Recipe

Succulent Spring Lamb in Casing

Succulent Spring Lamb in Casing
  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Spring Lamb
  • Chef

    SaySchwartzAndBeSure's Notes: My Italian friend Terry first introduced this recipe to me in Vancouver on a rainy weekend. We made it many times over the years changing it with different herbs and fresh veggies, but finding...

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Serves 6

Casing for the Lamb:

5-6 cups all purpose umbleached flour Ask a question about this ingredient

2-3 cups water Ask a question about this ingredient

  1. Preheat oven to 400

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  2. Crush 6-8 large cloves of garlic and mix with salt to make a creamy paste, add black pepper. (Terry, "Take a sip of your favorite wine").

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  3. Add parsley, rosemary, (basil) and olive oil. (Terry, "Take a good sip of your favorite wine"). Mix to a paste by hand or in a small processor. Add lemon zest and set aside.

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  4. Put 6 cups of flour in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Add 2-3 cups of cold water and make a soft dough.

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  5. Remove and knead on a floured counter until elastic. Roll the dough into a large rectangle, big enough to completely encase the leg of lamb.

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  6. Rub the herb past all over the leg of lamb and place the leg upsidedown in the center of the rectangle. Use all the paste.

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  7. Fold the short sides up first, then the long ones to completely encase the lamb. Brush with water where the casing meets , molding it around and making sure the edges are all pressed together to seal the casing.

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  8. Put in a large roasting pan with the seams at the bottom, sprinkle with flour on the top. Cook for 2 hours (not much more). Terry would tell you to drink more wine now. To serve, crack the casing open with a clever and hammer and remove the lamb. It will fall from the bone. Scrape the inside of the casing if you wish.

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  9. Serve with olives, artichokes, asparagus, potatoes, all the things you love. Enjoy. (Terry, "have more of your favorite wine").

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1 Comment on Succulent Spring Lamb in Casing

Reply

Wow, this is flavor packed. The technique reminds me of cooking done by cowboys out west, colonial women who shared the village oven, and many other cultures who cook succulent meats and stews under a crust that keeps the meat(s) tender.

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