A roasted leg of lamb is a fantastic holiday centerpiece and is much easier to make than you might think. It's flavorful, moist, and served with gravy from its juices and roasted veggies. It can be made ahead so you have more time with family and friends.
Some recipes seem daunting until you find a good recipe. A slow-cooked lamb leg with gravy is one of those.
This recipe is perfect for a small holiday celebration and festive brunch tables (like Mother and Father's Day and Easter).
Leftovers make fantastic sandwiches, tacos and wraps, just like the roasted turkey thighs.
This roasted leg of lamb recipe is rich, flavorful and versatile with seasonings. It fits home ovens and can be frozen.
Why make this recipe
- Easy: though a whole leg of lamb may sound daunting, it's pretty hands-off. Of course, you have to choose a size that fits your oven dish. The oven then does its magic while you wait for the juicy results.
- A great main dish for many occasions: from Christmas tables to Easter brunch or St. Patrick's Day (instead of the traditional shepherd's pie). Since the meat is pulled from the bone, it's great for a buffet table, making it ideal for potlucks and gatherings.
- Leftovers: they can be used in sandwiches, salads, soups, quiche, lasagna and other dishes.
Ingredient list
- Bone-in leg of lamb: make sure it fits in your baking pan or dish.
- Broth or stock: beef, chicken or vegetable.
- Oil: we use olive oil, but vegetable oil works just as well.
- Unsalted butter.
- All-purpose flour.
- Salt.
- Black pepper.
- Meat seasoning: use a store-bought mix, or make your own with smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic and onion powder.
- Garlic head.
- Fresh herbs: rosemary and thyme.
- Carrot.
- Onion.
Quantities are listed on the recipe card towards the end of this post. The Ingredients page has more details and lists the brands we use.
What can I serve with roasted lamb?
The choice of sides depends on your taste and the occasion. You can pair roasted lamb with various side dishes, such as:
- Mashed potatoes or sweet potato puree.
- Roasted Brussels sprouts, balsamic Brussels sprouts, mustard cauliflower or other cruciferous vegetables.
- Spiced honey eggplant.
- Roasted pumpkin wedges.
- Spicy potato wedges.
- Candied sweet potatoes.
- Potato salad.
- Arugula pear salad.
- Pomegranate salad.
Steps to make a slow-cooked lamb leg
The rub is a mix of oil, spices, fresh herbs, and vegetables that flavor the stock and juices.
This is where you can customize it to your and your family's palate. Or adjust to what you have in your spice cabinet. You might find a new favorite mix.
Rub oil on all sides of the lamb with a salt, pepper, and spice mix. You can also process it to make a smooth paste, but there's no difference.
For a crisper skin, remove the foil covering the dish and broil the lamb for the last 5-10 minutes.
Lamb gravy from drippings
It's not hard to prepare, and you can easily achieve a lump-free gravy.
- Lamb drippings: they're collected in the pan as the leg bakes and used as part of the liquid.
- Broth: homemade or store-bought. We like beef broth, but chicken or vegetable broth works well.
Make the roux: mix butter with flour and stir constantly until it lightly browns. This is the base that will thicken the gravy.
The liquids (lamb pan drippings and broth) are added gradually until a smooth sauce is achieved. It can then be spiced to your liking. It's essential to whisk constantly to avoid a lumpy gravy.
Storage
- Divide leftovers into portions: you can divide them into smaller portions to store them more conveniently.
- Refrigerate: store the container or bag in the refrigerator. Roasted lamb pieces can be safely refrigerated for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: if you want to store them for an extended period, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag, ensuring they are well-sealed. For best results, use a vacuum-sealing system to remove excess air. Label the container or bag with the date.
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Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
Ingredients
For the lamb:
- 1 leg of lamb, about 4 pounds/1.8 kg
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon meat seasoning, or a mix of smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic and onion powder
- 1 fresh garlic head, halved whole
- 1 cup broth
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1 carrot, in large pieces
- 1 onion, in quarters
For the gravy:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup broth and lamb juices
Instructions
For the leg of lamb:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
- Brush or rub the leg of lamb on all sides with olive oil and a mixture of salt, pepper and spices. Place in a baking dish or roasting pan.
- Place the chopped vegetables, sprigs of rosemary and thyme, and halved garlic head around it.
- Pour broth slowly into the pan.
- Cover it with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Roast for 1 hour, lower the temp to 325°F/165°C and roast for 3 more hours.
- After this time, increase the oven temperature to 400°F/220°C.
- Remove the foil (don’t throw it away) and roast the leg of lamb for another 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, cover again with foil and leave for half an hour on a wire rack.
To make the gravy:
- Melt the butter in a saucepan and add all-purpose flour as you stir with a whisk. Mix for 1 minute while the mixture turns golden and cooks.
- Remove the leg of lamb and veggies from the roasting pan and reserve.
- Drain the broth with the lamb juices from the pan onto a jar with a pouring tip or bowl.
- Slowly add this liquid mixture to the butter and flour in the saucepan over low heat while stirring constantly with a whisk. Stir for a minute or two more until all lumps are dissolved and the mixture has no pronounced flour flavor.
- To serve: remove the lamb from the bone (it will be very soft and tender) by pulling it apart with two forks or kitchen tongs, transfer it to the serving platter with the garlic halves and veggies if you want to, and serve with the gravy.
Notes
- Baking time: consider that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer(like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust.
- Herbs: if using dried thyme and dried rosemary, use 2 teaspoons of each.
- Refrigerate: store the container or bag in the refrigerator. Roasted lamb pieces can be safely refrigerated for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: if you want to store them for an extended period, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag, ensuring they are well-sealed. For best results, use a vacuum-sealing system to remove excess air. Label the container or bag with the date.
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