**Explore the Culinary Delights of Stuffed Leg of Lamb Wrapped in Pastry: A Journey Through Traditional Greek and Cypriot Recipes**
Embark on a tantalizing culinary journey as we delve into the art of preparing stuffed leg of lamb wrapped in pastry, a dish deeply rooted in the culinary traditions of Greece and Cyprus. This exquisite dish, known as "bouty arniou ghemisto zim" in Greek and "gemista apo podara souvlas" in Cypriot, promises an explosion of flavors and textures that will leave you craving for more. Discover the secrets behind this delectable dish, from selecting the perfect cut of lamb to mastering the intricate art of stuffing and wrapping, all while exploring variations that add unique twists to this classic recipe. Whether you prefer the traditional Greek method of using minced meat and rice as stuffing, or the Cypriot version that incorporates halloumi cheese and fresh herbs, this article will guide you through each step, ensuring a succulent and unforgettable dish.
STUFFED GREEK LEG OF LAMB
Roasted boneless leg of lamb, stuffed with artichoke hearts, feta cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Provided by poker playing chef
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 1h55m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Lay out the leg of lamb on cutting board with the inside of the lamb facing you. Drizzle olive oil evenly over the lamb. Sprinkle oregano and basil over the lamb. Top lamb with artichoke hearts, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
- Roll the lamb around the stuffing. Bundle the lamb with kitchen twine to keep from unrolling. Wrap lamb in aluminum foil and place in a baking dish.
- Roast in preheated oven to your desired degree of doneness, or an internal temperature of 150 degrees F (70 degrees C) for medium, about 90 minutes. Set aside to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing. Reserve pan juices for serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 388.8 calories, Carbohydrate 11.5 g, Cholesterol 105.2 mg, Fat 25.7 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 29.6 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Sodium 602.3 mg, Sugar 1.2 g
STUFFED LEG OF LAMB, MIDDLE EASTERN STYLE
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 9h20m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Marinade: In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon zaatar mix and 3 cloves of garlic, crushed and minced. Season the trimmed leg of lamb with salt and pepper, to taste, and put it into a resealable plastic bag. Pour in the marinade and seal the bag. Refrigerate and let sit as long as you can, even overnight.
- Light the grill, putting the coals all on 1 side.
- Stuffing: Put the remaining garlic cloves in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the feta and pulse just to break it up, then slowly drizzle in just enough olive oil so the consistency is just barely creamy but not too loose (about 1/4 cup), stopping to scrape down the sides. Add the blanched spinach, 1 tablespoon of the zaatar spice mix, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and a little black pepper, and mix until blended but still a little chunky.
- Take the lamb out of the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the inside with lemon zest and fresh thyme, then add a layer of arugula leaves. Carefully spread stuffing over the inside of leg, being careful not to spread it all the way to the edge. Grab the end closest to you and slowly roll the leg up. Tie well with butchers twine. Liberally sprinkle the outside of the lamb with shawarma spice.
- Put the lamb directly over the coals on the hot side of the grill and sear it quickly, until the outside develops a nice crust, maybe 2 minutes per side. Then move the lamb away from the coals, cover the grill and let it cook for 45 minutes or so, checking after 30 minutes and turning several times. When the lamb is done, take it off the grill, put it on a cutting board and let it rest for about 10 minutes. To serve, cut in 1 1/2-inch thick slices, and arrange on a serving platter, making sure to remove any pieces of twine.
STUFFED LEG OF LAMB
Provided by Food Network
Time 2h45m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rub lamb inside and out with garlic clove. Stuff leg of lamb and tie securely; sprinkle meat with rosemary.
- Put stuffed lamb on a rack and roast for 1 3/4 hours to 2 hours or until meat is 135 to 140 degrees. Remove from oven as you finish sauce.
- Discard fat in roasting pan. Add wine and broth and reduce. Add tomatoes and olives and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat add parsley.
STUFFED LEG OF LAMB
Rolled leg of lamb stuffed with spinach, goat's cheese and pine nuts. Suggested: Serve with Brussels sprouts cooked in butter and fresh garlic. A scrumptious Irish cuisine that is sure to please!
