There is not one set way to bake lamb. Like pork, beef, chicken and other meats, there are different cuts of lamb and each of them can be cooked in an almost unlimited number of ways. Here are a few recipes to help you get started learning how to bake lamb. Pick the one that sounds the most appetizing and let’s get cooking.
Leg of Lamb
Cut five slits in a 3 pound leg of lamb and insert 1 clove of minced garlic into each slit. Mix together 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder. Rub the seasoning mixture over the meat. The the leg on a rack inside of a roasting pan. Broil until browned and then turn the leg over and brown the other side. Set the oven to 350 degrees and add 1/2 cup of water to the roasting pan. Cover the pan and bake the leg for about 1 hour 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 degrees. Keep the meat warm while making the gravy. For the gravy, pour the pan drippings into a bowl, making sure to get all of the brown bits. Skim the fat and put 1/4 cup of it into a saucepan. Add 1/4 cup flour to the fat and mix together. Add enough water to the drippings to make 2 cups of liquid, then add the drippings to the flour mixture. Bring it to a boil and stir while cooking until it thickens and bubbles, then continue stirring and cooking for one more minute. Serve the lamb with the gravy.
Lamb and Squash
Boil three cups of water in a saucepan. Add 1 1/2 cups rice and simmer with the pan covered for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook 1 pound ground lamb in a skillet with 1 cup chopped onion, 1 clove minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil and 1 teaspoon ground mustard. Stir the cooked rice into the ground lamb. Cut an acorn squash in half and remove the seeds. Fill each half with half of the lamb and rice mixture. Add salt and pepper and bake the squash halves on a baking sheet for 30 minutes.
Heavenly Lamb Shanks
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Heat 1/2 cup oil in a heavy roasting pan on top of the stove. Coat four lamb shanks with flour and sear them in the hot oil until browned. Cut 1 leek into 1/2-inch pieces and throw it into the roaster. Add 2 stalks chopped celery, 2 chopped carrots, 2 chopped onions and 12 unpeeled cloves of garlic to the roasting pan. Cook about 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Add 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, 1 sprig of thyme and 1 sprig of rosemary to the pan. Then add 1 1/2 cups red wine and 3 cups chicken stock. Simmer and add sea salt to taste, then put the lamb shanks on top of the vegetables. Cover the pan with foil and bake it for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the meat is falling off the bone. Remove the herb stems and bay leaf before serving.
Now you know how to bake lamb, so all that’s left is to give it a try and see how your family likes it. Remember, there are many ways to prepare lamb so if one recipe is a flop, just try another one next time.
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