Perfect Roasted Leg of Lamb

roast leg of lamb with potatoes on platter over a bed of rice

4.82 from 196 votes

This easy no-fail roasted leg of lamb recipe, with a special Mediterranean seasoning, will give you the BEST lamb roast every single time! Remember, the best lamb leg is either cooked to perfect pink inside (internal temp somewhere around 130°F) or until the meat falls off the bone (internal temp somewhere around 175°F or beyond). Just avoid cooking your lamb to the in-between stage which can be tough. I like to cook some potatoes in the same pan to complete the meal. Add a big Mediterranean salad of your choice, you can't go wrong with Greek salad for this one.

Prep Time1

Cook Time1 25

Course: Entree

Cuisine: Greek/Mediterranean

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: people

Author: Suzy Karadsheh

Ingredients

1 4 to 5 pound leg of lamb, bone-in, fat trimmed
Salt and pepper
Extra virgin olive oil
5 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced; more for later
2 cups water
8 gold potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
1 yellow onion, peeled and cut into wedges
1 teaspoon paprika, more for later
1 teaspoon all-natural garlic powder
Fresh parsley for garnish, optional

For the rub:

15 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons dried mint flakes
1 tablespoons paprika
1/2 tablespoons nutmeg
1/2 cup Extra virgin olive oil
2 lemons, juice of

Instructions

Bring the leg of lamb to room temp. Take the leg of lamb out of the refrigerator and leave in room temperature for about 1 hour. In the meantime, prepare the remaining ingredients and make the lamb rub.
Prepare the seasoning. To make the rub or seasoning, in a food processor, combine the rub ingredients. Blend until smooth. Set aside (or in the fridge, if preparing in advance).
Salt the meat. When ready, pat the lamb dry and make a few slits on both sides. Season with salt and pepper.
Sear the Lamb. Turn the oven on broil. Place the leg of lamb on a wire rack and put it directly on the top rack so that it's only a few inches away from the broiler element. Broil for 5-7 minutes on each side or until the leg of lamb is nicely seared. Remove from the oven, then adjust the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
Apply the seasoning or rub. When the lamb is cool enough to handle, insert the garlic slices in the slits you made earlier. Now cover the leg of lamb on all sides with the wet rub and place it in the middle of a roasting pan with an inside rack. Add two cups of water to the bottom of the roasting pan.

For Medium Roasted Lamb Leg

Season the potato and onion wedges with the paprika, garlic powder and a little salt, then add them to the pan on either side of the lamb.
Cover and roast. Tent a large piece of foil over the roasting pan (make sure it does not touch the lamb) then place the pan on the middle rack of the 325 degrees F heated-oven. Roast covered for about 1 hour. Remove the foil and return the roasting pan to the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes or until the lamb temperature registers 125 degrees F.
Let rest. Remove the pan from the oven and let the leg of lamb rest for about 15 to 20 minutes before serving (the lamb will continue to cook and its internal temperature will continue to rise to around 130 degrees F).
Serve. Place the roast lamb and potatoes in a large serving platter over a bed of rice, you like. Garnish with parsley. Or, you may carve the lamb first, then arrange the sliced lamb with the potatoes over the rice.

For Fall-Apart Slow Roasted Lamb

Cover and roast the lamb. Follow the recipe to step #5, and once seasoned, Tent a large piece of foil over the roasting pan (make sure it does not touch the lamb) then place the pan on the middle rack of the 325 degrees F heated-oven. Roast covered for about 4 to 4 1/2 hours.
Add the potatoes and onions to the pan. Season the potato and onion wedges with the paprika, garlic powder and a little salt, then add them to the pan on either side of the lamb. Return the pan to the oven, covered, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or so.
Uncover and return the pan to the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes.
Rest. Remove from the oven and tent the lamb with a piece of foil. Allow it to rest for about 15 minutes (its internal temperature should be at 175 degrees or beyond for fall-apart tender lamb).

Video

Notes

Quick buying tip: Avoid buying baby lamb or mutton, which is older and tougher meat. Ask the butcher to trim the thick layer of fat.
How long to roast leg of lamb? For best results follow the recipe for medium roasted lamb or for fall-apart tender lamb (anything in between may be tough). Here is a quick guide for oven roasted lamb leg at 325 degrees F (and remember that with the resting time, the lamb will continue to cook and its internal temperature will rise. The following should be the temps after the lamb has rested):
- Rare: About 15 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 125 degrees F.
- Medium-Rare: About 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 130°F to 135°F.
- Medium: About 25 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 135°F to 140°F.
- Well-Done: About 30 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 155°F to 165°F.
- Fall-Apart Tender Lamb. About 40 minutes per pound or until the internal temp registers 175°F or beyond.
This recipe is featured in 25+ Mediterranean Easter Recipes.
Storage and freezing instructions: Leftover lamb roast will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or so. Just be sure the lamb has cooled before transferring to tight-lid glass containers to refrigerate. You can also freeze cooked lamb leg. I typically carve remove the bone and store the lamb in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags for up to 2 months or so. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the oven, covered, with a bit of liquid in the baking pan.
Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients, including extra virgin olive oils and spices used in this recipe (like paprika and nutmeg).

Nutrition

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