Spice-Rubbed Leg of Lamb with Harissa Yogurt Sauce
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 8 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 8 servings
- Calories
- 385
- Total Fat
- 28
- Saturated Fat
- 11
- Carbohydrates
- 3
- Dietary Fiber
- 1
- Sugar
- 2
- Protein
- 29
- Cholesterol
- 106
- Sodium
- 541
- Total: 3 hr (includes marinating and resting times)
- Active: 20 min
Ingredients
Lamb:
One 3- to 4-pound boneless leg of lamb, tied with butcher's twine
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce:
1/3 cup harissa (see Cook's Note)
3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon honey
Kosher salt
Optional Garnish:
3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
3 scallions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
Good olive oil, for drizzling
Flakey sea salt
Directions
- For the lamb: Use paper towels to pat dry the leg of lamb. In a small bowl, combine the salt, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, black pepper and cayenne. Season all sides of the lamb with the spice mixture and place on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Let sit at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes or place in the refrigerator overnight and allow to sit at room temperature for 45 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Drizzle the lamb with the olive oil, then roast for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until the internal temperature is 140 degrees F for medium, about 1 hour and 15 minutes more. Allow to rest before serving, 15 to 20 minutes, then slice.
- For the sauce: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the harissa, yogurt and honey. Season with salt. Refrigerate until serving.
- For the optional garnish: Garnish with the pomegranate seeds, mint, scallions, good olive oil and sea salt if desired. Serve with the harissa yogurt sauce.
Cook’s Note
If you prefer a less spicy sauce, decrease the harissa by 1 tablespoon and increase the yogurt by 1 tablespoon.