Lemon and Mint Leg of Lamb with Tarragon and Marmalade Carrots
A classic centrepiece to enjoy over the long Easter weekend.
This simple recipe infuses the lamb with a lemon mint purée and is served with sweet, caramelised roasted fennel. The cooking juices combined with the bed of onions make a delicious sauce. Recipe by AGA Specialist Dawn Roads.
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Lamb:
1 x 2kg leg of bone-in lamb
2 onions, peeled, quartered and sliced
Salt and pepper
Lemon and Mint Purée:
Grated zest of 1 lemon
20g fresh mint leaves
2 tbsp olive or rapeseed oil
1 or 2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and roughly sliced
Salt and black pepper
2 fennel bulbs, each cut into 6 wedges and rolled in a little oil
Sauce:
Cooked onions and pan juices from the roasting pan
2 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Vegetable stock
Tarragon and Marmalade Carrots
800g new carrots, scrubbed or peeled
40g butter, softened
2 tsp chopped fresh tarragon
1-2 tbsp marmalade
Salt and black pepper
Serves 8
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1. Remove the leg of lamb from the fridge an hour before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature.
2. Place the sliced onions in the base of an AGA Enamelled Roasting Tin and season. Lay the lamb on top.
3. Cut a diamond pattern on the top of the leg of lamb, making some deep slits to take the purée.
4. To make the purée; place the lemon zest, mint leaves, oil, garlic and seasoning into a small food processor and whizz together.
5. Stuff into the incisions made in the lamb. Any extra can be smeared over the sides of the meat and onto the bed of onions. Place the fennel wedges around the lamb.
6. Slide the roasting tin onto the lowest set of runners in the AGA roasting oven and roast for about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until done to your liking. Check with a meat thermometer 55º-60ºC will be medium and 70ºC for well done – place the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, but not touching the bone.
7. Remove the lamb from the roasting tin and place on a warm serving dish. Cover with some foil and allow it to rest in a warm place (such as the AGA warming oven) for 15-20 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, check the fennel is nicely golden and cooked – if it needs more cooking, or more colour, pop the tin back into the roasting oven.
9. To make the sauce, firstly remove the fennel and keep warm. Add the flour to the cooked onions, stir well and heat until the flour is browned. Add the Worcestershire Sauce and vegetable stock (water from boiling any vegetables is fine), the amount of vegetable stock will vary according to how thick you like your sauce. Bring to the boil and simmer for a couple of minutes until thickened, check for seasoning and serve in a sauce boat or warm jug. The sauce could be liquidised if preferred.
Serve the lamb with the fennel wedges, sauce and seasonal vegetables.
Conventional cooking: Roast at 200ºC, fan oven 180ºC, Gas Mark 6-7.
TARRAGON AND MARMALADE CARROTS
1. Cut the tops from the carrots, leaving a centimetre of the stalk. Scrub or peel the carrots (leave whole) and place into the AGA Stainless Steel Non-Stick Shallow Casserole with enough water just to cover.
2. Bring to the boil on the boiling plate and cook for 3-5 minutes. Drain off all the water (save for making gravy or for vegetable stock).
3. Place the covered pan into the simmering oven and steam for about 30 minutes until just tender. Refresh under cold water and place in the Portmeirion for AGA White Gratin Dish. Dot with the Tarragon and Marmalade Butter and cover with foil. This can be stored in the refrigerator overnight.
4. To make up the tarragon and marmalade butter, beat the butter, tarragon and marmalade together and season.
5. Reheat on the grid shelf set on the floor of the roasting oven for about 15 minutes, the carrots should be heated through and the butter melted over them.
Tip: The tarragon and marmalade butter can be made beforehand and frozen
