Slow Roast Leg of Lamb

User Reviews

5

580 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    15 mins

  • Cook Time

    5 hrs 15 mins

  • Total Time

    5 hrs 30 mins

  • Servings

    8

  • Calories

    605 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    American

Slow Roast Leg of Lamb

Slow Roast Leg of Lamb is cooked partially submerged in broth with garlic, onion, and rosemary, then browned to develop a flavorful crust. This method helps keep the lean leg moist and infused with aromatic herbs, resulting in tender meat suitable for a hearty roast.

Description

This recipe uses a 4.5-pound leg of lamb seasoned generously with salt and black pepper. It is roasted low and slow in the oven at 335°F, resting on a bed of garlic, onion, and rosemary to impart aromatics during cooking. The addition of beef stock and water partially covers the lamb, creating a moist environment that prevents drying out of this lean cut.

The lamb is roasted covered initially to steam and tenderize the meat over approximately 4.5 hours, then uncovered to brown the exterior for about 45 minutes, developing a rich crust. Turning the meat midway ensures even cooking and tenderness, which can be tested by prying the meat with a fork.

This preparation yields meat that is tender and moist, balancing the rosemary and garlic flavors with the juiciness preserved by the braising liquid. The resulting pan juices are thickened with flour to make a flavorful gravy served alongside the lamb.

The method tolerates slight variations in cooking time, depending on the exact weight and oven. Using shoulder instead of leg is possible but expect a different fat content and texture.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 2.25 kg / 4.5 lb leg of lamb or shoulder, bone in, Note 1
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • 1.5 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 garlic unpeeled, cut in half horizontally, whole head
  • 1 onion , quartered (unpeeled is fine)
  • 2 rosemary 2 = whisper of rosemary flavour, 4 sprigs = stronger flavour, sprigs
  • 3 cups beef stock low sodium (or homemade, or broth
  • 2 cups water

Gravy:

  • 4 tbsp flour (white)
  • 1 cup water
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 170°C/335°F (standard) or 150°C (fan).
  2. Place garlic, onion and rosemary in a metal roasting pan.
  3. Season lamb: Place lamb leg right side up in the pan. (Note 2) Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper and rub it in.
  4. Turn lamb over and place it so it mostly sits on the garlic and onion. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper, rub it in. (Video helpful here)
  5. Add liquids and cover: Drizzle lamb with olive oil. Pour broth and water around the lamb - it won't cover it, that's ok, the lamb sinks into it. Cover with foil (don't use a lid, you want a bit of liquid to steam out).
  6. Slow roast: Place in the oven and roast for 4.5 hours. (See Notes for roasting time table)
  7. Check meat: Remove from the oven, remove foil. Turn lamb over. Check it to ensure the meat is tender enough to pry a bit off easily with a fork. If not, return, covered, to oven.
  8. Brown lamb: Return uncovered lamb to oven for a further 45 minutes or until well browned.
  9. Rest: Remove lamb, spoon over pan juices generously. Transfer to serving platter, cover loosely with foil while you make the gravy (stays warm for 1 - 1.5 hours).

Gravy:

  1. Skim fat: Use a large spoon to skim off and discard some of the fat from the surface of the liquid.
  2. Add flour: Place pan on the stove on medium high. When the liquid bubbles, add flour. Use a whisk to mix it in - this may take a few minutes as the liquid reduces.
  3. Add water: Once it looks like sludge (see video), whisk in 1/2 - 1 cup of water until it becomes a gravy consistency to your taste. Adjust salt and pepper to taste - I rarely add extra salt.
  4. Strain gravy into a bowl, pressing juices out of the onion etc. Pour gravy into jug.

Serving:

  1. The meat is tender so you will only need tongs to tear the meat off. Serve with gravy!

Notes

  • This recipe works with either leg or shoulder cuts of lamb; shoulder contains more fat and may roast uncovered well, while leg benefits from slow roasting partially submerged in liquid.
  • Position the lamb to rest primarily on the garlic and onion bed for flavor and to keep the meat juicy during roasting.
  • Use the provided roasting time as a guideline, rounding up to accommodate your lamb’s exact weight.
  • Before making the gravy, skim off some fat from the pan juices to reduce calories and improve flavor.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 322g Calories 605cal (30%) Carbohydrates 6.5g (2%) Protein 56g (112%) Fat 38g (58%) Saturated Fat 15g (75%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2.8g (16%) Monounsaturated Fat 17g (85%) Cholesterol 198mg (66%) Sodium 809mg (34%) Potassium 712mg (15%) Fiber 0.5g (2%) Sugar 0.8g (2%) Vitamin A 10IU (0%) Vitamin C 1.2mg (1%) Calcium 4mg (0%) Iron 4.7mg (26%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 605 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 322g
Calories 605cal 30%
Carbohydrates 6.5g 2%
Protein 56g 112%
Fat 38g 58%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.8g 16%
Monounsaturated Fat 17g 85%
Cholesterol 198mg 66%
Sodium 809mg 34%
Potassium 712mg 15%
Fiber 0.5g 2%
Sugar 0.8g 2%
Vitamin A 10IU 0%
Vitamin C 1.2mg 1%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 4.7mg 26%

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

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