Recipes, Lamb Recipes

Butterflied leg of lamb

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It’s never too late in the year to barbecue. I’ve yet to cook Christmas lunch on mine but New Year’s Eve dinners at home have often seen the barbecue fired up.

In the eastern end of the Mediterranean lamb cooked over wood and charcoal is a natural part of life. The effect that the smoky heat has on marinated and spiced lamb gives a finished result of char, sweetness and spice that takes some beating.

I’ve been a complete fan for years. My good friend JB, who wins gold for being the most generous of people and host too, is a champion when it comes to lamb legs on the barbecue and he has served me many a leg in this or a similar fashion.

Ingredients

Meat Rub

Salad Ingredients

Harissa Yoghurt Ingredients

Shop the ingredients

Directions

Butterflied leg of lamb directions

  1. Put the four spices into a dry pan and toast over a good heat for a couple of minutes to toast them. If you get a faint whiff of smoke then remove them immediately and grind them coarsely in a spice mill or pestle and mortar.
  2. Blend these spices with the sea salt, lemon zest, chillies, garlic, thyme and olive oil.
  3. On a large tray, rub this mixture into the lamb leg on both sides and then wrap well in cling film and leave in the fridge for 24 hours.
  4. Remove from the fridge the next day 2 hours before you want to start cooking.

Couscous salad directions

  1. Cook the couscous according to the instructions on the packet. Transfer to a shallow bowl and mix in the olive oil and leave to cool.
  2. Peel and seed the cucumber then cut into a small neat dice. Toss in 1 tsp of salt and leave for thirty minutes. Drain and rinse the cucumber well to remove the saltiness.
  3. Chop all the parsley and mint and add to the couscous bowl along with the onion and citrus fruit zests.
  4. Mix well and check the seasoning.
  5. When you are about to serve, add the lemon juice and a good glug of olive oil and mix well before serving straight away.

Harissa yoghurt directions

  1. Mix all together and if you prefer more of a kick add more harissa and perhaps a little more salt.

Henry grew up watching his father run Le Grandgousier restaurant in Brighton, and saw him establish Harris Vintners selling digestifs and apéritifs across the south of England. Henry was captivated by the essence of French food, the type of cooking that makes people smile and restores them; and although his career has been diverse, wholesome and heartwarming cooking has remained his true passion. The accolades and recognition Henry has received for his cookery and restaurant management over the years have led to countless opportunities in retail food, consultancy, lecturing, food writing, print features, and media appearances. In 2002 Henry opened Racine, and created a London institution serving the food of Paris, Provence and the South West. The demand for sensational French cookery and top notch customer service has remained strong, and resulted in Henry’s recent launch of Bouchon Racine much to the delight of the London food scene. Bon appétit.