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4.9 from 21 votes

Roast Leg of Lamb

This roast leg of lamb is a simple yet impressive recipe that celebrates the rich, sigh-inducing good flavor of the best, most perfectly cooked bone-in lamb accented with garlic and lemon. And in a shorter cooking time than usual.

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 25 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 295 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • A to 5-pound bone-in leg of lamb trimmed of excess fat
  • 3 tablespoons minced garlic 
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus more for seasoning
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon preferably organic, thinly sliced

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Remove the lamb from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for up to 1 1/2 hours.
  2. Preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C). [Editor's Note: You're going to want to scrub that oven if you've got even the tiniest burnt-on spillover from last fall's apple pie, otherwise your oven is going to smoke like crazy when it gets this hot.]
  3. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, salt, pepper, and oil and mix well. Using a small, sharp knife, cut 10 slits about 1 1/2 inches (4 centimeters) deep in the lamb. Push some of the garlic mixture into the slits and rub the rest all over the outside of the lamb, turning to coat all sides.
  4. Place a sheet of aluminum foil in a large roasting pan, shiny side down. Distribute the lemon slices evenly along the center of the foil. (It may be necessary to overlap some lemon slices.) Place the lamb on the lemon slices.
  5. Roast the lamb, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F (150°C) and continue roasting, still uncovered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the lamb, away from the bone, registers 130°F (54°C) for medium-rare, 30 to 50 minutes more.
  6. Transfer the lamb to a carving board and tent with aluminum foil. Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
  7. Carve the lamb against the grain into thin slices. Serve right away.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1portion Calories 295kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 3g (1%) Protein 40g (80%) Fat 13g (20%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Monounsaturated Fat 7g Cholesterol 122mg (41%) Sodium 1282mg (53%) Fiber 0.5g (2%) Sugar 0.3g (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 295

% Daily Value*

Serving 1portion
Calories 295kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Protein 40g 80%
Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Monounsaturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 122mg 41%
Sodium 1282mg 53%
Fiber 0.5g 2%
Sugar 0.3g 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.