L.M. Reid is an Irish writer who has published many articles. She creates delicious recipes and has plenty of dinner and desserts to share.

Recipe for Roast Leg of Lamb

This delicious recipe for the family is one of my favourite dinner ideas. In this article, I provide step-by-step instructions with photos so that it is easy to follow. I show you everything you need to know in order to cook lamb in the oven.

In addition, I show you how to make mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, sprouts, carrots, and cauliflower cheese. Finally, to round out the meal, I will show you how to make homemade gravy.

Preparation and Cook Time

Ingredients for Entire Meal

• 1.33 kg lamb
• 4 small carrots
• 8 potatoes, medium size
• 20 sprouts
• 1 cauliflower, medium size
• 114 g / 4 ounces cheese (cheddar works best)
• 2 tablespoons gravy powder
• 250ml cooking oil
• 57 g / 2 ounces butter
• 250ml milk

Instructions for Roasting Leg of Lamb

1. Preheat the oven on the highest setting for 15 minutes.
2. Remove lamb from the packet and wash under the cold tap.
3. Put in a roasting dish and add water. It should come up to about third of the way of the meat.
4. Put on the top shelf of the oven for 15 minutes.
5. Take out the lamb and cover with tin foil or a lid.
6. Turn down the cooker to 220 degrees.
7. After a further 45 minutes remove the lamb.
8. Carefully take away the lid or tin foil as the steam is very hot.
9. Turn the lamb upside down in the dish with a fork. This enables the meat to be evenly cooked through out.
10. Put back in the oven for another 45 minutes.
11. Remove the lamb from the oven and take out some of the meat juices. Add more boiling water if needed. The juices will help make flavour your gravy.
12. Put back in the oven but leave off the lid or tin foil for another 15 mins. This is done at the beginning of cooking and at the end so that the lamb can have wonderful tasty hard outer meat while the inside of the lamb is soft and juicy. Everyone in my house wants these outer pieces of lamb.
13. Check that the meat is cooked by piercing with a sharp knife. If it enters the joint easily it is ready. Put the meat on a plate.
14. It is necessary to leave the cooked lamb at least 20 minutes on the plate to allow the meat juices to settle. It is also a lot easier to cut too.
15. By this time, I have already prepared the vegetables I intend to boil. Now is the time to add these to the cooker.
16. Cut up the lamb into slices. Some of it will fall apart but that is alright because roast lamb tastes better when it melts in your mouth.
17. When all the food is cooked and ready dish up this great family meal of roast lamb, potatoes, and vegetables.

Instructions for Roasted Potatoes

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them up into medium-sized pieces.
2. Wash them under the cold tap.
3. Take a roasting dish and add the oil.
4. Place the potatoes in the dish.
5. Cover them with the oil. You can use a spoon or turn them around in the oil with your hands.
6. The oil should go up as far as a third of the potatoes.
7. Place in the oven 1 hour before you want to eat the meal. Or for 10 minutes earlier if you like your roast potatoes very well done.
8. They will be ready when the lamb and other vegetables are cooked.

Instructions for Cauliflower Cheese

1. Remove the outer leaves from the cauliflower
2. Cut into four pieces.
3. Take off the florets and place in the dish.
4. Add some of the milk. Try to wet the tops of the cauliflower as you pour it slowly.
5. Grate the cheese on top of the cauliflower until it is covered completely
6. Add more milk, enough to come up to about halfway in the dish
7. Put on the second shelf in the oven 45 minutes before you intend to dish up the meal.

Instructions for Sprouts and Carrots

Sprouts

1. Peel the sprouts of the outer leaves.
2. If they are big ones cut in half.
3. Use approximately six sprouts for each person.
4. Put in a pot and add boiling water, making sure to cover them.
5. Begin to cook these 25 minutes before you intend to dish up the meal
6. Check they are cooked by piercing one with a knife. If the sprout is soft they are ready.
7. Drain the water from the pot.
8. Add a small knob of butter.

Carrots

1. Cut off the ends and peel the carrots of the outer skin.
2. Cut in half and then into thin strips.
3. Put in a pot and add boiling water.
4. Cook for 20 minutes.
5. Drain the water from the carrots.
6. Add a little butter and salt if you wish.

Instructions for Mashed Potatoes

1. Peel the potatoes and wash.
2. Cut them up into small pieces
3. Add to the pot with boiling water
4. Cook for 25 minutes.
5. Remove the water from the potatoes and add a large knob of butter and a tiny portion of milk.
6. Mash them quickly to keep the heat in and cover while you dish up the meal.

Instructions for Gravy

Right, I will come clean here about the gravy. I do not remember how to cook gravy from scratch with flour. I never liked the taste of it made that way. I now use gravy powder that can be bought in a packet. It is not the gravy granules that you just add water to, as I find that method to be tasteless. I make my gravy with the powder and the juices of the meat I am cooking at the time.

