Roast Leg of Lamb with Wild Garlic Salsa Verde
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Servings
10
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Pair our sublime leg of lamb with wild garlic salsa verde for a different take on the classic Easter dish.
Foraging wild garlic marks the beginning of the Spring and if you spot it while you are out exploring it’s a good indicator that you are standing in a rare and special habit as it loves to grow in ancient woodland. Look for it in shady woods where they coat the woodland floor with their delicate white flowers. If you are new to foraging it’s a great starter plant as its leaves can be eaten raw in salads, or blanched and used in place of spinach, or made into a delicious soup and pesto. They have a mild garlic flavour and are at their best before the flowers appear. The flowers are also edible and can be added raw to salads.
Ingredients
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4 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped finely
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1 bulb of garlic
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zest of 1 lemon
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4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
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1kg maris piper potatoes, peeled and halved
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300g spring greens, washed and finely sliced
Salsa Verde
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handful fresh basil
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handful fresh parsley
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handful fresh mint
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handful wild garlic
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1 tsp capers
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2 tbsp red wine vinegar
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6 tbsp olive oil
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1 tsp dijon mustard
Directions
Bring the lamb leg to room temperature, preheat your oven to200ºC/400ºF/gas 6 and place a large roasting tray in the oven
In a mixing bowl, add half of the chopped rosemary, lemon zest, four cloves of crushed garlic and olive oil. Mix well and set marinade aside
Season the lamb well with freshly ground black pepper and sea salt. Generously coat the lamb on all sides with the marinade and place it in the oven directly on a wire rack above the tray
Parboil the potatoes in salted water, drain and allow to steam dry. Then add potatoes to the hot tray along with the remaining rosemary, whole garlic cloves, salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil
Return the tray to the oven, place under the lamb, allowing the potatoes to catch the lamb cooking juices
Cook lamb for 1.5 hours to achieve pink, tender meat. If you have a meat thermometer, aim for an internal temp of around 60-65°C for medium-rare. If you prefer it slightly more done, aim for 65-70°C
Whilst the lamb is cooking, sauté the spring greens in a saucepan with a little olive oil and seasoning till tender and vibrant green in colour
To make the salsa verde, pick the herb leaves and finely chop with capers and wild garlic. Add to a mixing bowl along with the mustard and red wine vinegar. Slowly start adding olive oil, whisking till you have the desired consistency
Once the lamb is cooked, remove from the oven and allow to rest for around 15-20 minutes
Serve with roast potatoes, spring greens and salsa verde