ARMENIAN STUFFED LEG OF LAMB

Armenian Stuffed Leg of Lamb image

Mint, cinnamon, currants, lemon - the herb-laden, sweet and spicy flavor of Armenian cuisine is ideal for warming up a crisp autumn evening. From "An Armenian Evening", Good Food Magazine, October 1986. Prep time does not include marinating time. Posted for ZWT 4.

Provided by JackieOhNo

Time 1h45m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

Ingredients

1 (5 -6 lb) leg of lamb, semiboned (shank bone left in,)
3 garlic cloves, cut into 12 slivers
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons dried mint
2 teaspoons dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
fresh ground pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup minced celery
1 cup long-grain rice
3 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons dried currants
fresh ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups water

Steps:

Marinate lamb: Remove fell (the thin outer membrane) and all but 1/8-inch layer fat from lamb. Make 12 small incisions in outside surface and insert garlic slivers. Combine oil, lemon juice, mint, oregano, salt, and pepper in small bowl. Place lamb in glass dish and spread o il mixture evenly over inside and outside surfaces. Let stand covered at room temperature 1-1/2 hours or refrigerate overnight. (If lamb is refrigerated, let warm to room temperature 1-1/2 hours before roasting.).
Make stuffing about 1-1/2 hours before roasting lamb: Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery; saute until tender but not browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in rice, pine nuts and parsley. Reduce heat to low and cook until rice turns opaque, 2-3 minutes. Gradually stir in broth. Stir in currants and pepper to taste. Heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer covered until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and add allspice and cinnamon while fluffing rice with fork. Let cool at room temperature about 1 hour.
Heat oven to 475 degrees.
Place lamb, fat side down, on work surface. Spoon about 2 cups stuffing into pocket where bones were. Press leg together and tie at 1-inch intervals with kitchen string. Place lamb on rack in roasting pan. Spoon remaining stuffing into small casserole and set aside.
Roast lamb on rack in upper third of oven until browned, about 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees. Carefully pour 1-1/2 cups water into pan. Continue to roast, basting every 15 minutes, until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of leg registers 145 degrees for medium-rare; it will take about 45 minutes. Fifteen minutes before lamb is done, spoon 1-2 T. pan juices over stuffing in casserole and bake in oven until heated through. Transfer lamb to carving board and let stand 15-20 minutes.
Spoon fat from pan juices, then heat juices to boiling, scraping loose browned bits on bottom of pan. Strain into sauceboat and season with pepper.
Slice lamb 1/2-inch thick and serve with stuffing and pan juices.