If you're looking for a rich, flavorful, and elegant meal that's perfect for a special occasion, balsamic braised leg of lamb is an excellent choice. This succulent dish combines the robust flavor of lamb with the tangy sweetness of balsamic vinegar, creating a complex and satisfying culinary experience. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a novice in the kitchen, this comprehensive guide will provide you with all the information and step-by-step instructions you need to create a mouthwatering balsamic braised leg of lamb that will impress your family and friends.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
WINE-BRAISED LEG OF LAMB WITH GARLIC
Two elements make this dish special. Usually the smaller shanks are braised, but a whole leg works just as well and looks more impressive. Also, white wine is used for the braising instead of red. What to drink: A full-bodied Zinfandel.
Categories Wine Garlic Lamb Braise Dinner White Wine Spring Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 475°F. Place lamb in large roasting pan. Rub all over with half of minced garlic. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place halved heads of garlic around lamb, cut side up. Scatter 1 bunch thyme over and around lamb. Roast lamb 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Boil wine in large saucepan for 5 minutes. Pour wine around lamb. Cover and roast until lamb is very tender, about 2 hours 45 minutes longer. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, uncovered, 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm, covered, in 350°F oven for 30 minutes before continuing.)
- Transfer lamb and heads of garlic to platter. Tent with foil. Using slotted spoon, remove thyme sprigs and garlic skins from pan juices. Place roasting pan over medium-high heat on stovetop. Bring juices to boil. Add butter and remaining minced garlic. Boil until juices thicken slightly, about 12 minutes. Season jus with salt and pepper. Slice lamb; spoon jus over.
BALSAMIC BRAISED LAMB SHANKS
Balsamic Braised Lamb Shanks - A traditional and delicious Easter main dish prepared with lamb shanks slow cooked to a melt in your mouth perfection with balsamic vinegar, wine, garlic and rosemary.
Provided by Katerina | Diethood
Categories Dinner
Time 2h10m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Rub lamb shanks with a bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the remaining olive oil in a dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat.
- Add the lamb shanks and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes per side.
- In the meantime, prepare the marinade by combining balsamic vinegar, red wine, chicken broth, garlic and rosemary leaves; mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Remove lamb shanks from the pot and set aside.
- Add the onions to the hot oil; cook for 2 minutes, frequently stirring, until onions begin to soften.
- Pour in the prepared marinade and return lamb shanks to the pot; bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.
- Cover with a lid and place in the oven; cook for 1.5 hours.
- Remove the lid, flip the lamb shanks to the other side, and continue to cook for 30 more minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve over mashed potatoes drizzled with the cooking liquid.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 lamb shank, Calories 349 kcal, Carbohydrate 12 g, Protein 42 g, Fat 8 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 127 mg, Sodium 190 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 5 g
BALSAMIC LEG OF LAMB
The longer the maranade the better the flavour. The pesto and vinegar give this a unique taste. Maranade time not included in prep time.
Provided by Tebo3759
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time 45m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine all but the lamb.
- Trim fat from lamb and marinade in above up to 24 hours.
- Foil line a baking pan, place lamb on a rack in pan.
- Roast at 450 F for 20 to 30 minutes until thermometer reads 140 F (for rare).
- Tent with foil and let stand 10 minutes.
- Serve with pan juices.
LEG OF LAMB IN BALSAMIC VINEGAR
The Frugal Gourmet Cooks With Wine - Jeff Smith - Copyright 1986 "Balsamic vinegar is a wonderfully aged product from Modena, in Italy. It is unlike most wine vinegars in that the flavor is so mild." Note marinating time.
Provided by dicentra
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time 1h45m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- With a sharp knife, pierce the leg in several places and soak it for 5 hours in the olive oil mixed with the vinegar.
- Place it on a roasting rack and rub with the salt, pepper, rosemary and garlic.
- Bake until a thermometer reads 140*. 1 ¼-1 ¾ hours.
