Roasted Leg of Lamb (Gyros)
- 1 head garlic, cloves peeled
- Kosher salt
- 2 bunches fresh oregano, leaves finely chopped
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for searing
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 butterflied leg of lamb, about 4 pounds
- 10 large Pita bread
- 1 head butter lettuce
- 5 vine-ripe tomatoes, chopped
- Tzatziki, recipe follows
- Finely chop up 1/2 of the garlic on a cutting board and sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt.
- Mash the garlic and salt together with the flat-side of a knife into a paste.
- Add the oregano and continue to mash until incorporated.
- Put the garlic-oregano paste in a small bowl, add the lemon juice and 1 cup of olive oil; season with salt and pepper.
- Slice the remaining garlic into thin slivers.
- Put the lamb on a large platter, and trim any excess fat.
- Cut the lamb in 1/2 lengthwise so you have 2 large pieces.
- Make slits all over the meat with a sharp knife, and push the garlic slivers inside.
- Rub 1/2 of the garlic-oregano paste all over the lamb and season the meat with salt and pepper.
- Roll up each piece of lamb lengthwise and tie with butcher's twine to hold the roasts together.
- Put the lamb on a large platter and slather with the remaining garlic-oregano paste.
- Marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Wipe off the excess paste from the lamb so it won't burn in the oven.
- Place a large roasting pan over 2 burners on medium-high flame and coat with a fair amount of olive oil.
- Put the lamb roasts in the roasting pan and sear to form a nice brown crust on all sides.
- Transfer the pan (and lamb) to the oven and roast for 1 to 1 1/2 hours; it should be pink in the center and the internal temperature reads 130 degrees F. Allow the lamb to stand 10 minutes to let the juices settle before and slicing.
- Cut off the butcher's twine and thinly slice the lamb.
- Place the meat in the center of the pita breads.
- Top with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and tzatziki.
- 3 cups plain yogurt
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 medium cucumbers, peeled, halved, seeded and diced
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint leaves
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and combine with a fork.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to marry.
- Yield: 4 cups
garlic, kosher salt, fresh oregano, lemon, extravirgin olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, lamb, bread, butter lettuce, tomatoes
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/roasted-leg-of-lamb-gyros-recipe.html (may not work)