Roast Lamb
Roasting a leg of lamb on the bone is really a very simple and a real crowd pleaser. I did this recipe for 8 people and the total time preparing it was about 45 minutes, a real walk in the park. Be sure to go to a good butcher who will select a nice piece of meat for you. I got this one from the butcher in Benmore Gardens, they have been around for more than 20 years and are great guys with all sorts of advice. (8 people)
What you need
2.6 – 2.8kg leg of lamb on the bone
6 large cloves garlic halved
large handful of chopped fresh herbs (rosemary, basil, origanum, parsley)
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
The process
Heat your oven to 190 Celsius
In the morning take the leg of lamb out of the fridge and leave it in a cool place until you get home. You don’t want very cold meat to go into the oven.
Slice your garlic cloves lengthways in half and prepare your pile of fresh herbs.
Cut 12 thin slits all over the leg and stuff a piece of garlic into each one, then stuff the hole with fresh herbs.
take a little olive oil on your hands and rub the leg to give it a thin coating of oil, then give a good grind of salt on pepper over the surface.
Slosh a bit of oil into the roasting pan and place the leg with the fatty side facing up, jam it in the oven, pour a glass of wine and leave it for 1 hour. After 1 hour check on it, spoon over a little of the juices that have collected and roast for another 1 hour.
Thats it, done.
Cooking times for roast lamb are 50 minutes per kilo plus an extra 20 minutes. This will give you medium lamb, if you like it a little more rare reduce the time by 10 minutes per kilo and always let it rest to 15 minutes or so before carving.
Serve with roast potatoes, and gravy.
will definately be trying this for christmas eve supper. Your mac n cheese recipe is already a hit at home.
Great stuff Hima. This perfect roast will definitely make your Christmas dinner a hit!
Graham, sorry just want to check where does the glass of wine fits in? Red ? For yourself or for the roast?? Going to try your recipe tomorrow!!!
Hi Fiona, the glass of wine is for me 🙂 enjoy it G
Hi,
Do you cook it in an open or closed roasting pan?
Thanks
Hi Clinton, in an open pan, sorry for the late reply, just got back from hols. G
Hi Graham
Merry Christmas! Thanks for your Roast Leg of Lamb recipe. I am cooking it tomorrow. How do make crispy roast potatoes? Please!
Have a great Xmas
Olga
Thanks Olga and a fantastic Xmas to you and yours. Here you go
https://cookbook.co.za/vegetables/roast-potatoes/
G
Hi
Will definitely try this one over the weekend.
The family is in for a treat Rufane, Happy Xmas G
Hey, I was hoping to cook a leg of lamb tonight for my partner and Family. Although without knowing it would take so long to defrost would that still be possible to cook when I take it out at 7 this morning and start cooking around 2-3? Even if its still a little frozen? Or am I better off leaving it for the next day?
Hi leigharna, before you cook any meat it should be allowed to get to room temperature or the cooking times will not work out and you could end up with a very rare center. Leave it out, it will be well worth it and with the cost of meat these days you really don’t want to risk it. Have a lekker weekend G