YOGURT-MARINATED ROAST LEG OF LAMB

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Yogurt-Marinated Roast Leg of Lamb image

A tangy yogurt-herb marinade tenderizes this leg of lamb, then browns in the oven to add flavor to the drippings. Top with chunky Almond Relish for a dramatic dish worthy of a holiday feast or special occasion. (Plan ahead: Chef Berglund recommends two days of marination.)

Provided by Paul Berglund

Categories     main-dish

Time P2DT4h

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 4-inch piece ginger, about ¼ cup chopped
4 cloves garlic
1 yellow onion
1 bunch parsley, divided
1 bunch cilantro, divided
1 quart whole-milk yogurt
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 bone-in leg of lamb, 5?7 pounds
1 cup whole almonds, toasted, oven-toasted at 350 degrees F for 8?10 minutes
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Juice of 2 lemons
Kosher salt

Steps:

  • Marinade: Use a spoon to peel the ginger. Peel garlic and onion. Roughly chop onion and ginger, followed by half of the parsley and cilantro, including stems. In a blender, add the ginger, onion, garlic, herbs, ⅓ of the yogurt, and salt. Purée until smooth. Add the remaining yogurt and purée again to combine. Set aside.
  • Lamb: Place lamb on a flat surface. Use a sharp knife to poke holes in the lamb at 1½-inch intervals; this will help the lamb absorb the marinade. Flip over and repeat on the other side. Fit a brining bag into a large container (or the roasting pan you'll be using, if it fits in the refrigerator). Then place the lamb into the bag and pour in the marinade. Massage the marinade into the lamb so all of the meat is covered, then seal the bag. Refrigerate for 1-2 days (longer marination will yield more tenderized lamb).
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Transfer the lamb and all of the marinade into a roasting pan. Lay parchment paper over the lamb to cover, then cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil. Roast for 1 hour. (Total roasting time will be 3 hours.)
  • After 1 hour, remove lamb from oven. Gently remove foil and parchment. (The yogurt will have separated into curds and whey, which is normal.) Use tongs to flip the lamb over, then cover with parchment and foil again. Place back into the oven for 1 hour. After the second hour of roasting, flip the lamb again and place back into the oven, uncovered, for 1 final hour.
  • After a total of 3 hours of roasting, remove lamb. Pierce the lamb with a sharp knife to check for doneness. If there isn't a lot of resistance, it's done. Flip lamb over, spoon yogurt solids on top, and let rest, 30 minutes.
  • Almond Relish: Roughly chop the almonds, place in a medium bowl, and set aside. Pick the leaves off the remaining cilantro and parsley, bunch together, and finely chop. Add herbs to the almonds. Add enough olive oil to cover, about ½ cup, and mix. Juice 3 of the 4 lemon halves into the relish, mix, and add salt to taste. Use the juice of the remaining lemon half to taste.
  • Assembly: Use tongs and a meat fork to transfer lamb to a serving platter. Spoon relish over the lamb, and serve.

Green Killer pro
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This recipe is great for beginners. It is easy to follow and the lamb turns out great. The yogurt marinade adds a lot of flavor and the lamb is cooked to perfection. I will definitely be making this again.


bissajit dey
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Great for beginners


Asaduzzaman RaseL
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This recipe was very easy to follow and the lamb turned out great. The yogurt marinade added a lot of flavor and the lamb was cooked to perfection. I will definitely be making this again.


GhostMindX9
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Easy to follow


Ojeola Kunle
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This is my new favorite lamb recipe. The yogurt marinade makes the lamb so tender and juicy, and the flavor is amazing. I will definitely be making this again.


Mahamudur Rahmun
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My new favorite lamb recipe


Hanasa Jaza
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This recipe is a 5-star winner. The lamb is cooked to perfection and the yogurt marinade adds a delicious flavor. I will definitely be making this again.


Amaranth Yadav
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5 stars!


Rumi Khan
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I have made this recipe several times and it always turns out great. The lamb is so tender and juicy, and the yogurt marinade gives it a wonderful flavor. I highly recommend this recipe.


arfan vai
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Highly recommend!


Bukenya Gilbert
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I made this recipe for a party of 12 and it was a huge hit. The lamb was cooked to perfection and the yogurt marinade added a delicious flavor. I served it with roasted vegetables and it was a hit with my guests.


Megan Pierson
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Perfect for a crowd


Kamal Shaikh
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This is a great recipe for a special occasion. I made it for Easter dinner and it was a huge success. The lamb was so tender and juicy, and the yogurt marinade gave it a wonderful flavor. I will definitely be making this again.


Jesus Santiago
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A keeper!


Muhmmad Anwar
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I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfectly. The lamb was cooked to perfection and the yogurt marinade added a delicious flavor. I served it with roasted vegetables and it was a hit with my family.


Ivan Toys Unboxing
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Easy to make and so good!


Lubna Khan
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This lamb was so flavorful and juicy. I marinated it overnight in the yogurt, and it really made a difference. The meat was so tender and flavorful. I will definitely be making this again.


Dieynaba Niokane
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Delicious!