Provided by Patrick
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European UK and Ireland Irish
Time 1h25m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Remove plastic netting or twine from around the leg of lamb, if any, and open up the roast on a cutting board. Place the boned side of the roast up. With a sharp paring knife, cut away any excess fatty areas. Use a sharp knife to cut 1/2-inch deep slits in the meat about 2 inches apart, to help the meat lie flat. Cover the meat with a sturdy piece of plastic wrap or a cut-apart food storage bag, and pound the meat with a mallet or the edge of a small plate until the roast is about 3/4 inch thick everywhere, and 10 to 14 inches square.
- Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Sprinkle the upper side of the meat with salt and pepper, and then spread spinach leaves over the top of the roast to within 1/2 inch of the edges. Break up the goat cheese and sprinkle it evenly over the spinach, then sprinkle the pine nuts over the cheese.
- Roll the roast up into a tight cylinder, and tie the roast together with kitchen twine at 2 inch intervals. It's okay if a little stuffing protrudes from the sides of the roast.
- In a flat dish, mix together the flour, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of pepper, the thyme, and the fennel seeds, and press the tied roast firmly into the flour mixture to coat all sides.
- Heat the sesame oil in a heavy oven-proof or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers, and sear all sides of the roast, including the ends, to a golden brown color. Lay the roast into the skillet, place into the preheated oven, and roast to your desired degree of doneness, or an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (65 degrees C) for medium, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 484.8 calories, Carbohydrate 14.6 g, Cholesterol 132.1 mg, Fat 29.2 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 39.2 g, SaturatedFat 13.3 g, Sodium 1092.5 mg, Sugar 0.8 g
STUFFED LEG OF LAMB WRAPPED IN PASTRY(BOUTY ARNIOU GHEMISTO ZIM)
This is the centerpiece for an "Easter Feast from the Greek Islands" that appeared in the April 1980 issue of Bon Apetit Magazine. The menu and recipes are from Theonie Diakidis Mark.
Provided by Leslie in Texas
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time 2h30m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- For stuffing:.
- Combine all ingredients and blend well.
- Cover and refrigerate.
- For pastry:.
- Disolve sugar and yeast in warm water and let stand until foamy and proofed.
- Combine flour and salt in large bowl.
- Using your hands, rub butter into flour until it is absorbed.
- Make well in the center of flour and pour in yeast and milk.
- Still using hands,push flour from sides of bowl into center and mix to form dough.
- Knead several minutes until smooth.
- Place in lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in warm area until doubled, about 1 hour.
- For lamb:.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Set butterflied lamb skin side down on working surface.
- Pound to flatten slightly.
- Mix butter,garlic,salt and pepper to a paste; rub half thoroughly into lamb.
- Spread with stuffing and reshape leg.
- Sew closed with string;tie crosswise at 1 inch intervals and twice around length to hold stuffing.
- Rub outside with remaining butter mixture, then rub with rosemary.
- Set on rack in roasting pan and roast 20 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350 and roast an additional 40 minutes.
- Let cool, then remove string and brush off excess rosemary.
- * Lamb can be prepared ahead to this point. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 24 hours.Don't start the pastry until you take the lamb out of the refrigerator.
- Lightly oil shallow roasting pan.
- Knead dough once again.
- Roll out enough dough on lightly floured surface to make rectangle 1/4 inch thick, large enough to completely enclose lamb with a 1 inch overlap.
- Set lamb on one end of rectangle.
- Beat yolks with milk and brush some on edges of dough;fold dough over lamb.
- Press seams together; trim and reserve excess dough.
- Set seam side down in roasting pan and brush with some of yolk.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Roll excess dough into long thin ropes. Braid in threes to go around top perimeter of lamb.
- Remaining dough can also be made into smaller and thinner ropes and/or worked into more intricate designs such as leaves,tiny birds, flowers and coiled snakes inside the encircling braid, all symbols of Easter in Greece.
- Brush decorations with yolk mixture.
- Bake until pastry sets, about 15 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees and bake an additional 20 to 30 minutes(use a meat thermometer to check doneness).
- Transfer to heated platter and garnish with fresh mint sprigs, if desired.
