HOW TO COOK A LEG OF LAMB

A LEG OF LAMB

Ingredients to Cook a Leg of Lamb
1 (7 pound) leg of lamb, fat trimmed to 1/4-inch
12 anchovy fillets, packed in oil
12 cloves garlic, peeled and halved lengthwise
1/4 cup duck fat
3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon Essence, recipe follows
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered
1 large carrot, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 large turnip, trimmed and quartered
2 stalks celery, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 cup rich chicken or beef stock
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
Steps
Step 1 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
With a small, sharp knife, make 12 (1 1/2-inch deep) slits about every 2 inches of the lamb.
Step 3 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Wrap the anchovies around the garlic cloves and stuff into the slits.
Step 4 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
In a large roasting pan set over 2 burners, heat the duck fat over medium-high heat.
Step 5 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Add the lamb and sear, turning, on all sides, about 5 minutes.
Step 6 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Remove from the heat and, in a small bowl, combine the rosemary, Essence, salt, and pepper, and rub evenly over the meat, add the vegetables, and stir to coat with the fat.
Step 7 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Roast until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the leg reads 130 degrees F for medium-rare, about 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring the vegetables every 30 minutes.
Step 8 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Remove from the oven, transfer to a large platter, and cover loosely to rest for 15 minutes.
Step 9 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Place the pan over 2 burners over medium-high heat.
Step 10 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Add the wine and cook, stirring, to deglaze the pan and reduce by half.
Step 11 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Add the stock and stirring, reduce again by half.
Step 12 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Strain into a small saucepan through a fine mesh strainer, pushing down on the vegetables to extract as much liquid as possible.
Step 13 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Return to medium heat, and stirring constantly, add the butter a piece at a time. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
Step 14 to Cook a Leg of Lamb
Carve the lamb, and if desired, serve with the roasted vegetables on the side.