Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb with Herb and Caper Gremolata

, from Issue #121. May, 2025
Photography by Yuki Sato.
Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb with Herb and Caper Gremolata

Meltingly tender and infused with flavours of the Mediterranean, the lamb pairs beautifully with the fresh and zesty gremolata and tangy feta topping.

COOK'S NOTE: We served the lamb with a leaf salad and a crusty loaf of bread.

Serves: 6-8

INGREDIENTS

2 large brown onions, thickly sliced
sea salt and ground pepper
2-kilogram bone-in leg of lamb
2 tablespoons each crushed garlic, whole grain mustard and runny honey
1 tablespoon each olive oil, finely chopped rosemary and dried oregano
2 teaspoons each sea salt and finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon ground pepper
½ teaspoon chilli flakes

TO SERVE
100 grams feta
Herb and Caper Gremolata, see recipe below

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 160°C regular bake.

Put the onions in a roasting dish that will hold the lamb snugly and season with salt and pepper.

Pat the lamb dry with kitchen towels. Using a sharp knife, score the lamb on both sides by making shallow cuts across the meat, deep enough to break through the skin. This allows the paste to penetrate and flavour the meat.

Combine all the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Rub a third of the paste over the bottom of the lamb, pushing it into all the cuts. Turn the lamb over, place on top of the onions and spoon over the remaining paste, making sure every bit of lamb is covered.

Cover with a piece of baking paper then seal tightly with foil (extra wide foil is good for this).

Roast for 5 hours. Remove the foil and spoon over some of the cooking juices then roast uncovered for a further 1 hour. Take the lamb out of the oven and loosely cover with foil and a tea towel on top, and rest for 15 minutes.

TO SERVE: Crumble half of the feta over the lamb then spoon over half of the gremolata, serving the rest separately. Serve with the onions and spoon over some of the pan juices.