Description
Julia Child’s leg of lamb recipe brings classic French countryside cooking to American kitchens. Herbal marinade and slow roasting create succulent meat that connects passionate home cooks with traditional Parisian culinary techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 lbs (2.27 kg) leg of lamb
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) fresh rosemary
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously trim excess fat from lamb leg, creating strategic 2-3 inch deep incisions across the surface for maximum flavor infusion.
- Seasoning: Nestle thinly sliced garlic cloves into prepared cuts, generously massage kosher salt and black pepper throughout the meat, and strategically place fresh rosemary sprigs to enhance aromatic complexity.
- Roasting Setup: Position lamb in a robust roasting pan with fat side upward, ensuring optimal self-basting during cooking. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) with precise temperature calibration.
- Cooking Process: Roast the lamb for 1 3/4 to 2 hours, vigilantly monitoring internal temperature until it reaches 135°F (57°C) for perfect medium-rare texture.
- Resting and Serving: Immediately shield the roasted lamb with aluminum foil, allowing 15 minutes of rest to redistribute internal juices. Slice against the grain into delicate portions, artfully arranging on a serving platter and garnishing with additional rosemary sprigs for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Garlic Insertion Technique: Create deep, strategic cuts to embed garlic slices, maximizing flavor distribution and ensuring each bite is infused with aromatic goodness.
- Salt Massage Method: Generously coat and gently massage seasonings into the meat, promoting deeper flavor penetration and creating a delectable external crust.
- Resting Ritual: Always tent the cooked lamb with foil and let it rest for 15 minutes, allowing internal juices to redistribute and guaranteeing incredibly tender, succulent meat.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to nail the perfect 135°F for medium-rare, transforming an ordinary roast into a restaurant-quality culinary masterpiece.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg