Tandoori Leg of Lamb Recipe - Steven Raichlen | Food & Wine

Tandoori Leg of Lamb

Recipe by Steven Raichlen

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The tandoor oven is India’s version of a grill. Here, Raichlen follows the traditional method of tandoori marinating—a wash of lemon juice followed by a long bath in a yogurt-based marinade—using a tender, succulent leg of lamb. After grilling the lamb, Raichlen says, make sure it rests for at least 15 minutes before carving.

Pairing Suggestion

This lamb’s tangy, gamey flavors will be complemented by a red wine that has rich fruit but also firm acidity, a balance more often found in Old World wines than New World ones. Southern France is a case in point; two good bottlings to look for are the juicy 2005 Domaine Sarda-Malet Le Sarda and the meaty 2004 Bonny Doon Domaine des Blagueurs Syrah-Sirrah.

Tandoori Leg of Lamb

Recipe by Steven Raichlen

Tandoori Leg of Lamb

Recipe by Steven Raichlen

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Tandoori Leg of Lamb

ACTIVE: 40 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 2 HRS 35 MIN PLUS 6 HR MARINATING
SERVINGS: 6 to 8

Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt
One 6-pound bone-in leg of lamb
2 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
2 tablespoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

In a large roasting pan, mix 1/2 cup of the lemon juice with 2 teaspoons of salt. Place the lamb in the pan and coat well with the lemon juice. Let the lamb stand in the juice for 30 minutes, then drain.
In a large bowl, mix the yogurt with the oil, garlic, ginger, dry mustard, cumin, nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and cayenne. Stir in 2 teaspoons of salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. With a small knife, make 1-inch-deep slits all over the lamb. Coat the lamb thoroughly with the marinade, pushing it into the slits. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
Light a charcoal grill. Remove the leg of lamb from the marinade, leaving on a thick layer. Move the hot coals to one side of the grill and place a drip pan opposite the coals. Set the lamb over the drip pan, cover the grill and cook until glazed and an instant-read thermometer registers 140° for medium, about 2 hours.
Line a platter with the onions and sprinkle with the cilantro. Place the leg of lamb on top, brush it with the melted butter and let rest for 15 minutes. Carve the lamb into slices and serve with the lemon wedges.

Tandoori Leg of Lamb

This recipe has not yet been reviewed.

From 10 Easy Ways to Master the Grill
Published June 2007

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