Stuffed Leg of Lamb

Easter is the traditional time when lamb is served but, without a doubt, the best time to eat lamb is late spring onward. Simple roasting is a traditional way to prepare spring lamb, but when it is slow roasted with this garlic, parsley, and bacon stuffing and served with a good sauce, it is simply delicious and provides the perfect centrepiece for any Sunday dinner. Always order a large leg for left over cold sandwiches.
Serves: 6
Prep: 30 mins
Cooking: 90 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 pounds/1.2 kilograms boneless half leg of lamb (3.3 pounds/1 1/2 kilograms if bone is still in)
  • Large handful of flat-leaf parsley (roughly chopped)
  • 3 large cloves garlic (finely sliced)
  • 2 1/2 ounces/70 grams pancetta or bacon (cubed)
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil.
  • Sea salt (to taste)
  • Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 5 ounces/150 milliliters red wine (good-quality)
  • 3.5 ounces/100 milliliters veal stock (or beef stock)
  • 2 teaspoons butter (cold, cut into tiny pieces).

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF/170ºC/Gas Mark 4.

Remove string from the leg of lamb and open out the joint, skin side down. Slash any thicker parts of meat, so the joint lies flat on the board.

If you have bought your lamb with bone-in, you will need to cut down the side of the bone to create a cavity for the stuffing.

Evenly sprinkle the parsley, garlic, and pancetta over the surface, and then sprinkle generously with the olive oil. Season well with salt and pepper.

Roll the joint back up and tie securely with kitchen string.
 
Place the joint into a large roasting pan and cook for 1 hour (rare) or 1 hour and 15 minutes for medium.
 

 

Tightly wrap the joint in foil and let rest for 10 minutes. Add 20 minutes to both the roasting time and resting time for bone-in lamb.

Carefully pour off any fat from the roasting pan and place it over medium heat on top of the stove. Carefully pour in the wine, scraping up all the juices stuck on the bottom and reduce to a sticky glaze.

Add the veal or beef stock to the roasting pan, stir well and reduce by half.

Strain through a fine sieve into a small saucepan and add the butter and shake the pan gently until all the butter is absorbed. Check and adjust the seasoning.

Slice the lamb and serve immediately on a bed of wilted spring greens, surrounded by the sauce.