You're about to dive into a super tender, absolutely delicious roasted leg of lamb recipe. Looking for more reasons to keep reading? We're going to make it a one-pot-meal with delightfully tasty roasted vegetables and top it with a fantastic gravy made from the cooking juices. If you're thinking of making leg of lamb, you're going to love this recipe.
This leg of lamb recipe is: Gluten Free and Easy to Make.
YOUR GO-TO LEG OF LAMB RECIPE!
If you're like me, then you love lamb. Just about any kind of lamb... shanks, shoulders, ribs, chops, racks, saddles and the legs. However, I've learned over the years that it is a different story ordering lamb at a restaurant versus cooking it at home. For some reason lamb is intimidating to cook at home. At my cooking school so many students came through that were terrified to buy lamb, particularly the leg. The most common question was "what do I do with it?"
Well, the easiest answer is to roast it. Why? All you need to do is season, coat in mustard, add some aromatics and roast. It is just that simple. No need to worry about butchering the leg. Just take it out of the vacuum sealed bag and plop it onto some cut veggies. A couple hours later you will be noshing on a yummy dinner.
You can use this recipe for either bone-in or deboned leg of lamb. You will need to adjust the cooking time (about ⅓ less time for a deboned leg of lamb), but it works great with either cut.
WHERE TO BUY LEG OF LAMB
You'll be able to buy a leg of lamb at almost every high-end grocery store. If you have a local market with a butcher counter, you will be able to advance order a leg of lamb. If you are unable to find a leg of lamb in the fresh meat section of the grocery store, check in the frozen meat section. Lamb does not move as fast as chicken, beef or pork.
Typically legs of lamb are sold vacuum packed so they have a longer shelf life. When looking at the package, it will indicate whether it is a bone-in or boneless leg of lamb. If you are having a hard time finding the information on the label, skip it completely. Just look at the meat itself. If it has a net around the meat, it is boned.
I have purchased wonderful leg of lamb from Costco, Whole Foods, Wegmans and Heinens grocery stores. In Cleveland, the West Side Market has incredible choices as does Miles Farmers Market.
WHEN TO BUY LEG OF LAMB
The best time to buy leg of lamb is in the spring! The lamb will be most tender in the spring. Tender meat is important when you are cooking the rack, chops, or saddle.
It is best to buy legs, shanks and shoulders in the fall and winter. Cuts like these tend to be less expensive during the winter. Tenderness typically doesn't apply to large muscle cuts since they will most likely be braised or roasted, thereby breaking down the tough connective tissue.
HOW MUCH LEG OF LAMB PER PERSON?
How much depends entirely upon whether you are buying a bone-in or boneless leg of lamb. The following may seem like large portions. Keep in mind that the leg of lamb will reduce in size while it cooks. Here's the rule of thumb:
- Bone-In Leg of Lamb: ½ to ⅔ lb per person.
- Boneless Leg of Lamb: ⅓ lb per person.
A typical serving size for meat is around ¼ lb per person, which is what you will net after cooking. It is always best to err on the side of caution. I buy more than I need particularly for people who want seconds!
WHAT TEMPERATURE DO I COOK LEG OF LAMB?
The perfect question to ask. Here's the scoop: use a timer solely as a guide to cooking lamb. Every cut of lamb is going to cook differently. Each lamb has a different fat and moisture composition as well as bone density. It is really difficult to cook lamb with a timer and have it come out of the oven correctly.
*Remember to take the temperature at the thickest part of the leg without touching the instant read thermometer to the bone.
Here are the different temperatures to look for when cooking leg of lamb:
- Rare: 120 degrees. Great for chops or rack of lamb, but not for this leg of lamb recipe.
- Medium Rare: 130 degrees. Perfect. This is when you want to remove the leg of lamb from the oven.
- Medium: 140 degrees. With carryover cooking you are pushing the envelope at 140 degrees. There will be a well defined gray ring around the meat.
- Medium Well: 150 degrees. Dry meat alert.
- Well Done: 160 degrees. Well done should really be called poorly done. You'll be chewing each piece for a week.
HOW TO MAKE LEG OF LAMB WITH A CRUST
Lamb is good, but a crusted leg of lamb is even better. In this leg of lamb recipe we are going to get a really nice crust to form. Here's how to do it:
- Prepare the Lamb: give the lamb a shower with salt and pepper. Let it sit for an hour or more to bring the meat to room temperature.
