Description
This is the traditional way Greeks make roast lamb – cooked until tender, half braised in a garlic lemon-flavored liquid that transforms into a luscious sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 7 lb leg of lamb
- Salt and pepper
- 3 tsp paprika powder
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 large yellow onions, quartered
- 10 sprigs of thyme
- 3 sprigs rosemary
- 3 tsp dried oregano
- 3 dried bay leaves (or 5 fresh)
- 1/2 cup lemon juice (2 – 3 lemons), plus more to taste
- 1 1/2 cups white wine
- 2 cups chicken stock
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 465
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Use a small knife to make around 25 incisions all over the lamb, with most on the top.
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Cut around 6 cloves into slivers and stuff them into the incisions.
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Sprinkle the lamb generously all over with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Drizzle with olive oil and rub all over the lamb.
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Place the lamb in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes or until it has a nice brown crust.
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Remove from the oven.
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Turn the oven down to 350
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Turn the lamb upside down.
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Pour all the remaining ingredients in the pan around the lamb (including the remaining garlic cloves).
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Fill the roasting pan with hot water so it comes up about 1/4 – 1/3 of the way up the height of the lamb.
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Cover with lid or with baking/parchment paper then 2 layers of foil.
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Bake for 3.5 hours.
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Top up water if it dries out (e.g. Might happen if your lid is loose)
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Remove the roast from the oven and remove the lid/foil.
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Turn the lamb over so it is the right side up.
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Cover again and roast for a further 2 1/2 hours, or until you can pull the meat apart with forks.
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Remove cover and roast for a further 20 – 30 minutes (to brown).
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Remove from the oven and transfer the lamb to a serving platter.
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Cover loosely with foil and rest for 30 – 40 minutes.
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Strain liquid into a clear jug.
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The fat will rise to the top. Scoop/pour most of it off – I get 3/4 – 1 cup.
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There should be 2 – 3 cups of Sauce left. Adjust salt, pepper, and lemon to taste.
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Serve lamb with Sauce on the side
- Category: entre, main
- Method: roast
- Cuisine: greek