Basil Stuffed Lamb Roast
with Rosemary Potatoes
(Serves 10 to 12)
Mangia Bene Pasta
Chi mangia bene, vive bene
Who eats well, lives well
Custom Search
PRIVACY POLICY          CONTACT US
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/3 cup celery, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 eggs, beaten
10 ounces fresh spinach, blanched and squeezed dry
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
3 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
6 cups croutons
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Water, as needed to moisten
1 (7-8 pound) leg of lamb, boned and butterflied
Salt and pepper to taste


Stuffing:
In a small skillet, sauté onion, celery, and garlic in oil until tender.
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, spinach, parsley, basil, and pepper.
Add the onion mixture, croutons, and cheese.  Stir well.
Add about 1/2 cup of water, or until mixture holds together.  Set aside.


To prepare lamb, pound with a mallet to an even thickness.
Season with salt and pepper.
Spread the stuffing evenly over the meat.
Roll the meat up and secure with twine to hold stuffing in.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Place the roast, seam side down, on a rack in a roasting pan.
Roast, uncovered for 1-1/2 hours for medium-rare or about 135 degrees.
Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.



Rosemary Potatoes
(Serves 10-12)

4 pounds new or fingerling potatoes, cut into halves
4 tablespoons fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup olive oil

In a large bowl, combine potatoes with rosemary, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Spread potatoes out in a large baking pan.
Bake at 325 degrees F. for 45 to 60 minutes, or until golden brown.
Easter Lamb Recipes
Symbolism abounds in the foods prepared for the Easter table and no Easter table in Italy would be
complete without eggs, lamb, and bread.  The lamb represents the sacrifice of Christ, the "lamb of
God," and is often referred to as the Pasqual lamb. Although there is no standard Easter menu, lamb
is usually the meat of choice on an Italian table at Easter.  The lamb may be slow-cooked, stewed,
sauteed, or roasted with herbs and spring vegetables.  
Grilled Leg of Lamb
(Serves 8)

In Sicily, this herb marinade is also used to coat lamb chops and cubes of lamb
cooked on a skewer.  A nice accompaniment to grilled lamb are
stuffed artichokes.

6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
4 sage leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon, chopped rosemary
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper
3 to 4 pound boned and butterflied leg of lamb

Combine the garlic, oil, lemon juice, herbs, salt and pepper in a shallow pan.
Add the lamb, turning to coat both sides.
Allow to marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.

Preheat a gas, charcoal, or stove top grill.
Pat the meat dry.
Grill 8 to 10 minutes per side, depending on the thickness, for medium-rare.
Remove the lamb from the grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
Thinly slice the meat across the grain.  Serve.
Roast Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary
(Serves 8 to 10)

1 (4 to 5 pound) shank-end leg of lamb, trimmed
6 garlic cloves, cut into slivers
1 large spring of rosemary, stems removed
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
With a small sharp knife, make small slits all over the lamb.
Poke the garlic and rosemary into the slits.
Place the lamb, fat side up, in a large roasting pan.
Drizzle the lamb with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Roast for 60 to 75 minutes, or to130 degrees F. on a meat thermometer, for medium-rare.
Transfer the lamb to a cutting board. Cover with foil and let rest 15 minutes.
Slice the lamb and serve.
Neapolitan Fricassee of Lamb
(Serves 10)

4 to 5 pounds of boneless lamb, cut into 2-inch cubes
1/2 cup olive oil
4 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 cup dry white wine, divided
2-1/2 cups peas
3 eggs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 bunch fresh parsley (leaves only), chopped
Juice of half a lemon
Salt and pepper
Lemon slice for garnish

Pat the lamb pieces dry.
Heat the oil in a stove top casserole over medium-high heat.
Add the lamb and saute until well browned.  Remove the lamb to a plate.
Turn the heat to low and add the onions.
Cover and cook the onions until very tender and almost melted into the oil.
This will take 45 to 6o minutes.
Add a little water to keep the onions from getting too brown.

Add the browned lamb to the onions with 1/2 cup of the wine.
Continue cooking over medium-low, uncovered, for 30 minutes, or until the wine is almost evaporated.
Add the remaining wine, 1/2 cup of water, and the peas.
Cover and cook over medium-low heat for another 30 minutes.

Remove the lamb, onions, and pe
as from the casserole to a serving platter.
Keep the casserole on low heat.
In a small bowl beat the eggs together with the Parmesan cheese.
Add a ladleful of the meat juices to the egg mixture and blend well.
Slowly add the egg mixture into the juices in the casserole and mix well.
Continue beating the sauce until it is thick enough to coat a spoon.
Do not let the sauce come to a boil or the eggs will scramble.

Remove the sauce form the heat and stir in the parsley and lemon juice.
Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
Spoon the sauce over the lamb and peas.
Garnish with lemon slices and serve.


This page was revised and updated on 02/17/10
RECIPES
Basil-Stuffed Lamb Roast with Rosemary Potatoes
Grilled Leg of Lamb
Roast Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary
Neapolitan Fricassee of Lamb