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    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Christmas Main Dishes

    Roast Leg of Lamb With Apple Mint Chutney

    Published: Mar 15, 2019 · Updated: Oct 6, 2022 by Tara Teaspoon · This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Roast leg of lamb and easter dinner plate pin
    Bone in roast leg of lamb for easter dinner pin

    Lemons and fennel add color and fresh flavor to no-fuss Roast Leg of Lamb with Apple Mint Chutney.


    A festive Easter dinner can be special and gorgeous, but doesn't need to be complicated. With a make-ahead tip for the accompanying chutney, you can focus on the main event, the savory roast leg of lamb.

    easter roast leg of lamb on a table

    I'm a sucker for keeping traditions alive. The classic Easter meal has for years included a roast leg of lamb or even a glazed ham. Now as I make Easter dinner, I love to focus the meal around the lamb, a tasty, earthy- flavored meat.

    I like to serve my Roast Leg of Lamb with Apple Mint Chutney with roasted lemons and fennel, which add more lovely flavors. You can also roast any other cut-up vegetables such as parsnips, leeks or baby potatoes, alongside the lamb in their place.

    Making Roast Leg of Lamb with Apple Mint Chutney is straightforward and uncomplicated, even for first-timers.

    Roast leg of lamb, although seemingly intimidating, is actually quite simple to make. Once prepping the meat by rinsing and patting it dry, making 15 to 20 small incisions all around it, and then rubbing a lemon and spice mix into the small cuts, you stick the lamb in the oven and let the heat and spices do the work.

    roast leg of lamb on platter with lemons with guests

    How to make a roast leg of lamb

    You can roast a bone-in leg of lamb or boneless. I used a bone-in leg of lamb here. I think the presentation is so classic and pretty.

    If you get a boneless leg, have the butcher tie it, or you can tie it at home for roasting.

    Why do I need to tie a roast with cooking twine?

    For any roast, even my classic pot roast, and Prime Rib, I tie it with kitchen twine. This helps create a uniform shape so that the meat cooks evenly. Without a bone, boneless cuts of meat are often flat or have thin portions that might get over cooked before the thick portions are done. After reshaping the boneless roasts and tying them into a uniform shape, you get a perfectly cooked roast every time.

    Even if roasts have the bone, I often tie them to they hold the shape I want to serve them in!

    easter dinner with lamb with guest in green shirt

    For the kitchen twine, I like simple cotton string. Something not too thin or thick. If cotton string is marketed as kitchen twine, it's usually a great thickness. Otherwise you can also just grab some at the hardware store.

    Make a sauce to go with roast leg of lamb

    While the lamb is roasting in the oven, I prepare my Apple Mint Chutney and other side dishes. However, if you want to save some energy on the day of your big meal, feel free to make your chutney up to two days before. The flavors and quality stay the same.

    For all roasts, or any red meat for that matter, I love the accompaniment of a chutney. Not only does chutney add new flavors to the meal, it also breaks up the rich flavor of the meat. My Apple Mint Chutney has fun flavors that perfectly compliment the lamb.

    close up of leg of lamb for easter dinner

    Make-ahead tip:

    For the chutney, prepare, cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 2 days. Serve warm or at room temperature.

    Other recipes that go with roast leg of lamb for a gorgeous Easter dinner:

    • Roast Parsnips with Sage Butter 
    • Ham and Gruyere Mini Turnovers
    • Brussels Sprouts with Apricot and Pistachio
    • 5-Ingredient Easy Pea Soup 
    • Ginger-Coconut Carrot Cake 
    Easter dinner with lamb and carrots

    All of the recipe details are listed below, but click over to my Ask Tara tab and ask me any questions you may have. From how to make your roast leg of lamb more tender, to tips on making your Easter table spread beautiful and cohesive, I love answering your questions!

    📖 Recipe

    roast leg of lamb for easter on a platter

    Roast Leg of Lamb With Apple Mint Chutney

    Tara Teaspoon
    A classically spiced leg of lamb served with a quick homemade apple mint sauce.
    4.67 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 45 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 40 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Servings 8 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 5 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest (finely grated)
    • 3 tablespoon lemon juice - juice of one lemon
    • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
    • 2½ tsp kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
    • ¾ tsp freshly ground pepper
    • ¾ tsp celery seed
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon allspice
    • 6- to 7- lb leg of lamb (trimmed)
    • 2 bulbs (large) fennel (each cut into 6 wedges)
    • 2 lemons (halved crosswise)

    Apple-Mint Chutney

    • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 small red onion (sliced)
    • 2 Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch dice)
    • ⅓ cup light brown sugar (firmly packed)
    • ¼ cup golden raisins
    • 3 tablespoon apple-cider vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • Pinch ground nutmeg
    • ⅓ cup fresh mint (chopped)

    Instructions
     

    Make Lamb:

