Arabian Spiced Lamb
This spiced lamb recipe combines all the wonderful flavours of the Middle East such as pomegranate molasses, turmeric, cumin, garlic and honey. A rich delicious marinade concoction smothered thickly all over the meat which is then left to marinade for a couple of hours or overnight before roasting in a low oven for several hours.
For the recipe link for Fragrant Arabic Rice – click the highlighted word.
I also share with this recipe a short informative video on how to make and roast this amazing lamb recipe.
Enjoy.
Ingredients
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1 x 1.5-2kg leg of lamb- bone in
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3 large onions- thickly and evenly sliced
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200mls chicken stock
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Marinade
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5 cloves garlic- crushed
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4 tbsp pomegranate molasses
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2 tbsp runny honey
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1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
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1 lemon- juice and rind
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1 tbsp ground cumin
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1 tsp turmeric
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2 tbsp sumac
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Plenty of ground black pepper
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Gravy
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4 tbsp flour
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100-200mls water
Instructions
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Make marinade:
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01 In a bowl whisk together all the marinade ingredients. Keep to one side.
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Prepare lamb:
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02 Using a sharp knife, slash the leg of lamb all over making deep cuts. See image 3. Massage the marinade well into the lamb, pushing it deep into the cuts you have made and all over. See image 4. Leave to marinade several hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
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Prepare for roasting & cook:
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03 Scatter onions all along the bottom of your baking sheet, then place lamb leg on the onions, putting the fattier juicer side of the leg upside down directly touching the onions. See image 5. Pour the chicken stock on the onions, then cover pan tightly with foil and place in preheated oven. Roast for 3-4 hours.
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Check:
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04 After 3 hours, check if lamb is tender by using a fork to lift a chunk of meat off the bone. If it isn't tender enough, return to the oven for another hour. Remove foil, turn lamb around and roast uncovered for a further 30-45 minutes to brown. Remove from the oven and allow to rest. See video for guidance.
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Make gravy:
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05 Remove the lamb and onions from the pan, then place the roasting pan with the pan juices on the stove top. Remove a little of the fat off the top, and heat over medium heat until liquid bubbles. Whisk in the flour once the liquid bubbles, and keep whisking while liquid reduces to a thick gravy consistency. Once it thickens considerably, add 100-200mls of water and whisk this in until you get your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Serve:
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06 Carve to the table and serve with plain basmati rice or Fragrant Arabic Rice, see intro for the recipe and vegetables of your choice. See cover images 1&2.
Notes
The method for cooking this delicious lamb is long and slow, which works wonderfully but please keep an eye on it during the the last 30 minutes or so as you do not want the lamb to burn. For a lighter or less thick gravy only add 2tbs of flour.