Roast Leg of Lamb With Orange, Rosemary and Garlic

Snowbunny Andorra's Note:

I don't get to eat lamb very often, so whenever I get my hands on a leg of lamb, my mouth starts watering. Lamb is one of those meats that can be very dry or very fatty, but this recipe results in juicy, tender and flavoursome results, every time. I always use a leg with the bone in, but there's no reason why you couldn't use a boneless leg instead. Cooking to 130F and then leaving, well covered, while you make the gravy will give you lamb that's cooked quite well at the thin end, and medium-rare (juicy and *slightly* pink) in the middle of the thickest part. If you prefer yours done differently, adjust your temperature accordingly. Don't forget that the temperature continues to rise while it rests.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 leg of lamb
• 1 unwaxed orange
• 1 bulb of garlic
• 1 large handful of fresh rosemary sprig
• 1 large glug olive oil
• 200 ml water
• 200 ml orange juice
• 200 ml red wine
• 1 lamb stock cube
• salt , to season

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. Rinse the lamb and pat dry with kitchen towels.
3. Peel the orange layer of rind from the orange, into strips about 2cm by 1cm.
4. Cut a few of the garlic cloves lengthways into batons about 2mm across.
5. Take a strip of orange peel, wrap it around a couple of the garlic batons and a few rosemary leaves. With a very sharp knife, make a deep whole in the lamb and push the parcel into the meat, deep enough so that you can't see it. (Don't be afraid here - the deeper it goes, the more the flavours will infuse).
6. Repeat all over the lamb until you've used all the orange peel. Don't forget the underneath.
7. Allow to rest for about an hour.
8. With the flat of a knife, bash the remaining garlic cloves (unpeeled) and place them in the bottom of a roasting tray. Lay the remaining rosemary sprigs on top, then lay the lamb on these.
9. Cut the orange in half and squeeze the juices and flesh over the lamb, rubbing it in, and add the extra orange juice to the pan.
10. Pour over a good glug of olive oil, and season well with salt.
11. Place, uncovered, in the oven and cook for 20mins.
12. Reduce the temperature to about 350F and put a temperature probe into the thickest part of the lamb.
13. Check occasionally and, if required, add a little water to the pan.
14. Once the internal temperature reaches 130F, remove the lamb from the oven, put on a warmed plate and cover well, with foil and *plenty* of tea towels. Set aside.
15. Put the roasting tray on the hob, over a medium heat, and add the red wine and stock cube. You may need to add more water here, depending on how much has evaporated in the oven.
16. Reduce until thickened to a gravy consistency. Serve over your lamb, accompanied with roast potatoes and mint sauce.