## Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Pesto: A Culinary Journey of Mediterranean Flavors ##
Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with a succulent Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb basted in a vibrant and aromatic pesto marinade. This mouthwatering dish is a harmonious blend of Mediterranean flavors, where the tender lamb meat meets the vibrant burst of fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil. As you grill the butterflied lamb leg to perfection, the smoky char merges with the savory marinade, creating an unforgettable symphony of flavors.
Accompanying this delectable main course are two tantalizing recipes that elevate the dining experience. The first recipe, Grilled Vegetables with Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette, offers a medley of colorful vegetables roasted to tender-crisp perfection. Each bite is a delightful symphony of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, thanks to the zesty lemon-garlic vinaigrette. Complementing this vibrant side dish is the refreshing Cucumber-Feta Salad with Dill. Crisp cucumbers, creamy feta cheese, and aromatic dill come together in a refreshing and herbaceous salad, providing a delightful contrast to the rich flavors of the lamb.
With its enticing flavors and textures, this Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Pesto is an impressive centerpiece for any special occasion. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or an intimate dinner party, this dish is sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests. So fire up your grill and embark on a culinary journey through the Mediterranean with this exquisite feast.
GRILLED BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB
A butterflied leg of lamb, which cooks quickly and evenly on the grill, has been split down the center, then unfolded and spread open to resemble a butterfly.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Lamb Recipes
Time 2h
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, vinegar, rosemary, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Place lamb in a large shallow dish with marinade, and turn to coat. Cover; marinate 1 hour at room temperature or up to overnight in refrigerator, turning occasionally. (Bring to room temperature before grilling.)
- Heat grill to medium-high. Thread several metal skewers through lamb in both directions to hold meat together during cooking.
- Grill lamb until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 140 degrees for medium rare, 10 to 15 minutes per side. Let the meat rest, covered, about 10 minutes. Remove the skewers. Slice the meat thinly, against the grain where possible.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 271 g, Fat 13 g, Protein 35 g
GRILLED LEG OF LAMB
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories main-dish
Time 1h27m
Yield 8 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Combine the yogurt, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a large non-reactive bowl. Add the lamb, making sure it is covered with marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator, covered, overnight or for up to 3 days.
- Bring the lamb to room temperature. Prepare a charcoal grill with hot coals. Scrape the marinade off the lamb, wipe the meat with paper towels, and season it generously with salt and pepper. Brush the grill with oil to keep the lamb from sticking, and grill on both sides until the internal temperature is 120 to 125 degrees for rare. This will take 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how hot the grill is.
- Remove the lamb to a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 20 minutes. Then slice and serve.
GRILLED MARINATED LEG OF LAMB
Steps:
- Combine oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in sealable plastic bag. Add lamb and seal bag, pressing out air. Turn bag to coat lamb, then put bag in a shallow baking pan and marinate, chilled, turning bag over occasionally, at least 8 hours.
- Bring lamb to room temperature, about 1 hour, before grilling.
- Prepare grill for cooking over direct heat with medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas); see Grilling Procedure.
- Remove lamb from marinade (discard marinade) and run 3 or 4 skewers lengthwise through lamb about 2 inches apart. Grill on a lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using gas grill, turning over occasionally and, if necessary, moving around on grill to avoid flare-ups, until thermometer registers 125 to 128°F, 8 to 14 minutes total for medium-rare.
- Transfer lamb to a cutting board and remove skewers. Let lamb stand, loosely covered with foil, 20 minutes. (Internal temperature will rise to 135°F while meat stands.) Cut across the grain into slices.
GRILLED BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB WITH HERBS
Provided by Pierre Franey
Categories dinner, main course
Time 2h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Lay the lamb out flat and sprinkle with salt and pepper on all sides.
- Put the oil in a baking dish large enough to hold the lamb. Add the lamb and sprinkle on both sides with mustard seed, cumin, garlic, thyme, fennel seeds, rosemary, bay leaves and lemon juice. Turn and rub the lamb so it is evenly coated with the ingredients. Marinate in a cool place for one or two hours, or up to six hours in a refrigerator. If refrigerated, let the lamb return to room temperature before cooking.
- Preheat a charcoal grill or the oven broiler.
