Best Olive And Spice Rubbed Leg Of Lamb Recipes

SPICE-RUBBED LEG OF LAMB WITH HARISSA YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• For the lamb: Use paper towels to pat dry the leg of lamb. In a small bowl, combine the salt, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, black pepper and cayenne. Season all sides of the lamb with the spice mixture and place on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Let sit at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes or place in the refrigerator overnight and allow to sit at room temperature for 45 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Drizzle the lamb with the olive oil, then roast for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until the internal temperature is 140 degrees F for medium, about 1 hour and 15 minutes more. Allow to rest before serving, 15 to 20 minutes, then slice.
• For the sauce: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the harissa, yogurt and honey. Season with salt. Refrigerate until serving.
• For the optional garnish: Garnish with the pomegranate seeds, mint, scallions, good olive oil and sea salt if desired. Serve with the harissa yogurt sauce.

GARLIC-AND-HERB-RUBBED BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Pat lamb dry with paper towels and place it on a rimmed baking sheet. In a bowl, combine oil, herbs, orange zest and juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Rub mixture all over lamb. Cover with foil and let marinate at room temperature for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Remove foil and transfer lamb to oven. Roast until a thermometer reads 120 degrees for rare and 130 for medium, about 35 to 45 minutes, depending on how you like your meat. Let cool completely, then wrap and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH OLIVE AND ROSEMARY PASTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Using on/off turns, blend olives, garlic and rosemary in processor until chopped. Gradually add oil, blending until coarse paste forms. Season paste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Place lamb, boned side up, on rimmed baking sheet. Spread olive paste over top of lamb.
• Roast lamb 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400°F. Continue roasting until thermometer inserted into thickest part of lamb registers 135°F for medium-rare, about 20 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes.

SPICE-RUBBED BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Combine first 13 ingredients in processor. Using on/off turns, process until coarse paste forms. Add oil and lemon juice and process until well blended.
• Place lamb in large resealable plastic bag. Pour spice mixture over lamb; seal bag. Turn bag several times and rub spice mixture into lamb. Refrigerate overnight, turning bag occasionally.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Remove lamb from marinade; shake off excess. Grill lamb to desired doneness or until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of lamb registers 125°F to 130°F, for medium-rare about 15 minutes per side. Transfer lamb to cutting board. Cover with foil and let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Cut lamb into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Arrange on platter and serve.

SPICED RUBBED LEG OF LAMB WITH APRICOT CHUTNEY AND CHICKPEA, TOMATO, SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a medium pan on the grill over high heat. Add onions and cook until lightly golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the spices, ginger and chile and cook for 1 minute. Add the spinach and cook until just wilted.
• Place the chickpeas in a large bowl. Add the onion/spinach mixture and mix until combined. Add the tomatoes, olive oil, parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Yield: 8 servings
• Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.
• Rub lamb completely with spice rub. On a hot grill sear lamb on all sides for 4 to 5 minutes. Put lamb on rotisserie and with the cover down roast lamb for 1 1/4 to 11/2 hours for medium rare. Remove from rotisserie and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
• Preheat grill or side burner. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until soft and lightly golden, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and jalapeno and cook for 2 minutes. Add apricots, sugar and vinegar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature.

LEG OF LAMB WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Pat lamb dry and score fat by making shallow cuts all over with tip of a sharp small knife.
• Pound garlic to a paste with sea salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a heavy knife) and stir together with rosemary and pepper. Put lamb in a lightly oiled roasting pan, then rub paste all over lamb. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Roast lamb in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into thickest part of meat (do not touch bone) registers 130°F, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 15 to 25 minutes (internal temperature will rise to about 140°F for medium-rare).
• Add wine to pan and deglaze by boiling over moderately high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Season pan juices with salt and pepper and serve with lamb.