Spiced Leg of Lamb with Olives, Apricots and Lemons
- One 8-pound semi-boneless leg of lamb (aitch bone removed)
- 4 small garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt
- 1/4 cup harissa (see Note)
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 10 thyme sprigs
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 lemon, very thinly sliced
- 1 cup pitted oil-cured black olives
- 12 ounces dried apricots, quartered
- Using a sharp paring knife, poke small slits all over the lamb and insert a garlic slice in each one.
- Season the meat all over with salt and rub with the harissa and 1/4 cup of the oil, working it into the slits.
- Set the lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and top with the thyme.
- Let stand at room temperature for 2 hours or marinate in the refrigerator overnight (bring to room temperature before roasting).
- Meanwhile, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of the sugar on a large plate.
- Arrange the lemon slices on top and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of salt and the remaining sugar.
- Drizzle the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil on top and cover with plastic wrap.
- Let stand at room temperature for 4 hours or refrigerate overnight.
- Drain the lemon slices, then rinse and pat dry.
- Preheat the oven to 325.
- Pour 2 cups of water in the bottom of the roasting pan and roast the lamb for 2 hours, adding water to the pan as it evaporates.
- Transfer the lamb to a platter and remove the rack.
- Add the olives, apricots and cured lemon to the pan.
- Return the lamb to the pan and roast for 30 minutes longer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat registers 130 to 135.
- Stir the olives, apricots and lemon slices occasionally and add a little water if the pan juices get too dry.
- Transfer the lamb to a cutting board, tent with foil and let stand for 45 minutes.
- Scrape the olives, apricots and lemons into a bowl along with any pan juices.
- Skim off the fat.
- Slice the lamb and serve with the lemon, olives and apricots.
lamb, garlic, kosher salt, extravirgin olive oil, thyme, sugar, lemon, black olives
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/spiced-leg-lamb-olives-apricots-and-lemons (may not work)