- Let stand several minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1646.8, Fat 89.5, SaturatedFat 42, Cholesterol 425.6, Sodium 1419.5, Carbohydrate 105.9, Fiber 4.8, Sugar 4.9, Protein 98.1
EASY ROAST LEG OF LAMB
Roast a leg of lamb for a family feast. It's ideal served with roasties and your favourite spring vegetables for an Easter dinner or Sunday roast
Provided by Anna Glover
Categories Dinner
Time 2h
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Remove all packaging from the lamb and keep a note of the weight to calculate the roasting time. Make incisions into the lamb using a small sharp knife, at an angle, about 5cm into the meat. Making the holes at an angle will mean more of the meat is flavoured, and the flavourings will be less tempted to be pushed out when roasting.
- Insert a short sprig of rosemary, a garlic slice and a small piece of anchovy (if using) into each of the holes, pressing in well with your finger. Season the meat all over with salt and pepper, then rub the lamb all over with the olive oil. Transfer to a roasting tin, sat on the onion slices. Roast for 20 mins.
- Lower the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and cook for another 15-20 mins per 500g (1 hr - 1 hr 20 mins for 2kg leg) depending on how pink you like your lamb. You can also check the internal temperature of the lamb if you prefer pinker meat - it will be 55C for medium (pink) and 70C for well done.
- Cover with foil and rest for 15 mins before carving. Save the tray juices and onion slices to make gravy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 473 calories, Fat 27 grams fat, SaturatedFat 11 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 7 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 48 grams protein, Sodium 0.26 milligram of sodium
ROAST LAMB STUFFED WITH APRICOT & MINT
Take roast lamb to another level with a flavourful apricot and mint stuffing. Great for a Sunday roast, or as an alternative to turkey at Christmas
Provided by Aidan McGee
Categories Dinner, Lunch, Main course
Time 1h40m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Lay the lamb, skin-side down, on a board - if the joint you bought is tied up, then snip the strings and unroll it. Cut several pieces of string long enough to tie around the lamb, then slide them under the joint so they're regularly spaced out. Mix the stuffing ingredients together, and season well. Spread the stuffing out along the middle of the lamb, then fold the meat over to form a roll. Tie the string so the roll stays together, but don't make it too tight or it will cut into the meat. Tie some string lengthways too, if necessary.
- Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Season the lamb evenly all over. Heat a little oil in a large frying pan, then brown the lamb all over. Start with the side where the seam meets, as this will stop the lamb breaking up when you carve it.
- Tip the veg, garlic and rosemary into a roasting tin and put the lamb on top, seam-side down. Cook the lamb until the core temperature reaches 60C on a meat thermometer - this should take around 1 hr for a 2kg leg. As you rest the lamb, the temperature will continue to rise so don't overcook it.
- Lift the lamb out of the tin and, keeping it warm, rest for up to an hour. Put the roasting tin on the hob. Add the stock, bring to a simmer, then tip the lot into a saucepan, scraping up any bits. Add 500ml water and then simmer again until reduced by half. Pour through a fine sieve and serve with the lamb.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 846 calories, Fat 48 grams fat, SaturatedFat 22 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 33 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 15 grams sugar, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 67 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the final dish will be. Opt for fresh, organic produce and high-quality cuts of meat.
- Don't be afraid to experiment: This recipe is a great starting point, but feel free to adjust the ingredients and flavors to your liking. Add more or less herbs and spices, or try different fillings. There are endless possibilities!
- Make sure the lamb is cooked properly: Lamb should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare, 155 degrees Fahrenheit for medium, or 165 degrees Fahrenheit for well-done. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the lamb is cooked to your desired doneness.
- Let the lamb rest before slicing: Once the lamb is cooked, let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This will help the juices redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.
- Serve with your favorite sides: This dish can be served with a variety of sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple green salad.
Conclusion:
Stuffed Leg of Lamb Wrapped in Pastry (Bouty Arniou Ghemisto Zim) is a delicious and impressive dish that is perfect for a special occasion. With its tender lamb, flavorful stuffing, and flaky pastry crust, this dish is sure to please everyone at your table. So next time you're looking for a unique and delicious main course, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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