Leg of Lamb With Tomatoes and Garlic

This is the recipe that my friend Liz currently uses, from the Gourmet cookbook. I love getting invited for dinner if this is in the works. It is easy to make and because of all of the roasted garlic you'll have, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, #68159, is a good side dish.

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 lbs plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (or approx. the same amount of canned tomatoes)
• 8  heads garlic, papery outer skin discarded (can use a lot less)
• 3  fresh rosemary sprigs (or 1 tsp. dried rosemary, crumbled)
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1  teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 4  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (or as needed)
• 6 -8  lbs leg of lamb, aitchbone removed by the butcher and trimmed

Directions

1. Put a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Arrange tomatoes in a 17 1/2-by-12 inch roasting pan and place lamb on top (if using canned tomatoes, coarsely chop them and pour the juice over them). Arrange garlic around lamb. Lay rosemary sprigs on lamb (or sprinkle dried rosemary), then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil.
3. Roast lamb for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue roasting lamb, basting garlic with remaining 2 tablespoons oil every 20 minutes to keep it from drying out, until thermometer inserted into thickest part of lamb (without touching bone) reas 135 degrees for medium-rare, 1 3/4 to 1 1/2 hours more.
4. Transfer lamb to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, for 20-30 minutes. Stir tomato mixture and transfer to a sauceboat.
5. Carve lamb and serve with tomato mixture and roasted garlic.