    • In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoon oil, the zest, juice and garlic. In another bowl, combine 2 teaspoon salt, the mustard powder, pepper, celery seed, nutmeg and allspice.
    • Heat oven to 375°F. Place one rack in center and one rack on lowest level. Rinse lamb and pat dry. Place, fat side up, in a large roasting pan. Using a sharp paring knife, make 15 to 20 small slits around lamb. Generously rub lemon mixture over entire surface of lamb. Follow with dry spice mixture, pushing into slits.
    • Roast lamb in center of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part (without touching bone) registers 130°F for medium rare, about 1 hr 45 min.
    • Meanwhile, on a rimmed baking sheet, toss together fennel, lemons, remaining 2 tablespoon oil and ½ teaspoon salt. After 1 hr of roasting lamb, place fennel and lemons on sheet on lower rack. Roast, turning once, until fennel is golden and tender, about 40 min.
    • Loosely tent lamb with foil; let stand 15 min before carving. Transfer to a platter; arrange fennel and lemons around lamb.

    Make Chutney:

    • Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 min. Stir in apple, sugar, raisins, vinegar, salt, nutmeg and ⅓ cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until apple is tender and mixture has thickened slightly, about 8 min.
    • Remove from heat and stir in mint. Serve with lamb.

    Notes

    Kitchen cue:  Roasted fennel and lemons add a lovely flavor to this lamb dish.  But, if you like, roast any other cut-up vegetables - such as parsnips, leeks, or baby potatoes - alongside the lamb in their place.
    Make-ahead tip:  For chutney, prepare, cool, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Serve warm or at room temperature.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 471kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 45gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 939mgPotassium: 790mgFiber: 3gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 192IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 5mg
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    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

    More about Tara

    Recipe Tara Bench, Photography Iain Bagwell, Food Stylist Sally Jo O'Brien. Originally published LHJ Mar 2008

    Comments

      4.67 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    1. Lilia says

      March 26, 2019 at 7:00 pm

      All these recipes look delicious. Can't wait to try them. Out. The instructions are also very detailed.

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 27, 2019 at 3:35 pm

        Oh good, thanks. I like to put in enough detail so the end result is a success!

        Reply
    2. Krizzia says

      March 26, 2019 at 7:18 pm

      This looks so delicious! I haven't tried lamb before and I'm excited to cook this for me and my hubby!

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 27, 2019 at 3:35 pm

        Oh enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Autumn says

      March 26, 2019 at 8:50 pm

      This looks and sounds delicious! I’ve always been too scared to attempt lamb, but your directions are so helpful and easy to follow!

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 27, 2019 at 3:35 pm

        Well thanks! Yes it comes out quite impressive in just a few steps.

        Reply
    4. Luci says

      March 27, 2019 at 1:15 am

      This looks so delicious. The apple mint chutney could be served on anything and it will taste amazing.

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 27, 2019 at 3:34 pm

        Agreed! It is a versatile sauce.

        Reply
    5. Julie says

      March 27, 2019 at 9:38 am

      I've never made lamb - it just seems so intimidating! This looks and sounds incredible.

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 27, 2019 at 3:34 pm

        I'm glad it looks good! It's really just a few easy steps that aren't too complicated. I hope you'll try it!

        Reply
    6. Stine Mari says

      March 27, 2019 at 9:42 am

      This looks so juicy and delicious. I was looking for a lamb dish for Easter, so this is just perfect!

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 27, 2019 at 3:33 pm

        Lamb is a great way to celebrate Easter. I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    7. Sheereen says

      March 27, 2019 at 10:51 am

      Wow you make it sound so easy and apple chutney, I never would of paired the two. Can’t wait to try!

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 27, 2019 at 3:33 pm

        Just a few steps and you have an impressive roast! Yes the apple chutney is a good sweet and fruity kick. Enjoy!

        Reply
    8. MK says

      March 27, 2019 at 1:24 pm

      Lamb is such an underrated meat, and you make this roasted leg of lamb look spectacular. I caught myself salivating while looking through the photos and studying the recipe instructions. This one is a keeper for the next leg!

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 27, 2019 at 3:32 pm

        I totally agree! Ahh thanks. It's fun to do a spectacular roast every once in a while, and it's not hard. I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    9. Cassidy says

      March 28, 2019 at 6:50 pm

      Looks so delicious! Can't wait to try it myself!

      Kasey Ma
      http://www.TheStyleWright.com

      Reply
    10. Mary Bench says

      May 17, 2019 at 7:09 pm

      Beautiful!

      Reply
    11. Moya says

      May 05, 2020 at 3:10 pm

      How much mustard should be used, not listed in the ingredients.

      Reply
      • Tara says

        May 08, 2020 at 1:55 pm

        Thank you for reaching out Moya! We have updated the recipe online and the correct amount of mustard should be 1 tsp. mustard powder. Apologies for the mistake on our end. Let us know how it turns out!

        Reply
    12. Beth says

      December 25, 2020 at 6:17 pm

      I don't see the amount for the nutmeg in the spices for the lamb, just the chutney.

      Reply

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

    More about me →

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