Spit Roasted Leg Of Lamb With Preserved Lemon Saffron Olive And Vinaigrette Recipes

Steps:

• Prepare a very hot fire (500°F) in a fireplace or a medium-hot fire (425°F) in a wood-fired oven.
• Lay the lamb flat on the work surface with the exterior of the leg on the work surface. With the point of a knife, make several incisions in the lamb and insert a slice of garlic into each incision. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, stir together the parsley, chives, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, minced garlic, and 3 tablespoons of the olive oil.
• Spread the herb mixture evenly over the exposed side of the lamb. Roll and wrap the lamb around the spit and secure with kitchen twine or small metal turkey skewers. Brush the outside of the lamb with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Place the spit 6 to 8 inches from the fire and spit-roast the lamb, using an electric or battery-powered unit to rotate the spit consistently, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the lamb registers 135°F for medium-rare, about 1 hour. Alternatively, put the lamb in a roasting pan and roast in the oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the lamb registers 135°F. Let the meat stand for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with Tzatziki.
• Combine the yogurt and salt in a bowl and stir to blend. Turn into a cheesecloth-lined sieve placed over a bowl and let drain for several hours to remove excess moisture in the yogurt.
• Meanwhile, shred the cucumber to make 1 cup. Spread the shredded cucumber on paper towels and sprinkle lightly with salt. Let drain for 30 minutes. Using paper towels, squeeze out the excess moisture.
• Combine the yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, mint, dill, and olive oil in a bowl. Mix well. Add the lemon juice to taste. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Use now, or within 1 day.

Steps:

• Trim the excess fat from the lamb, leaving a 1/4- to 1/2-inch layer of fat. Using a sharp knife, make small slits, about 1/2 inch deep and 2 to 3 inches apart, all over the surface of the lamb. Fill each slit with a slice of garlic.
• Grate the lemon zest into a small bowl (reserve the lemon). Add the rosemary, 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper. Rub the mixture all over the lamb. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Remove the lamb from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature about 1 hour before roasting. Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Set a rack in a roasting pan and set the lamb fat-side up on the rack. Cut the reserved lemon in half and squeeze the juice over the lamb; drizzle with the olive oil and rub all over to coat. Add the lemon halves to the pan. Roast until the fat on the lamb starts to sizzle, about 20 minutes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350˚ F and continue roasting the lamb until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 130˚ F for medium rare to medium, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes more. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 20 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• Trim excess fat and gristle from meat and cut lamb into 1-inch cubes. Place meat in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix the cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and saffron; sprinkle over the meat and set aside.
• On a cutting board, mince together the orange zest, cilantro leaves, garlic, and salt until you have a paste. Add to the meat along with the orange juice and stir well to coat. Cover the bowl and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours, or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
• Transfer the mixture to a heavy pot, add the onions, tomatoes, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer (or bake in a preheated 350 degree oven) until the meat is very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add olives and, if using, preserved lemon to the pot. Cook about 10 minutes more, then serve.
• Wash a 1-pint glass-canning jar and its lid with hot soapy water; rinse and dry thoroughly.
• Cut 6 of the lemons, 1 at a time, into quarters through 1 end without cutting all the way through the other end. You want the lemon to open out like a flower, but not to separate. Place the lemon on a large piece of parchment or waxed paper, spread quarters open and sprinkle flesh with a heaping tablespoon of kosher salt; put the lemon into the jar. Continue with remaining lemons, sprinkling salt on each. Pack the lemons in the jar tightly, filling it to the top (you may need more or less than 6 lemons, depending on their size). When you reach the top, lift the parchment and pour the excess salt from it into the jar of lemons.
• Slide the bay leaves down opposite sides of the jar. Juice the remaining lemons 1 by 1, adding juice to the jar, until it reaches the top. Seal jar, shake well, and let stand at room temperature, shaking well every 12 hours, for 1 week. After 1 week, transfer jar to the refrigerator, continuing to shake every day. Lemons are preserved after 3 weeks and keep up to several months in the refrigerator.
• To use lemons, pull out as needed and scrape away pulp. Dice peel and use as a condiment.

