Roast Leg of Lamb With Anchovies and Shallots

Name: Roast Leg of Lamb With Anchovies and Shallots
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 6- to 8-pound semi-boned leg of lamb; 2 cans flat anchovies, with their oil; 4 tablespoons olive oil; 3 to 4 cloves garlic; Freshly ground pepper; 20 large shallots in their skins; 4 sprigs fresh rosemary; Lamb, beef or veal bones (about 3 to 4); 3 carrots, sliced; 1 medium onion, sliced; 3 stalks celery, sliced; 2 sprigs parsley; 1 bottle dry white wine; 2 cups canned Italian plum tomatoes, with their juice; 1 bay leaf

By Moira Hodgson

Updated October 11, 2023

Total Time: 50 hours
Prep Time: 48 hours
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Rating: 3(5)
Comments: Read comments

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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 10 servings

1 6- to 8-pound semi-boned leg of lamb
2 cans flat anchovies, with their oil
4 tablespoons olive oil
3 to 4 cloves garlic
Freshly ground pepper
20 large shallots in their skins
4 sprigs fresh rosemary

FOR THE SAUCE

Lamb, beef or veal bones (about 3 to 4)
3 carrots, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
3 stalks celery, sliced
2 sprigs parsley
1 bottle dry white wine
2 cups canned Italian plum tomatoes, with their juice
1 bay leaf

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Step 1
Two days in advance. Pat the lamb dry with paper towels. Mash the anchovies with two tablespoons olive oil and the oil from their cans into a paste and spread the mixture over the lamb. Cut the garlic into slivers. Make small incisions under the skin of the lamb and insert slivers of garlic into them. Sprinkle the lamb with pepper, wrap in foil and refrigerate.
Step 2
A day in advance. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roast the bones for 30 minutes or until browned. Add the vegetables and cook for a further 30 minutes. Put the bones and the vegetables in a large stock pot and add two quarts water, the parsley, wine, tomatoes and bay leaf. Simmer, uncovered, for two hours. Strain the stock into a clean container and refrigerate, discarding the vegetables.
Step 3
The following day, skim off the fat from the stock and discard. Boil the stock down to one cup. Set aside.
Step 4
On the day of the dinner. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the shallots and two tablespoons of olive oil in the bottom of a large roasting pan. Place the lamb on a rack on top. Roast for about 15 minutes a pound depending on how well done you like it (it is usually best served pink), about two-and-a-half hours altogether.
Step 5
Heat the sauce in a small saucepan. When the lamb is cooked, remove to a heated platter. Remove the shallots with tongs and place them around the lamb. Decorate with sprigs of rosemary.
Step 6
Pour off the fat from the roasting juices. Add the cooking juices to the sauce. Bring to boil, correct seasoning and serve separately in a sauce boat.