Description
A succulent roast leg of lamb infused with garlic, rosemary, and lemon zest, complemented by a fresh and tangy homemade mint sauce. Perfect for a special dinner, this recipe results in tender, flavorful meat served with a vibrant sauce that enhances the lamb’s richness.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Leg of Lamb
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- 1/2 small bunch fresh rosemary (half the leaves removed and chopped)
- 1 lemon, zest
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2kg (4.5 lbs) quality leg of lamb
- Salt, to taste
For the Mint Sauce
- 20g (1/2 cup) fresh mint leaves
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tablespoon hot water
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 4 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) to prepare it for roasting the lamb.
- Prepare Herb Paste: In a mortar and pestle, combine the chopped rosemary leaves, crushed garlic, coarse salt, lemon zest, and olive oil. Bash the mixture until the rosemary and lemon zest release their oils and the mixture resembles a thick paste.
- Rub and Roast Lamb: Thoroughly rub the herb paste all over the leg of lamb, ensuring even coverage. Place the leg in a roasting pan and roast in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes for medium-rare, or about 1 hour and 30 minutes for well done.
- Make Mint Sauce: While the lamb is roasting, place the fresh mint leaves, honey, salt, hot water, white wine vinegar, and olive oil into a food processor. Blend until the sauce is smooth and well combined.
- Rest the Lamb: Once the lamb is cooked to your preferred doneness, remove it from the oven and loosely cover with aluminum foil. Allow it to rest for 20 minutes; this helps redistribute the juices for a moist and tender roast.
- Serve: Carve the rested lamb and serve alongside the fresh mint sauce.
Notes
- Roasted leg of lamb served with homemade mint sauce creates a classic and flavorful pairing perfect for celebrations.
- Adjust roasting time based on your preferred lamb doneness.
- Resting the meat after roasting is essential to preserve juiciness.
- You can prepare the mint sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it until ready to use.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 402 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 134 mg
