Roast Lamb

Serves 6 Prep 10 min Cook 2 h

Ingredients

  • 1 leg of lamb, approx 2.25kg (5lb)
  • 4 anchovy fillets, halved
  • 4 garlic cloves, sliced into three
  • 1 bunch rosemary, remaining chopped
  • 100g (4oz) unsalted butter, softened
  • 175ml (6fl oz) dry white wine

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 220°C, 200°C fan oven, 425°F, gas 7. Make 12 deep incisions in the lamb. Halve the anchovy fillets and wrap around each slice of garlic. Push the garlic and anchovy into each incision with a few rosemary leaves. Chop the remaining rosemary.
  2. Smear the softened butter over the lamb, sprinkle over the remaining rosemary, season well with salt and black pepper. Place the lamb in a roasting tin, pour over the white wine and cover loosely with foil.
  3. Roast the meat for an hour, then remove the foil so that the meat can colour. Baste with the juices. Reduce the oven temperature to 180°C, 160°C fan oven, 350°F, gas 4. Continue to roast for another hour, basting from time to time. Allow the cooked joint to rest for 20 minutes before carving.

Notes

Serving suggestion: Boulangere Potatoes — layer up thinly sliced potatoes with cooked onions in a baking dish and season to taste. Pour over hot vegetable stock, cover with foil and bake under the lamb for 1 hour 15 minutes, then remove foil and bake until the top is golden. Allow the cooked joint to rest for 20 minutes before carving.