Roasting Lamb

Choosing the Right Cut

The leg and rack are the most tender cuts or meat on a lamb. Rack of lamb is often served with several individual bones protruding from it; this style of preparation is known as a "Frenched" rack of lamb and is achieved by trimming the fat and meat from between the ribs and scraping the bones clean. Your butcher should be able to do this for you at your request; you can save the meat trimmings to make soup later on.

Seasoning the Meat

Lamb is flavourful enough on its own that it doesn't need much seasoning, but conversely, lamb's flavour is robust enough that it pairs beautifully with any number of boldly flavoured seasonings. Some additions that complement lamb well are rosemary, oregano, marjoram, thyme, lemon zest, cumin, coriander, mint and garlic.

• Before seasoning the lamb, trim some of the excess fat if you like, in addition to any silver skin.


• Chop up herbs/seasonings and rub the mixture evenly over the surface of the meat.


• Wrap the coated meat tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight for the best flavour.


Another popular way to season a roast is to make small incisions in the surface of the meat and push slivers of garlic and sprigs of herbs into the slits. You can do this right before you begin roasting, or do it a day ahead of time for a more intense flavour.

Season the lamb however you like--but don't salt it until just before cooking, as salt can draw moisture out of the meat.

Roasted to Perfection

Before roasting your lamb, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. A piece of meat at room temperature will roast more evenly, and using a roasting rack will ensure even browning and heat circulation.

The amount of fat that your piece of lamb has surrounding the outside and marbled through the middle will determine the cooking time and temperature you use:

• For a lean piece of meat, cook at 230°C (450° F ) for the first 15 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 175° C (350° F ) to continue roasting--the meat will take about 25 minutes per pound to reach medium rare.


Using a hot oven in this manner will allow leaner cuts of meat to get nicely browned on the outside before they become overcooked and dry in the middle.


• For a fattier piece of meat, roast at 160° C (325° F) for a longer period of time, allowing the fat to slowly melt and bathe the roast in its own juices. Meat cooked with this method will take about 30 minutes per pound to reach medium rare.


The most accurate way to determine doneness is with a meat thermometer:


• 42° C (110° F) is rare


• 58° C (120° F) is medium-rare


• 68° C (145° F ) is medium-well


Avoid cooking your lamb beyond this temperature as the meat can become dried out and tough.

Rest Your Roast

Once your roast is within 5° C (10° F) of its ideal cooked temperature, remove from the oven, place a foil tent loosely over it, and allow the meat to rest for 15-20 minutes. As the meat rests, the internal temperature will increase by several degrees, the muscle fibers will relax, and the juice that has come to the surface of the meat during cooking will begin to return to the center. A well-rested piece of meat will be more tender, and will retain its juices better when you slice it.