Roast leg of lamb starts with good quality lamb! Make sure you go to your nearest quality butcher and request his best so that you know you are cooking with the best possible ingredients.
Pre-heat your oven to 220 degrees celsius/428F.
Place the roast leg of lamb on the chopping board and sprinkle a generous amount of salt and ground pepper on top.
Then, turn over the lamb and sprinkle salt and pepper on the other side too.
Next, using a sharp knife, make 3 slits into the lamb, as evenly apart as possible.
Stuff each of these slits of the leg of lamb with a garlic clove, and some rosemary and basil, pushing it right down using your fingers. Be sure to do this on both sides.
Now, get a large, deep pot and put it on the stove at a medium heat. Drizzle a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil into the pot and let it warm for a minute or so.
Place the large leg of lamb roast into the pot and sear each side until it becomes lightly golden for approx. 3 minutes each side. Be sure to add the lid to the pot while it simmers.
While the lamb is searing, roughly chop up the vegetables into chunky pieces and add them into the pot. This should include carrots, celery and the onion.
Next, add rosemary and sage along with any leftover cloves of garlic.
Before putting the leg of lamb into the oven, add one large cup of chicken stock (dissolve one cube in warm water, or you can use a liquid stock)
Sprinkle one last amount of salt and pepper all over the roast leg of lamb and vegetables, then put the lid on and place it in the oven at 220 degrees celcius/428F.
After 1.5hr, carefully take the pot with the leg of lamb roast out of the oven and turn it over, so you evenly cook both sides. It is a good idea at this point to cover the lamb with the juices from the pot, keeping it beautiful and moist.
Cooking time will vary dependent not only the size of the leg of lamb but also how you enjoy eating your red meat.
This recipe allows the lamb to cook slowly for 3hr, so it cooks right through.
E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’s Plate….Enjoy!