Butterflied Leg of Lamb

[Jaymes]

Butterflied Leg of Lamb

This has been an enormous favorite, and constant dinner guest pleaser in my home for a very long time.

This is an excellent choice for a small dinner party, but I suggest you tell no one you're serving lamb until they're all at the table discussing how delicious it is and arguing over whether it's beef or pork or exactly what.

That's the best time to announce that it is, indeed...tahDAH...lamb! (adding smugly, "and YOU said you didn't like lamb!")

• 3 to 4 lb. leg of lamb
  
• several cloves fresh garlic
  
• handful fresh rosemary
  
• 2 bay leaves (preferably fresh)
  
• zest from one lemon
  
• 1 tsp oregano
  
• 1 tsp Beau Monde seasoning, or favorite seasoned salt or other all-purpose seasoning
  
• 1/4 c chopped parsley
  
• 1/2 c olive oil
  
• 2 T soy sauce
  
• 1/4 c dry sherry
  

Bone and butterfly leg of lamb (I have butcher do this). Cut off any gristly pieces, and as much of the fell and excess fat as you care to remove. Poke holes at 3-4" intervals across both sides of lamb. Into each hole shove a sliver of garlic, two or three leaves of rosemary, a piece of cracked bay leaf (if you're using fresh - if you're using dried, just add a few to the marinade).

Combine lemon zest, parsley, oregano and all-purpose seasoning. Rub well into lamb. Place studded, seasoned leg of lamb into heavy plastic bag. Combine olive oil, soy sauce, sherry and pour into bag. Marinate in fridge overnight, turning occasionally.

Barbecue or broil, fat side up initially, turning once. Cook fat side up for about 30 minutes (or so, depending on thickness of meat), then turn and broil for 10-15 minutes (or to desired doneness).

Keywords: Main Dish, Lamb, Dinner, Grill

( RG342 )

[Jaymes]

Just looking for this recipe. Glad to have found it again. 

[Smithy]

I just went through the "I hate lamb!!" drama again, followed by the discovery that the protestor doesn't really hate lamb. Thanks for another delicious treatment!

[heidih]

often it is the lamb fat that drives peeps away. The meat itself as in a grilled butterflied leg is quite different.  Congrats

[Margaret Pilgrim]

Consider also lamb's affinity for anchovy.     While basically following Jaymes' marinade, I usually add a couple of shmooshed anchovy.    I also use this basic combo to smear over a butterflied leg then roll and tie for either roasting or rotis grilling.

 

Note, I do not like preserved anchovy yet find their inclusion in lamb seasoning quite delicious. 

[Jaymes]

On 5/25/2019 at 1:32 AM, heidih said:

often it is the lamb fat that drives peeps away. The meat itself as in a grilled butterflied leg is quite different.  Congrats

Great idea!

[ErinKeegan]

Does lamb become soft? sometimes lamb tastes like rubber, but I want to try your recipie thanks ✌️

[Okanagancook]

Lamb that tastes like rubber has been mistreated.

we used to get free range grass fed lamb and you even cut the shoulder chops with a fork it was that tender.

 

welcome to Egullet by the way.