- Baste with the marinade several times during the roasting.
- Remove from the oven and let sit 30 minutes before carving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1304.2, Fat 90.2, SaturatedFat 34.8, Cholesterol 379.9, Sodium 328.6, Carbohydrate 10, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 0.3, Protein 107.3
BRAISED LAMB WITH HORSERADISH AND PARSLEY
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories Lamb Braise Passover Horseradish Parsley
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Make the lamb:
- 1. Combine the salt and pepper in a small bowl. In a large, deep skillet with a tight-fitting cover, warm the olive oil over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add as many of the lamb cubes as will fit without crowding and cook, undisturbed, until they are well browned on the bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. (You will inevitably have to brown in batches.) Turn the cubes over, season with some of the salt and pepper mix, and brown on the second side, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the lamb to a plate and repeat with the remaining meat (the browning will take about 15 minutes total if your skillet is 12 inches or larger). Adjust the heat so the pieces brown as rapidly as possible without burning. Turn off the heat and let the pan cool for 1 minute.
- 2. Turn the heat back to medium, add the garlic, and cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about 1 minute. Pour the stock, wine, or water into the pan, raise the heat, and bring the liquid to a boil, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release any cooked-on bits. Simmer for 1 minute.
- 3. Add the browned lamb, along with any juices that have collected on the plate. Bring the pot to a boil, cover, then reduce the heat until the mixture simmers very gently.
- 4. Peel the horseradish and cut it into 1/4-inch-thick slices (keep the root from your eyes and nose; it's pungent). Stir the horseradish into the pot. Simmer, covered, until the lamb is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours (shoulder meat will cook faster than leg meat). Taste the lamb before serving and add more salt and pepper if desired.
- Make the parsley purée:
- 5. In a blender combine the parsley with half the olive oil and the garlic cloves. Purée to a rough paste, then pour in the remaining oil while the blender is running and process to a smooth paste. Mix in the vinegar and salt, taste, and adjust the seasonings if desired.
- 6. Serve the stew, passing the parsley purée on the side.
BRAISED LEG OF LAMB WITH POTATOES AND OLIVES
For a leg of lamb that's moist, tender, and falling off the bone, try braising the meat instead of roasting it. New potatoes and olives can be cooked alongside the lamb.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Lamb Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Make 10 slits in lamb using a paring knife, and insert a piece of garlic into each. Generously season lamb with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear lamb on both sides until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from heat, and add wine. Return to heat, and simmer for 1 minute. Add stock, remaining garlic, and the rosemary; bring to a boil. Cover with lid, and braise in oven for 4 hours.
- Add potatoes and olives, and continue to braise until lamb and potatoes are tender, 35 to 40 minutes more.
- Transfer lamb to a platter. Transfer potatoes and olives to platter using a slotted spoon. Strain pan juices, and skim fat from top; return to Dutch oven. Simmer over medium heat until reduced by half, 5 to 6 minutes. Spoon sauce over lamb.
Tips:
- Choose a high-quality leg of lamb for the best flavor and texture.
- Use a sharp knife to score the lamb's surface, allowing the marinade to penetrate deeper.
- Marinate the lamb for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to infuse it with flavor.
- Sear the lamb on all sides before braising to create a flavorful crust.
- Use a variety of vegetables in the braising liquid to add flavor and nutrition.
- Braise the lamb over low heat for several hours, or until it is fall-off-the-bone tender.
- Serve the lamb with a flavorful sauce, such as the balsamic reduction from the braising liquid.
Conclusion:
Balsamic Braised Leg of Lamb is a flavorful and elegant dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a cozy dinner party. It features a succulent, tender lamb leg that is braised in a savory balsamic vinegar sauce. The lamb is marinated in a mixture of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, herbs, and spices, then seared and braised until fall-off-the-bone tender. The resulting dish is a delicious and flavorful masterpiece that is sure to impress your guests.
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