How many ways can you prepare a leg of lamb? I love it barbecued after marinating with fresh herbs and garlic. However, the oven works as well and for a change of pace, I decided to marinate this leg of lamb in shawarma spices for a few hours before cooking in a 325 degree oven for 40 minutes. I was aiming for medium doneness and this boneless half leg was 1.85 pounds before trimming fat and connective tissue away with a sharp knife. Here’s a great guide to help you adjust timing according to your desired doneness.
What are shawarma spices, you ask? A blend common in the Middle East, you can buy it premixed for seasoning chicken or beef. But isn’t it more fun to create your own and customize it to your taste?
Here’s what Diana from https://littlesunnykitchen.com/ recommends:
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon dried ground turmeric
Salt to taste. With the above mixture, I used 1/2 teaspoon. As usual, I substituted grains of paradise for pepper and used fresh garlic. It seemed like a lot of ginger to me, so I used a touch less.
Preparing the Leg of Lamb
First, using a sharp knife, cut off excess fat and connective tissue from the lamb. Make a paste from the combined shawarma spices listed above and olive oil. Coat the meat liberally with it. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook uncovered in a roasting pan.
We enjoyed this boneless half leg roasted in the oven, but you can apply the same principles no matter the size of your roast. Using a gas grill, we used to cook a couple of 4 pound butterflied legs of lamb over indirect medium heat for about an hour. Be sure to let the cooked lamb rest for 20 minutes covered on a platter before cutting into it. Serve it with tabbouleh, hummus and flatbread. How about with roasted potatoes and a salad? The possibilities are endless!