GRILLED LEG OF LAMB WITH THYME AND ALLSPICE

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Grilled Leg of Lamb with Thyme and Allspice image

You can't beat the drama - not to mention the deliciousness - of a bone-in leg of lamb. Since it is a thick cut, a garlic, lemon, and spice paste is rubbed all over it and tucked deep inside to penetrate the meat; slow-cooking over indirect heat results in a crisp, smoke-infused crust and a juicy, medium-rare center.

Time 14h

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 large garlic cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
5 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 (6 1/2- to 7-lb) bone-in leg of lamb, trimmed of all but a thin layer of fat
an instant-read thermometer

Steps:

  • Mince garlic, then mash to a paste with salt. Stir together garlic paste, oil, lemon zest and juice, thyme, pepper, and allspice. Put lamb, fat side up, in a large ceramic or glass dish. Using a paring knife, make 1 1/2-inch-long slits (about 2 inches deep) 2 inches apart all over leg. Reserve 1 teaspoon thyme mixture and push remainder into slits, then rub all over with reserved teaspoon of mixture. Marinate lamb, covered and chilled, 12 hours.
  • Let lamb stand at room temperature 30 minutes before grilling.
  • Prepare grill for indirect-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (high heat for gas). If using a gas grill, preheat all burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then turn off all burners except burner closest to you.
  • Oil grill rack, then grill lamb over area with no coals (or over turned-off burner or burners), covered, without turning, until thermometer inserted into thickest part of roast (almost to the bone but not touching it) registers 125°F for medium-rare, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours (temperatures in thinner parts of leg may register up to 160°F). To maintain medium-hot charcoal, add more charcoal (about 2 cups) every 15 minutes.
  • Let lamb stand on a cutting board, uncovered, 30 minutes.

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