- Remove lamb from marinade and reserve marinade. If a grill is used, put the lamb flat on the grill. If the broiler is used, place the lamb under the broiler 4 to 5 inches from the heat. Cook the lamb uncovered on the grill or under the broiler about 15 minutes. Turn and cook 10 to 15 minutes on the second side. For medium or well-done meat, cook longer.
- Meanwhile, bring the reserved marinade to a boil in a baking pan large enough to hold the lamb, stirring. Remove from heat, and swirl in butter and parsley. Transfer the lamb to the marinade pan, cover loosely with foil and keep warm. Let the meat rest 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Slice thinly and serve with the pan gravy.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 848, UnsaturatedFat 32 grams, Carbohydrate 3 grams, Fat 62 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 66 grams, SaturatedFat 25 grams, Sodium 1117 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
GRILLED BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB WITH LEMON, HERBS, AND GARLIC
Categories Garlic Lamb Marinate Kid-Friendly Backyard BBQ Dinner Summer Grill Grill/Barbecue Thyme Gourmet Small Plates
Yield Serves 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Make herb rub:
- Finely chop garlic and in a small bowl stir together with remaining herb-rub ingredients.
- Put lamb in a large dish and with tip of a sharp small knife held at a 45-degree angle cut 1/2-inch-deep slits all over lamb, rubbing herb mixture into slits and all over lamb. Marinate lamb at room temperature 1 hour.
- Prepare grill.
- Lightly pat lamb dry. On a lightly oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals grill lamb about 10 minutes on each side, or until an instant-read thermometer horizontally inserted into thickest part of meat registers 125°F for medium-rare. (Alternatively, roast lamb in a roasting pan in middle of a 425°F oven about 25 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer horizontally inserted into meat registers 125°F for medium-rare.) Transfer lamb to a cutting board. Halve and seed lemon. Squeeze juice over lamb and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 15 minutes.
- Cut lamb into slices and serve with any juices that have accumulated on cutting board.
GRILLED BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB
This is an excellent way to cook lamb. Even friends of ours who've never before liked lamb love this. When feeding children who turn their noses up at lamb we call this steak and they gobble it up. We do eventually tell them they really do like lamb because they just ate it! LOL, love doing that! The measurements are all approximate, use more olive oil if you wish, or more parsley, even sub out oregano for the rosemary. Double the paste recipe if using a large leg. Delicious with wild mushroom risotto and a Greek salad.
Provided by Penny Stettinius
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time 1h15m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Make sure your lamb has been butterflied evenly so when it cooks evenly.
- Place all ingredients except olive oil into blender or food processor.
- Blend into course goop while slowly adding olive oil until mixture forms a moderately wet paste, somewhat like pesto.
- Spread paste on lamb, cover and refrigerate. Take lamb out of refrigerator two hours prior to grilling.
- On a very hot grill sear lamb then cook covered at medium careful not to scorch.
- Cook until thermometer registers rare.
- Take off grill and cover with aluminum foil, letting the meat rest about 10-25 minutes before carving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 969, Fat 73.2, SaturatedFat 23.5, Cholesterol 227.9, Sodium 203.6, Carbohydrate 11, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 0.9, Protein 65.1
Tips:
- Choose the right cut of lamb: A leg of lamb is a great choice for grilling, as it is a tender and flavorful cut of meat. Look for a leg of lamb that is about 6-8 pounds in weight.
- Butterfly the leg of lamb: Butterflying the leg of lamb helps to cook it evenly and makes it easier to serve. To butterfly the leg of lamb, simply use a sharp knife to cut it lengthwise down the center, starting from the thickest end of the leg. Then, open up the leg of lamb and lay it flat.
- Marinate the leg of lamb: Marinating the leg of lamb helps to add flavor and moisture to the meat. You can use a variety of marinades, but a simple olive oil, garlic, and rosemary marinade is a great place to start. Marinate the leg of lamb for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible.
- Grill the leg of lamb: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Then, place the leg of lamb on the grill and cook it for about 15-20 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare or 160 degrees Fahrenheit for medium.
- Let the leg of lamb rest: Once the leg of lamb is cooked, let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This will help the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
Conclusion:
Grilled butterflied leg of lamb with pesto is a delicious and impressive dish that is perfect for a special occasion. By following these tips, you can ensure that your leg of lamb is cooked to perfection. Serve the leg of lamb with your favorite sides, such as roasted potatoes, grilled vegetables, or a simple salad.
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