Leg Of Lamb Basque Style Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Make slits all over lamb plentiful and deep enough to insert garlic clove slices then insert them. Season entire leg with salt and pepper, and rub with flour. Place in roasting pan and pour over melted bacon drippings. Roast in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes on each side. Add water to pan, cover, reduce heat to 300°F, and cook slowly for 4-5 hours. Roast will be well done.
• The Basque often add peeled, quartered potatoes during the last 45 minutes of cooking.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Clean lamb of any excess fat around the thick and meaty portion of the leg. In a bowl, combine salt, pepper, paprika, garlic, parsley, thyme, oregano and oil. Rub the lamb thoroughly with salt mixture. Place cut vegetables in a large turkey roaster. Rest the lamb on top of vegetables. Place the leg of lamb in the oven and roast until internal temperature, at thickest portion of lamb, registers 135 degrees on a meat thermometer, about 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Remove lamb from oven and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Discard vegetables. Serve with White Beans and Saffron recipe (recipe follows).
• Drain soaked beans. Place in a large pot with fresh water, bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours with bay leaves. Add 1 teaspoon salt after simmering for 1 hour. In a saute pan over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add onions and saute until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add parsley and saffron, allow to cook for 1 minute more, and remove from heat. Drain the cooked beans of excess water. Return the beans to the pot and add cooked onion mixture. Combine and reheat. Check seasoning and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut slits in the top of the leg of lamb every 3 to 4 inches, deep enough to push slices of garlic down into the meat. Salt and pepper generously all over the top of lamb, place several sprigs of fresh rosemary under and on top of the lamb. Place lamb on roasting pan.
• Roast in preheated oven until the lamb is cooked to your desired doneness, about 1 3/4 to 2 hours. Do not overcook the lamb, the flavor is best if meat is still slightly pink. Let rest at least 10 minutes before carving.