Best 4 California Roast Lamb Recipes

HERB-ROASTED LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven so the lamb will sit in the middle of the oven.
• Peel 6 of the cloves of garlic and place them in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the rosemary, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and butter. Process until the garlic and rosemary are finely minced. Thoroughly coat the top and sides of the lamb with the rosemary mixture. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Toss the potatoes and remaining unpeeled garlic in a bowl with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place in the bottom of a large roasting pan. Place the lamb on top of the potatoes. Roast for 20 minutes. Turn the heat down to 350 degrees F and roast for another 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until a meat thermometer registers 130 to 135 degrees F for medium-rare. Place the lamb on a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Slice and serve with the potatoes.

WHOLE BONELESS LAMB LOIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• On a large cutting surface, lay out lamb, cut side up so that it folds open. Sprinkle the inside with salt and Essence. Place a rosemary stalk inside. Tie lamb up with another rosemary stalk so that it is rolled and secure. Season the outside of the lamb with more salt, and the coriander and cumin.
• In large saute pan over high heat, add olive oil and heat until hot, but not smoking. Add lamb and sear, on all sides until golden brown, about 5 minutes, being careful not to let the rosemary burn. Transfer to oven and continue cooking for another 20 minutes, or until medium rare. Remove from oven and set aside for 10 minutes while preparing couscous.
• Slice into 1-inch pieces. Serve atop couscous.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William Morrow, 1993.
• In a large bowl, combine the couscous and salt. Pour the boiling water over the mixture, cover, and let stand until the water is absorbed and the couscous is puffed, about 6 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork. Add the pistachios, mint, and oil. Adjust seasoning, to taste. Serve hot.

ROAST LAMB

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Use a small sharp knife to make about a dozen incisions, each about 2 inches deep, through the fat that covers the top of the meat. Using a mortar and pestle or a blender, blend 2/3 of the anchovies (or 2/3 of the mustard if using), the rosemary leaves and the garlic cloves into a chunky paste. Using your fingers, press paste deeply into incisions.
• Mix remaining anchovies (or mustard) and the butter into a paste. Smear this mixture all over the surface of the roast. Season liberally with black pepper. (Do not add salt; the anchovies are salty enough, and so is the mustard.) Place the lamb on a rack in a roasting pan, fat side up, and squeeze the lemon halves over. Pour the wine around the roast into the pan.
• Roast 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and roast until internal temperature reaches 130 to 135 degrees (for medium-rare or medium meat), about another 60 to 90 minutes. Baste every 20 minutes or so with the wine and drippings in the pan, adding more wine as needed to keep the liquid from scorching. If possible, for the last 15 minutes of cooking, use convection or a broiler to crisp the fat on the roast.
• Remove pan from the oven, remove rack from the pan, and let the roast rest on the rack for at least 15 to 20 minutes in a warm place, tented with foil. The internal temperature will rise to about 140 to 145 degrees.
• To make sauce from the pan drippings, remove a few tablespoons of fat by tipping the pan and spooning off the top layer. Put the pan over medium heat until the liquid simmers. Taste the simmering liquid and whisk in more wine, 1/4 cup at a time, until the consistency and flavor are right. Do not let the mixture become syrupy; it should be a sharp jus, not a thick gravy.
• Carve lamb into 1/2-inch-thick slices and arrange on a heated platter, decorated with rosemary sprigs. Serve with piping hot gravy.

BEST LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients; rub over leg of lamb. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Place lamb, fat side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 1-1/2 hours., Add broth to pan; cover loosely with foil. Bake 1 to 1-1/2 hours longer or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°). Let stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing.