Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe - Southern Cravings (2024)

FAQs

How long does a leg of lamb need to be cooked for? ›

Fattier cuts of lamb should be roasted long and slow at a low temperature, while leaner cuts of meat should be cooked at a high temperature for the first several minutes and then at a lower temperature the rest of the time. Braising is a popular technique for cooking less-tender cuts of lamb.

A boneless leg is easier to carve, while bone-in can be a bit more difficult to slice. If you're looking for a more intense lamb flavor, bone-in is the way to go.

Roast leaner cuts of lamb in a hotter oven (450°F) to get a lovely brown crust and a well-cooked center; cook fattier cuts of lamb low and slow (325°F) to render all the fat and allow the lamb to cook in its juices. Due to residual heat, your lamb will continue to cook even after you pull it out of the oven.

The meat turns out to be very tender if cooked low and slow in the oven. These cuts get even more tender if braised in some sort of liquid. The center cuts of lamb — loin, ribs, and breast — are naturally tender, so they do better with quick-cooking methods.

Fresh rosemary, fresh garlic, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt are simple but amazing flavors that pair amazingly with the lamb! Each of these ingredients adds its unique warmth and depth to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Spices compliment Lamb, but it also holds its flavor with just salt and pepper. Lamb pairs well with fruits like pomegranates, apricots, figs. It also goes well with dairy, yogurt, and feta cheese.

For the perfect roast lamb, we recommend seasoning the surface of the meat, and then searing it, especially fat side down in a pan before roasting. Why bother with searing? Contrary to some stories, searing is less about locking in moisture, and all about improving the flavour!

Add beef broth/stock and water into the pan (keeps everything all nice and moist + makes pan juices for gravy), cover then slow roast for 5 hours until tender and fall apart. For an incredible hands-off version of this slow roast leg of lamb, try the Slow Cooker Roast Lamb!

The BRT or boneless leg is the most versatile cuts of lamb from roasting whole to trimming into kabob meat or individual chops or smaller roasts, to butterflying and grilling. Leg is the leanest lamb cut.

Should I leave the netting on a boneless leg of lamb? ›

Cooking Instructions

The netting should be left on to hold the de-boned pieces together. Directions: Leave the netting on a boneless cut of lamb until it is fully cooked, then cut it off with a pair of kitchen shears being careful not to cut or burn yourself.

Whether boneless or bone-in, the perfect leg of lamb should be either oven-roasted until blushing pink on the inside (with an internal temp around 130°F) or roasted long and slow for several hours until the meat is very tender and falls apart to internal temp around 175°F (I often use the slow cooker for that).

As the end of the cooking time draws near, press the outside centre of your lamb lightly with tongs or a clean fingertip to judge its degree of doneness. As a rough guide: Very soft = rare – bright red, raw centre. Soft = medium rare – pink inside with a red centre.

Lower temp = more succulent meat – Tough cuts like lamb shoulder need slow-cooking to tenderise them. The lower the roasting temperature, the less total moisture evaporation and thus juicier meat. 3-hour lamb is cooked at 180°C/350°F, while the 12 hour lamb is cooked at only 100°C/212°F.

Medium-Rare: About 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 130°F to 135°F. Medium: About 25 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 135°F to 140°F. Well-Done: About 30 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 155°F to 165°F. Fall-Apart Tender Lamb.

As the end of the cooking time draws near, press the outside centre of your lamb lightly with tongs or a clean fingertip to judge its degree of doneness. As a rough guide: Very soft = rare – bright red, raw centre. Soft = medium rare – pink inside with a red centre.

Cook all raw lamb steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145° F (62.8° C) as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.

It is safe to eat lamb rare or mutton as long as the outer surface is thoroughly seared. Similar to beef, harmful bacteria like E. Coli are typically found on the meat's exterior. That said, you should still be mindful and use a handy meat thermometer when cooking the lamb to rare doneness to guarantee your safety.