Chef John's Roasted Leg of Lamb

I've done more than a few lamb dishes dedicated to Easter, but inexplicably have never posted one for a whole leg of lamb. It's such a classic Easter menu option, and, when prepared using this method, makes for a very user-friendly hunk of meat.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 45 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 344 Calories

Ingredients

• salt to taste
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• water as needed
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• kitchen twine
• 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
• ¼ cup pomegranate molasses
• 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 1 (5 pound) boneless leg of lamb, butterflied
• 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Stir 1/4 cup pomegranate molasses, garlic, rosemary, kosher salt, black pepper, Aleppo pepper, mint, and cumin together in a bowl.

Step 2

Arrange the butterflied leg of lamb onto a work surface with the fatty side facing down. Cut 2 deep slashes in each of the the fleshy ends of the meat. Flip the lamb and cut 10 to 20 shallow slashes across the surface of the fat.

Step 3

Spread 3/4 the pomegranate molasses mixture onto the meat-side of the lamb to coat completely. Fold meat together and turn into a large bowl. Spread remaining pomegranate mixture over the fatty side of the meat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place a roasting rack in the bottom of a roasting pan.

Step 5

Remove lamb from marinade and discard excess marinade. Gather roast and place onto a work surface with fatty side facing upwards. Tie the center section of the roast with kitchen twine to cinch the roast together. Repeat ties four times along the length of the roast.

Step 6

Season roast with salt and transfer to prepared roasting pan. Pour water below the rack to cover the bottom of the pan.

Step 7

Roast in the preheated oven until hot and slightly pink in the center, about 1 3/4 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 135 degrees F (57 degrees C). Rest for 15 minutes, transfer to a plate, and brush with remaining pomegranate molasses.