Spring lamb, also known as "Easter lamb," with its delicate flavor and tender texture, is a traditional dish enjoyed in many cultures during the spring season. Originating as a symbol of renewal and rebirth, this dish is often prepared with a flavorful mint sauce or gravy, accentuating its natural flavors. The combination of the savory lamb and the aromatic mint creates a harmonious balance of flavors, making it a popular choice for festive gatherings and celebrations.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SPRING LAMB WITH MINTED GRAVY
This was my father's recipe. He was a professional caterer and loved to develop new recipes. Our family was lucky that he'd try them out on us first! This lamb was excellent.And the unique part about it was that instead of serving it with mint jelly, he incorporated it into a brown gravy, so the flavor is subtle, but incredibly good! I make this every Easter for our family. Preparation time includes two days for marinating
Provided by imatrad
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time P2DT2h
Yield 12-14 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Starting 2-3 days BEFORE cooking, purchase spring lamb.
- At Easter time, it's a good idea to order it from a butcher in advance.
- Have the butcher take the bone out AND remove the gland, but tell him NOT to tie it.
- Ask for the string so you can tie it at home after marinating.
- At home, rub the lamb well, inside and out with the combined marinating ingredients.
- Roll up lengthwise and use the butcher's string to tie it up by tying lengths of string every 2-3 inches.
- Marinate the lamb for two days before cooking.
- On the day of cooking, plan on 2 hours of roasting time.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Place lamb in roasting pan and roast (uncovered) for 20 minutes and then reduce heat to 250°F and continue baking for about 1 1/2 hours.
- Meat thermometer should reach 140°F.
- Remove lamb from oven and let rest, covered in foil, while making gravy.
- Make one quart of brown gravy using a good quality beef base and diluting it with 3 1/2 cups hot water.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and thicken with roux.
- Add the sherry and butter, whisking to blend well.
- Season with salt and pepper and stir in the mint jelly, stirring until melted.
- Serve with lamb.
- For roux: Melt 4 tbsp butter in saucepan over medium heat, and add 4 tbsp flour.
- Stir constantly with wooden spoon about 1 minute.
- Remove from heat.
- (See "roux" search if you need further details).
ROASTED LEG OF LAMB WITH SMASHED FINGERLINGS AND ZINFANDEL GRAVY
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat a large saute pan over high heat.
- Coat lamb leg with paprika, fennel seed, salt, and pepper. Swirl 2 tablespoons olive oil into the hot pot. Brown the lamb on all sides to lock in juices and toast the spices coating the outside. Transfer the lamb to the roasting pan with wire rack and roast in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F for medium-rare, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove and let rest at least 10 minutes before slicing.
- While the lamb is roasting, slice the fingerlings in half lengthwise and place in a large saucepan with the shallots, garlic, olive oil, and water. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook until the potatoes are tender.
- Remove from heat, drain liquid and lightly smash mixture with a fork. Stir in the thyme, Pecorino cheese, salt, and pepper. Cover the potatoes and keep warm.
- In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter and whisk in the mustard. Add the shallot and cook until the shallot is browned and caramelized, about 5 to 7 minutes Deglaze the pan with wine and simmer to reduce by half. Add the veal stock and pepper and reduce by half again. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve.
- To serve, slice the lamb, top with some of the sauce, and serve alongside the potatoes. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.
MINT CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB
I love how the sweet, herbaceous crust works with the subtly gamey meat. Lamb is obviously a popular Easter menu option and this mint-crusted rack of lamb is perfect for the occasion.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Lamb
Time 50m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Cook mint leaves in a pot of boiling water for about 10 seconds.
- Transfer mint leaves to a bowl of ice water; soak for 30 seconds, drain and squeeze dry.
- Combine blanched mint with garlic, olive oil, bread crumbs, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend for 20 to 30 seconds until fine and crumbly.
- Transfer mint mixture to a large bowl; stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, set aside.
- Combine 1/4 cup Dijon mustard and 2 teaspoons honey in a small bowl, set aside.
- Combine extra-virgin olive oil, rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a jar with a lid. Shake vinaigrette vigorously until combined, about 30 seconds. Set vinaigrette aside.
- Slice 1/2 to 1-inch slits between each bone of the lamb racks to assure the meat roasts evenly.