Instructions

1. Use a large mug or measuring cup. This makes it easier to blend in the powder.
2. Add about ½ a cup of cold water.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of gravy powder to the water and stir in.
4. It is important to get all the lumps out at this stage.
5. Put some water into a pot and boil.
6. Pour in the meat juices and mix.
7. Pour in the gravy mixture to the water slowly but constantly.
8. You must stir the spoon without stopping until all the mixture has been added. If you do not then you will be left with a lumpy mess. I find a wooden spoon is easier to use.
9. Stop adding the mix when the consistency is how you like to eat your gravy.
10. Add to a gravy boat or pouring dish so your family can enjoy this perfect homemade gravy.

I find it is so much easier to add more water if the gravy is too thick. If you have not made enough gravy mix and it turns out too thin then it is harder to add more without getting lumps.

It will take a few attempts with every meal before you can judge how much powder and water to use when making your gravy. But you will soon be an expert and only have to use the proper amount of ingredients when making the gravy.

Best Dinner Recipe

Roast lamb dinner is a delicious meal to cook. If you buy the lamb when it is at a special price at the butchers or shops then you can save even more money too. Cooked lamb freezes vey well. When I decide I would like a roast lamb dinner I only have to defrost a portion of the cooked meat and spend 25 minutes cooking the accompanying vegetables and potatoes.

Roast Lamb and Vegetables

Comments

L M Reid (author) from Ireland on January 10, 2015:

Yes I always enjoy my Roast Lamb dinners too.

Thank you creativelycc for taking the time to leave a comment, I am glad the article was helpful to you

Carrie L Cronkite from Maine on January 05, 2015:

This is wonderful, I will be making this for a special dinner for when we have company. Thank you very much. I always wanted to know the right way to cook a lamb roast - thank you very much!

L M Reid (author) from Ireland on January 25, 2014:

Mint with lamb is very tasty loveofnight. I am very fussy about herbs etc but I always get out the mint jelly when I have lamb for dinner

Loveofnigjht Anderson from Baltimore, Maryland on November 23, 2013:

This looks delicious and you did an excellent job with this hub. One thing that I hear a lot of people mention when it comes to any lamb dish is mint. I have to admit that I have never tried mint but since I love lamb I guess it is about time that I try it. I have always been an onion gravy kind of girl but nothing beats a failure but a try. Thanks much for the share and happy hubbing.

L M Reid (author) from Ireland on June 07, 2013:

There is nothing nicer than a lamb chops dinner I agree

Thanks for stopping by creativelycc and enjoy your meal

Carrie L Cronkite from Maine on May 07, 2013:

Wow, this is excellent! I could smell the aroma from this very descriptive hub. I love lamb, it's one of my favorite meats and will definitely have to try this recipe. Thank you!

L M Reid (author) from Ireland on February 06, 2013:

Lol yes when I see the photos of my lamb dinner it makes me hungry too.

Peggy W thanks for the great comments and the shares and votes.

Yes techhound I too love lamb and always buy it when it is on special offer. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

Askme I love most meat but lamb is my favourite. Thanks for stopping by and commenting

Rebecca O'Reilly from California on October 26, 2012:

Yum! this made me hungry .

techhound on October 26, 2012:

I'm a big lover of lamb! Awesome HubPage.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on October 26, 2012:

Your photos are definitely making me hungry for a good leg of lamb and all of the accompaniments. Your instructions are clear and easy to follow. Up, tweeting and sharing with my followers. I haven't even eaten breakfast yet...but you now have me thinking of dinner tonight! :)

L M Reid (author) from Ireland on October 26, 2012:

Lamb roasted in the oven with potatoes and veg is a great dinner to sit down to. It is so easy to prepare and cook too.

Thank you all for taking the time to leave a comment and the votes.

Malds Menzon from Manila, Philippines on October 25, 2012:

Ima go eat now lol. Awesome hub, and tasty looking pictures.

Cynthia B Turner from Georgia on October 25, 2012:

I agree with everyone, this is an excellent hub. I am salivating as I write this. I love lamb and your finished product looks soooo good. This will show up at my dinner table, sides and all. Voted up and useful.

Eiddwen from Wales on October 25, 2012:

A brilliant hub and one for me to save into my recipe book.

Thank you so much for sharing and I now look forward to so many more by you.

Have a great day.

Eddy.

L M Reid (author) from Ireland on July 01, 2012:

Yes lamb can be bought cheaply if I look out for the special offers. But having individual cooked portions in the freezer is very handy. The lamb tastes just as nice and fresh as when it was first cooked.

Thank you Simone and alocsin for taking the time to leave a comment and the share and votes.

Aurelio Locsin from Orange County, CA on July 01, 2012:

Lamb is one of my favorite dishes but it is a bit pricey. I like your idea to buy a whole roast (instead of the chops) and then cut it up for several meals. Voting this Up and Useful. SHARED.

Simone Haruko Smith from San Francisco on June 29, 2012:

I've always thought of lamb as a "fancy" meal, so it's great to see that it can be served in a budget-friendly manner, too!

L M Reid (author) from Ireland on June 28, 2012:

I too like lamb chops but the lamb joint has a completely different and wonderful taste. That is a shame you can not buy it where you live.

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment

Denise Handlon from North Carolina on June 28, 2012:

Great recipe here. I love lamb, but don't eat it here b/c I cannot find it in the grocery stores. ??? Lots of pork and occasionally a lamb chop or veal chop, but not like this cut. Enjoyed the great photos. Yum!