Steps:

• Make the salsa: In a small saucepan, bring the vinegar and saffron to a boil for 1 minute. Pour into a bowl and whisk in the olive oil slowly allowing it to incorporate and emulsify. Add the olives, lemon, and pepper. Set aside.
• Make the lamb: Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Using a knife, make 8 deep slits into the meatiest parts of the lamb. Rub the lamb all over with the oil, oregano, lemon, and salt. Tuck the rosemary and garlic into the slits.
• Place the lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and roast until well browned, about 30 minutes. Lower heat to 350 degrees F. and roast about 10 to 15 minutes more per pound. Alternatively, roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part (without touching the bone), reads 130 to 135 degrees F. for medium rare, 140 to 150 for medium. (Add about a cup water to the roasting pan to keep drippings moist, if desired.) Remove the lamb from the oven when it's about 5 degrees shy of preferred doneness. (The internal temperature will rise as the meat rests.)
• Transfer the lamb to a cutting board, cover with foil, and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the roasting pan over high heat. Pour in the wine, and cook, scraping up the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, until reduced slightly. Skim fat from the juices.
• Thinly slice the lamb and transfer to a warmed platter. Pour the juices over the lamb and top with the salsa. Serve immediately with orzo or white rice.

Steps:

• Place the chopped lemon, rosemary, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a food processor. A blender can also be used, if done in batches. If you have neither, finely chop all ingredients together.
• Open up the lamb and lay it flat. Spread and massage the lemon paste evenly over the inside and outside of the lamb. Place in a baking dish and cover, or in a large resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate overnight to marinate, turning occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Remove the meat from the refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before cooking. Place the lamb on a rack in a foil-lined roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet. Place the meat in the oven and after 5 minutes, reduce the temperature to 425 degrees. Roast for 45 minutes, or until medium rare, 140 degrees on an instant read thermometer. Allow the meat to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving and serving.

Steps:

• Cut ten 1/2-inch-long, 1/2-inch-deep slits all over lamb. Insert a garlic clove half into each slit. Season lamb all over with pepper and 3 tablespoons salt.
• Combine oil, lemon juice, oregano, and minced garlic in a large, resealable plastic bag. Add lamb, and turn to coat. Seal bag, and place in a large bowl. Refrigerate overnight (or up to 2 days).
• Let lamb stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper. Preheat grill to medium-high. (If you are using a charcoal grill, coals are ready when you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill for just 3 to 4 seconds.)
• Grill lamb to desired doneness. (For medium-rare, grill until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 130 degrees, about 15 minutes per side.) Transfer to a cutting board, and let rest, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place lemon slices on grill. Cook over medium-high heat until caramelized and soft, about 10 minutes per side. Slice lamb. Garnish with oregano sprigs and lemon slices.

Steps:

• Halve preserved lemon; remove and discard seeds and flesh. Chop skin and pulse with garlic, shallot, chiles, mint and marjoram leaves, lemon zest and juice, and salt in a food processor until coarsely ground. Stir in oil. Reserve 3/4 cup marinade.
• Place lamb in a baking dish; rub with remaining marinade. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
• 3. Let lamb stand at room temperature 1 hour. Heat grill to medium-high. Remove lamb from marinade, brushing off excess. Grill, covered, 8 minutes. Flip; continue cooking until a thermometer inserted in center reads 130 degrees for medium-rare, about 8 minutes more. Cover loosely with foil; let rest 20 minutes. Slice thinly and serve with herb sprigs, lemons, and reserved marinade.

Steps:

• Pat lamb dry with paper towels and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Season all over with salt and pepper.
• Set aside 1 teaspoon of the garlic. In a bowl, combine remaining garlic with thyme, oregano or marjoram, cumin, chile, lemon zest and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Drizzle in about 1 tablespoon oil, just enough to create a sandy paste. Rub mixture all over lamb. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate for at least 1 hour or, even better, overnight in the refrigerator.
• Prepare the salsa verde: In a small bowl, combine a pinch of salt, the remaining teaspoon garlic, remaining 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoons preserved lemon, parsley, cilantro, mint and scallion and stir well. Drizzle in remaining oil. Season with more preserved lemon, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and mellow.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Roast lamb without turning for 22 to 35 minutes, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 120 degrees for rare and 130 for medium. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving with the salsa verde.