- Season each rack with salt and black pepper on all sides.
- Heat vegetable oil in skillet over high heat. Brown each lamb rack for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
- Transfer lamb racks to the foil-lined baking sheet.
- Brush each rack with mustard and honey mixture. Sprinkle mint mixture over the top and sides of each rack.
- Bake in the preheated oven until browned on top and medium rare in the center, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 125 to 130 degrees F (52 to 54 degrees C). Remove from oven and allow lamb to rest for 10 minutes before serving, drizzled with honey mustard vinaigrette.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 681.1 calories, Carbohydrate 20.2 g, Cholesterol 121.9 mg, Fat 52.9 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 29 g, SaturatedFat 18.4 g, Sodium 625.1 mg, Sugar 7 g
HERB-CRUSTED LEG OF LAMB WITH RED WINE GRAVY
Thanks to a breadcrumb coating made with parsley, mint, rosemary and garlic, this roast joint is a cut above the rest
Provided by James Martin
Categories Main course
Time 2h25m
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Use a sharp knife to make little slits all over the lamb, then insert a slice of garlic into each hole. Tip the onions and carrot into a large flameproof roasting tin, then place the lamb on top and season. Pour 250ml water into the base of the tin and roast in the oven for 30 mins.
- Meanwhile, make the crust by mixing together all the ingredients and seasoning well. Remove the lamb from the oven and turn the heat down to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Brush the lamb all over with the mustard, then pack on the crust in a thick layer - don't worry if any falls in the tin, this will be used in the gravy later (you probably won't use the entire crust, so set aside what's left for later). Return the lamb to the oven and cook for a further 1 hr 30 mins. Check the lamb during cooking and add more water to the base of the tin if it dries out.
- Remove the lamb from the tin, cover lightly with foil and leave to rest for 30-40 mins - if covered too tightly, the crust will go soggy.
- To make the gravy, put the roasting tin with the vegetables still in it directly on the heat and whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 min, then add the wine, scraping any flour from the bottom of the tin. Let it bubble for 1 min, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 10-15 mins until thickened, stirring in a little of the reserved crust for a thicker gravy. Strain the gravy through a sieve into a pan, discarding the vegetables left in the sieve. Add mustard to taste and stir through the butter. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 564 calories, Fat 27 grams fat, SaturatedFat 11 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 25 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 4 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 48 grams protein, Sodium 1.5 milligram of sodium
LEG OF LAMB WITH MINT SAUCE
Served with roasted potatoes, this lamb is perfect for a simple, elegant Easter dinner. This recipe comes from Suzanne Ironbiter, Goldens Bridge, New York.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Lamb Recipes
Time 2h15m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lower third. Rub lamb with a generous amount of salt and pepper, then rub with oil. With the tip of a sharp paring knife, cut twenty 1/2-inch-deep slits all over lamb; insert garlic slivers into openings.
- Place lamb on a roasting rack set on a rimmed baking sheet; place in oven. Immediately reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Roast lamb until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part (avoiding bone) registers 125 degrees to 135 degrees for rare, or 135 degrees to 140 degrees for medium, 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours. Remove from oven; let rest 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
- Meanwhile, make the mint sauce: In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, sugar, and water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until liquid is syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in mint, and let cool completely.
Tips:
- Choose the right cut of lamb: For this recipe, it's best to use a leg of lamb or a shoulder of lamb. These cuts are both flavorful and tender, and they will hold up well to being cooked in the oven.
- Marinate the lamb: Marinating the lamb in a mixture of olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and thyme will help to tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor.
- Cook the lamb slowly: Lamb is a tough meat, so it's important to cook it slowly over low heat. This will help to break down the connective tissue and make the meat tender.
- Use a meat thermometer: The best way to ensure that the lamb is cooked to your desired doneness is to use a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare, 160 degrees Fahrenheit for medium, or 170 degrees Fahrenheit for well-done.
- Make the gravy ahead of time: The minted gravy can be made ahead of time and reheated when you're ready to serve the lamb. This will save you time on the day of your meal.
Conclusion:
This recipe for spring lamb with minted gravy is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a special occasion. The lamb is tender and flavorful, and the minted gravy is the perfect complement. With a little planning, you can have this dish on the table in no time.
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