Best Lebanese Baked Lamb And Potatoes Recipes

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.

LEBANESE LAMB AND RICE

Steps:

• Brown lamb in a bit of butter and set aside.
• Saute' onion in rest of butter, until tender.
• Add the rice, then saute' until rice is barely golden brown.
• Add the water, pinenuts, cinnamon, allspice, cooked lamb and salt.
• Bring to boil, cover and reduce heat to low, cook 30 minutes or until rice is done.
• NOTE: This can be used with lamb that is cut up in bite size pieces also.
• If there is a bone in the lamb, you can add more flavor to the dish by browning the bone and letting it cook with the rice, then remove the bone when serving the dish (but of course you know that).

TAVE (CYPRIOT BAKED LAMB AND POTATOES WITH CUMIN AND TOMATOES)

Steps:

• Roughly chop the onions and cut the potatoes into large chunks. Slice the tomatoes into thick slices.
• Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Put the potatoes, onions and the lamb into a deep baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Add the parsley, cumin and olive oil, thoroughly mixing with your hands. (natures best tool!) Layer the tomatoes on top and season them lightly with salt. Dot with butter and pour about 1/2 cup of water around the sides of the dish. Cover tightly with foil.
• Bake for 2 hours, stirring several times, the lamb should be tender and the potatoes soft.
• Remove the foil, increasing the oven temperature to 200*C/400*F. Cook for 45 minutes longer, stirring halfway through, until the lamb and potatoes are browned and the liquid has reduced somewhat. Serve hot or at room temperature with a salad.