Lemon thyme and fennel butterflied leg of lamb

Lemon thyme and fennel butterflied leg of lamb

This butterflied leg of lamb recipe is fantastic as a summer Sunday lunch. The marinade for this barbecued dish will work well with any type of red meat, poultry or fish.

Lemon thyme and fennel butterflied leg of lamb

  • Serves icon Serves 6
  • Time icon Hands on time 5 mins, 25-30 mins barbecue time, plus 1-24 hours marinating and 5 mins resting

This butterflied leg of lamb recipe is fantastic as a summer Sunday lunch. The marinade for this barbecued dish will work well with any type of red meat, poultry or fish.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories
783kcals
Fat
43.1g (2.2g saturated)
Protein
71.2g
Carbohydrates
30.5g (0.7g sugars)
Salt
0.9g

Ingredients

  • 2.5kg good-quality leg of lamb, butterflied (ask your butcher to do this for you), trimmed of fat
  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tbsp fennel seeds, lightly crushed
  • 6 lemon thyme sprigs, leaves picked
  • Pared zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp Maldon sea salt flakes
  • ½ tsp coarsely crushed black peppercorns
  • Chunky chips, to serve
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Method

  1. Cut and open up any thicker areas of meat so that it is all about 4-5cm thick. Mix all the other ingredients (apart from the chips) together in a large shallow dish, add the lamb and coat well. Cover and marinate at room temperature for 1 hour, or chill and marinate for up to 24 hours.
  2. If using a charcoal barbecue, light about 30 minutes before you want to cook. For a gas barbecue, preheat 10 minutes beforehand.
  3. Lift the lamb out of the dish, let the excess oily marinade drain away, then lay on the barbecue. Cook over a direct high heat for 25-30 minutes, turning occasionally and moving away from any flare-ups, until well-coloured but pink and juicy in the middle. Test by making a cut in the thickest part and check if cooked to your liking or test by pushing in a meat thermometer – it should read 60°C. Cook for longer if you like.
  4. Transfer the lamb to a board, cover and rest for 5 minutes. Carve into thick slices and serve with chunky chips.

Nutrition

Calories
783kcals
Fat
43.1g (2.2g saturated)
Protein
71.2g
Carbohydrates
30.5g (0.7g sugars)
Salt
0.9g

delicious. tips

  1. ‘Butterflied’ lamb is so-called because when the bone is removed from the leg and the meat is opened out, the shape resembles a butterfly’s wings. Cooking temperature: direct high heat.

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