Description
Julia Child’s legendary leg of lamb reveals French countryside elegance with perfect herb-crusted roasting. Succulent meat melts on palates, inviting culinary adventurers to savor rich Mediterranean flavors that connect classic French cooking traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 pounds (2.27 kilograms) leg of lamb
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) fresh rosemary
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
Seasoning:
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the lamb by carefully inspecting the leg, trimming any excess fat, and patting the surface dry with paper towels to ensure optimal seasoning adherence.
- Create strategic incisions approximately 2 to 3 inches apart across the lamb’s surface, ensuring cuts are about 1 inch deep to allow maximum flavor penetration.
- Thinly slice fresh garlic cloves and delicately insert them into each prepared slit, distributing the aromatic pieces evenly throughout the meat.
- Liberally coat the entire lamb leg with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, massaging the seasonings into the meat to enhance flavor absorption.
- Gently tuck fresh rosemary sprigs underneath and atop the lamb, positioning them to ensure complete herb infusion during roasting.
- Position the seasoned lamb in a sturdy roasting pan, with the fat side facing upward to promote self-basting during the cooking process.
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C), allowing it to fully preheat before introducing the lamb to ensure consistent cooking temperature.
- Roast the lamb for approximately 1 3/4 to 2 hours, monitoring internal temperature with a meat thermometer until it reaches 135°F (57°C) for medium-rare doneness.
- Remove the lamb from the oven and immediately tent with aluminum foil, allowing the meat to rest for 15 minutes to redistribute internal juices and ensure tenderness.
- Carefully carve the lamb against the grain into thin, elegant slices, arranging on a serving platter and garnishing with remaining rosemary sprigs for presentation.
Notes
- Fresh rosemary delivers incredible depth to your lamb’s overall taste profile. Garden-picked herbs always triumph over dried alternatives.
- Allowing meat to rest transforms your roast from good to extraordinary. Those precious minutes let internal juices redistribute, ensuring maximum tenderness and succulence.
- Precise temperature tracking guarantees perfect doneness every single time. Investing in a reliable meat thermometer eliminates guesswork and prevents overcooking.
- Seasoning isn’t just about salt and pepper – it’s about creating a flavor symphony. Bold, generous sprinkling elevates the lamb’s natural richness.
- Garlic intensity matters and can be easily customized to personal preference. Slicing thinner or reducing quantity provides subtle control over the final flavor experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 353
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 54 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 111 mg