- Coat the Lamb: use a high quality dijon mustard and coat one side of the lamb. Add on a generous dose of herbs de Provence, flip the lamb and repeat.
- Cover the Lamb: we don't want a burned crust. Cover the lamb with foil to protect the herbs from burning.
- Cook: cook the lamb for 45 minutes covered at 400 degrees (or until the meat reaches 120 degrees), then remove the cover and increase the heat to 425. Cook for 15 minutes and you'll have the perfect crust.
When you remove the lamb from the oven, you may tent it with foil. I tear a hole in the top of the foil for the steam to escape, keeping the crust nice and crunchy.
Like to roast meat? Try some of these recipes:
The Ultimate Roasted Leg of Lamb Recipe
Ingredients
For the Leg of Lamb
- 7 LB Leg of Lamb
- 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt
- ½ tablespoon Pepper
- ½ Cup Dijon Mustard
- ¼ Cup Herbs de Provence
For the Roasted Vegetables
- 1 Celery Root Peeled and cubed
- 3 Onions Peeled and quartered
- 6 Carrots Peeled and large cut
- 3 Turnips Quartered
- 8 cloves Garlic Peeled and halved
- 2 yellow Beets Peeled and quartered
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Cup Dry White Wine
- 1 Cup Beef Stock Unsalted
Instructions
Preparing the Lamb
- Season with the salt and pepper. Coat with the mustard and herbs de provence. Allow to come to room temperature on the counter for at least an hour.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Preparing the Vegetables
- Add the prepared vegetables to a baking dish large enough to hold the lamb.
- Add the oil, salt and a couple cranks of pepper. Toss to coat.
Roasting the Lamb
- Place the lamb on top of the vegetables.
- Add the stock and wine, then cover tightly with foil.
- Roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the meat registers 120 degrees, remove the foil and increase the temperature to 425 degrees.
- Remove when the thickest part of the meat reads 130 degrees.
- Remove the lamb from the baking dish and loosely tent with foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.
For the Gluten Free Gravy
- While the meat is resting, heat a heavy bottom skillet over high heat.
- Strain the juice from the roasted vegetables into the skillet. Begin to reduce.
- Using a fine mesh strainer, take 3-4 cooked carrot chunks and about 2 of the cooked turnip or celery root pieces. Mash through the strainer with the back of a wooden spoon into the skillet.
- Mix well to incorporate and continue to reduce until the desired consistency has been achieved. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
Carol Martin says
I saw your recipe today and had to leave a comment. My father made leg of lamb for us every year at Easter. This recipe is perfect timing for me to get everything ready to make it this year! Thank you very much.
Scott Groth says
Hi Carol:
How did yours come out? I'm curious...
Thank you for writing and I hope you have a fantastic day.
Scott
Sasha @ Eat Love Eat says
Love roast dinners, they are just the most perfect meal to have. Looks great!
Scott Groth says
Hey Sasha:
You're right, roast dinners with family and loved ones are absolutely perfect.
Thank you for posting and happy eating!
Scott
Melanie @ Nutritious Eats says
I love lamb. I try to save it for special occasions- this sounds yummy!
Scott Groth says
Hey Melanie:
Every day is a special occasion - make it whenever you feel like it!
Thank you for posting and have a fantastic day!
Scott
Cynthia says
I have to admit, I have never made lamb at home. Seeing these photos and reading the recipe has encouraged me to try it! The recipe for the lamb is really simple and I like that. I think you get more flavor from a simple recipe. We get our Herbs de Provence from a local lavender farm so I bet they would make this lamb shine!
Scott Groth says
Hey Cynthia:
So glad I encouraged you to make this tasty recipe. You're right, the simpler the better. Thank you for letting me know how it came out.
Have a great day in the kitchen!
Scott
Brian Jones says
Oh man, I love the sound of this but alas lamb is difficult to find and brutally expensive out here in Hungary, so much so that the last time I got some I bought one on the hoof that was still 'baaaaing' 😮
Scott Groth says
Hey Brian:
Well, at least you know that it was fresh!
Hope you're doing well.
Scott
Kathrine Suddeth says
The examples you provided really helped clarify your points, thanks.
Scott Groth says
Hi Kathrine:
Thanks so much- and thanks for writing too! Have a wonderful day in the kitchen- take care- Scott