). Don't add potatoes yet!
• Cook for about 3 hours, checking after two hours to make sure its not dried out. You should find the meat sitting in a inch or two of juice. If you have more than couple of inches of juice then drain a little off and set aside in case you want to add it back. Spoon some of hot liquid over exposed meat to keep it moist.
• Prepare potatoes just before the 3 hours is up. These should be peeled and sliced in half along their length. Don't be tempted to cut them potatoes further!
• After 3 hours cooking add the potatoes on top of the meat, dont push them down hard into the juice. Sprinkle a small pinch of salt on them and reseal the pot. Put back in the over for about an hour and quarter but turn the temp up a little to 160c. The potatoes should be cooked but not falling apart.

LAMB KLEFTIKO

Steps:

• Fry off the onion and the garlic for a few minutes then add the lamb. Cook until almost browned. Add the aubergine and cook for a few minutes.
• Add all other ingredients apart from puff pastry and feta and stir well. Cover and cook over a low heat for one and a half hours.
• Remove from heat. The casserole can be served now or put into pie dishes, with a little feta cheese if you like, and topped with puff pastry. Brush with a beaten egg and cook until pastry is golden.
• Serve with boiled potatoes and veg or a Greek salad.