Simple roast leg of lamb with earthy spice rub

Simple roast leg of lamb with earthy spice rub

A leg of lamb is rubbed with an earthy spice blend before roasting – which really brings out the deep, savoury flavours of the meat – in this simple recipe. It’s a Sunday roast game-changer.

Simple roast leg of lamb with earthy spice rub

Plan the perfect Sunday lunch with our favourite side dish recipes.

  • Serves icon Serves 4-6
  • Time icon Hands-on time 20 min, plus at least a few hours marinating (preferably overnight). Oven time 25-35 min

A leg of lamb is rubbed with an earthy spice blend before roasting – which really brings out the deep, savoury flavours of the meat – in this simple recipe. It’s a Sunday roast game-changer.

Plan the perfect Sunday lunch with our favourite side dish recipes.

Nutrition: Per serving (for 6)

Calories
315kcals
Fat
17g (6.8g saturated)
Protein
39g
Carbohydrates
1.5g (0.8g sugars)
Fibre
0.9g
Salt
0.6g

Ingredients

  • 800g butterflied lamb leg
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp thyme leaves and sprigs to garnish

For the spice blend

  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp fenugreek seeds
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds
  • 5g dried mushrooms
  • ¼ tsp ground turmeric
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
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Method

  1. Toast the whole spices in a hot dry pan until starting to brown (up to 2 minutes). Leave to cool, then put in a grinder or pestle and mortar with the mushrooms and grind to a powder. Stir in the turmeric and salt.
  2. Rub the spice blend all over the lamb, then cover and put in the fridge to marinate for at least a few hours (preferably overnight).
  3. Heat the oven to 180°C/ 160°C fan/gas 4. Put a large frying pan over a high heat. Once smoking hot, add the oil, then the lamb, skin-side down. Cook until golden and caramelised all over (about 5 minutes on each side). Put the meat in a baking dish and cook for 25 minutes for medium rare or 35 minutes for medium. On a meat thermometer, the centre of the lamb should read 65-75°C depending on how pink you like it.
  4. Rest the lamb in a warm place for 10 minutes, then carve and garnish with fresh thyme.

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving
Calories
315kcals
Fat
17g (6.8g saturated)
Protein
39g
Carbohydrates
1.5g (0.8g sugars)
Fibre
0.9g
Salt
0.6g

Buy ingredients online

Recipe By:

Pollyanna Coupland
Food producer, delicious.

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