One Pan Herby Roast Lamb With Lemon Potatoes Feta Recipes

Steps:

• Place the leg of lamb on a cutting surface and trim most internal fat and any excess connective tissue. Do not trim much of the outside fat, however, as it imparts moisture and flavor to the rest of the cut. Spread the lamb as flat as possible and, with a sharp boning knife, make small cuts along the thicker parts of the meat as needed, so as to get an even thickness. This will make rolling easier later. You can also ask your butcher to butterfly it for you. Carefully score the meat on the inside, so that the herb mixture can seep in to all of the scorings and soak up all the flavor while roasting. Make sure not to score all the way down and cut the outer layer of meat - just small ¼" inch cuts on the inside only will do.
• Prepare the "wet" rub: In a small skillet set over medium-low heat, heat the olive oil and add the shallot, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Cook for two minutes and then add the oregano, pepper flakes salt & pepper and lemon zest. Cook for a couple more minutes (making sure not to burn the garlic) and then remove it from the heat and let it cool.
• Pour two thirds of the rub over the inner side of the butterflied lamb. Spread it all over the meat and push it into the scores you made. Carefully roll tightly into a log along the longest side. Tie the roll with some kitchen twine at 1½" intervals, to make sure it does not open up while roasting. Let it sit in the refrigerator (uncovered, so we get a crisp crust) for at least two hours or, even better, overnight. A longer stay with the rub will give the lamb a better flavor and texture.
• Take the lamb out of the refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 275° F. Adjust oven rack to the lower middle position. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty foil. Place the lamb on the baking sheet and transfer the sheet to the oven. Roast for about 1¼ to 1½ hours, depending on the thickness and the size of the leg or lamb. The best way to ensure proper doneness is to use an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest section of lamb - it should register between 130°F to 135°F, for a perfect pink center. Remove the lamb from oven and let it rest, loosely covered with aluminum foil, for about 15 minutes.
• While the lamb is resting, increase the oven temperature to 450°F. Return the lamb to the oven and roast it for about 8-10 minutes or until the exterior is golden brown and crisp. Remove it from the oven, place it on a cutting board, and, let it rest for about 5-8 minutes. Remove the twine and slice the lamb into thin slices. Serve with roasted potatoes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Prepare the potatoes and place them in a glass or ceramic baking pan. Add the olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, lemon, and water. Mix well and arrange the potatoes in a single layer. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender. If necessary, add more hot water and gently mix once or twice during baking.
• Once the potatoes are cooked, place them under the broiler for 5 minutes to get some nice golden brown color. Serve at once.

Steps:

• Pat dry the lamb using paper towels and place it in a roasting pan. Using a sharp knife, make several incisions in the lamb and insert the slivered garlic and half of the rosemary leaves.
• Whisk together the olive oil, salt, pepper, the other half of the garlic (minced), the other half of the rosemary (chopped), thyme, oregano and lemon zest. Pour the marinade over the lamb making sure to cover it on all sides. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• 30 minutes before you are ready to roast the lamb, remove it from the refrigerator and turn on the oven to 450°F.
• Wrap the lamb and its marinade well with parchment paper (not wax paper) and then with aluminum foil (this will ensure that all the juices stay with the meat and do not leek.) If you do not have parchment paper, use two layers of foil instead. Place the roasting pan with the lamb in the middle rack of the oven, cook for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 360°F. Roast for 2 hours.
• While the lamb roasts, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and then in quarters. If the potatoes are large, cut each quarter in half again. Place them in a medium bowl and toss them with the salt, pepper, oregano, and lemon juice.
• After two hours, remove the roast from the oven, open the wrapping carefully and check it. At this point, the bone should be loose and starting to come away from the meat. If it is not, cover the lamb again, return it to the oven, and roast for another 15 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 400°F. Uncover the lamb; there should be about a cup of its juices in the pan. If there is not enough liquid, add enough hot water to make about 1 cup. Scatter the potatoes around and under the lamb and return the pan to the oven for about 20-30 minutes until the skin of the lamb is brown and crisp (cover loosely with a piece of foil if the lamb becomes too dark before this time).
• At this point, remove only the lamb from the roasting pan and transfer it to a platter. Cover it loosely with some foil and let it rest for 20 minutes. Continue roasting the potatoes for another 15 minutes, or so, until they become soft and have a nice golden color. There should be still plenty of juice in the pan.
• To serve, spoon some pan juices over the lamb, divide it in four portions and serve it alongside the lemon potatoes. Garnish with some lemon slices and enjoy with a glass of Merlot.