Leg of lamb

[Lea]

Um, I feel a little silly for having to ask this.....but how do I cook a leg of lamb??:blink:

Now I know it goes in the oven:P ....but I mean what temp. do I cook it at? and for how long? does it depend on the weight at all?

I can't remember the last time I cooked ( or even ate) leg of lamb & have forgotten all the basics. :brow: FH is really looking forward to it and I don't want to disappoint him:D

Thanks Ladies!:waves:

[Barbara]

Lea, there are so many different ways you can cook it. Do you cook in an oven bag at all or just in a roaster?

It does depend on how big the leg is, but when I used to cook lamb in the oven (fan forced) it only ever took about 2-3 hours to cook on about 180. That's on a leg around 2kg in weight. I don't think it matters much if it is in a bag or just in a roaster - just remember to baste it if it is in a roaster though so it doesn't dry out.

After the 2 hour mark, just pierce it to check if it's cooked through - if blood runs out, leave it in for a little while longer, if it's clear (just juice) then it will be cooked.

Good luck, I hope it turns out well :)

[ezmay]

i usually cook all my roast meat in an electric frypan with the lid on. low temp, about #3, and turn every half hour for 1.5 hours then put in the oven in a roast pan covered in foil to finish off while i do the vegies. The juices left in the frypan make a good gravy.
If the lamb isnt marinated i use dry rosemary, dry mint and/or balsamic vinegar.
We had this the other night but now i want it again after this post. Alas we are having spag bol.

If you are still unsure ask your local butcher and they can help.

[Mad Old Cow]

i cook in the oven in an oven bag i dust the inside of the oven bag with a bit of flour then turn the oven to 200c wack the leg in cook at 200c for half an hour then turn down to 175c for 2 hours then 150c for the last half hour i always cook a leg for almost 3 hours i buy one for around $12 to $16 so i go by the price not the weight LMAO honestly i have never been let down yet lol

[Telori]

Di...why do you dust the leg with flour? and do those oven bags really work? I've seen them but never used them...I think it would make for a juicier roast...

[Mad Old Cow]

yes they are yummy in the bags Teena i just dust the roast with flour so it doesnt stick to the bag i may have even read it on the box yrs ago when i first started to use them & the bloody oven does'nt get so dirty either

[Telori]

Sounds good to me Di...will get some next time I go shopping...have been wanting to do a roast lamb...but the thought of cleaning those bloody roasting pans...bit of a turn off...

[Mad Old Cow]

i always get the large bags the small ones are to small i think & it tells you what to do on the box so just read that before you put it in the oven i always leave a reasonable opening at the top of the bag

[Telori]

Thanks Di...

Sorry Lea for taking over your thread :blush:

[BrissyGal]

I almost always use an oven bag to do my roast lambs because it makes it so much easier to clean up. I also think it keeps the lamb more moist as well. Most of the time I just put it in as is, but sometimes I'll cut slits in the meat and add some garlic cloves to it and then cover it in rosemary. I cook mine at 180 degrees until the juices run clear.

[Heather]

I grew up with dry roasted meats (long story covered in previous threads) so am quite used to them, but I was introduced to the oven bags years ago and now always do a roast lamb in them....it is so moist....and you can still add flavourings like garlic and rosemary.
You flour the bags first, so that it forms a protective barrier and the film doesn't stick to the meat.
Yes, use the larger bags, as Di suggested, irrespective of the size of the meat because it gives the heat room to expand without bursting.
Even the TT will eat a small portion of roast lamb if cooked that way.
Lea...just put the oven on moderate heat and check after an hour if it is a small roast by piercing and looking at the juices, then every half hour.
When the meat is done, take it out of the bag....careful lots of steam...and let it rest for about 10 minutes covered loosely by foil before carving.
Enjoy....we want to hear how the meal went.

[Mad Old Cow]

bloody hell H you go to a lot of trouble i chuck it in the oven & forget about it, it just has to be cooked after almost 3 hours lol i don't bother piercing the bloody thing gee

[Barbara]

How did you go Lea? Did it work out okay? :)

[Kekka]

Removed and apologies.

[BrissyGal]

I think they are in the aisle where the plastic bags and alfoil/clingwrap is.

[Heather]

And you don't need the expensive ones either...cheaper do just as well.

[Mad Old Cow]

yep i think thats the isle they are in & i buy the better brands but must admit i hav'nt seen the cheaper ones

[ezmay]

How did the roast turn out Lea? Im jealous as we have been having leftovers lately.

[Truth]

ok this is my favorite way of cooking mine
i pierce randomly over the leg and them shove garlic into the slots i make a paste of olive oil and some butter rosmary and spices and spread all over it.I them wrap the leg of lamb in foil making a bag type envelope.I place this in my dutch oven and filled with about 2 cups of water and cook on low heat. adding water through cooking process if it runs out.the meat is so soft and tender .when u open the satchel i release the juices from bag into the water in the pot and make the gravy.

[Lea]

Wow!! Thanks for the hints ladies:clap:

We didn't end up having the lamb on the weekend....but next weekend for sure!! I didn't know if those oven bags were still around or not. Think I will have to give one of them a go and see what happens.

I'll let you all now how it goes:yes: :>:

[Mad Old Cow]

oh bummer we have all been waiting on the edge of our seats to hear about it & it just did'nt happen LMAO gee talk about disapointment Lea, well be sure to let us know

[Lea]

Sorry for leading you on ladies:P

tonight is the night!! we've bought the oven bags and we're ready to rock and roll.

[Heather]

Don't forget....we want details.

[Lea]

It was really yummy!!!!!:tree: :dance3:

We 'scored' it and put fresh rosemary (from our garden) in the cuts. Then Adam smeared some honey on it too. I wasn't too sure of the honey...but it smelt divine while cooking, and gave a nice glaze to the cooked lamb. Rosemary & honey sounds like a weird comco, but it worked:clap: :winner: :d:

We had it with baked potato, pumpkin, carrots & peas. And a couple of glasses of wine to wash it down with:cheers: :cheers:

The only thing that could have been improved was the cooking time. The meat right next to the bone was still a bit red.:brow:

So all in all it went pretty well:D :jump:

[Barbara]

Yay - am glad it turned out well :clap:

Certainly sounds like it was delicious :d:

[Heather]

Quite often it seems uncooked closer to the bone...but then the meat probably would have been dry and tough....although the Honey may well have sealed the meat.
After all we went through, I am glad it was a resounding success.

[Lea]

Ahh, I never thought about the honey sealing the meat:)

Thanks once again ladies.:hug: You were all a big help:cheers: :winner:

[Mad Old Cow]

so glad it turned out for you lol
how long did you cook it for? i do all roasts in oven bags for close on 3 hours

[Lea]

We cooked it for about an hour and 20 mins. It was kinda small, just over a kilo and I thought that would be plenty. It was on 200c. I just followed the instructions on the back of the oven bag pack:hehe: :hehe: :shh:

We had leftovers for two nights. Very yummy:d:

[sandydee]

I cooked a leg of lamb on Monday night when mum was visiting,but I placed mine in the slow cooker with a dash of olive oil on the bottom and a little over the lamb with rosemary and garlic:yes: I cooked it all day on low it turned out great,so tender and delicious:) the meat just fell off the bone:yes: Mum said it was so nice cooked that way too said she will try it herself now:) we had leftovers on sanga the next day with mango and pawpaw chutney:d:

[djmastermum]

All this talk of a leg of lamb and oven bags is too much for me ... I WANT SOME :hehe:

[Heather]

Oven Bags????

[djmastermum]

Oven Bags????

Of course, as well as a leg of lamb :hehe: