This is a recipe that I have wanted to share with you all for many years, but my disdain for photographing meat has kept me from it. I know, I know. I’ve been holding out. Don’t hate me. But I have long struggled with how to make charred, brown meat look appetizing, I dunno if I did it – but who cares? I did the best I could and this is far too delicious to keep from you any longer.

This is another Greek recipe I grew up eating. My Dad has perfected his Greek Marinated Leg of Lamb. He has done it bone-in and boneless on the grill, in the oven and even over an open fire pit. Every summer when the Greek side of my family has their big family reunion out at the lake, my dad is always in charge of the lamb and it’s a spectacle for everyone. In all honesty, I feel like half of it gets eaten right off the grill.

I find a boneless leg of lamb easier and faster to cook than bone-in, but this recipe would work just as well with bone-in, if that’s all you can get your hands on (adding additional time for cooking). I most love this marinated Greek-style Lamb on the grill, as it brings the best flavor but if you don’t have access to an outdoor grill, you can sear and fully cook in a well-seasoned grill pan, cooking for 12-15 minutes per side (or until desired internal temp is reached) or roast the lamb in the oven at 325ºF, quickly searing first in a hot pan over high-heat.

We love this served over a classic Greek salad dressed in my Dad’s Famous Greek Dressing, with roast potatoes or Greek Potato Salad. It is wonderful served with cubes of Greek-style sheep’s milk feta cheese, kalamata olives and homemade tzatziki. Might as well serve up some Stuffed Grape Leaves while you are at it, too.

Grilled Greek-Style Leg of Lamb

gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, nut-free, egg-free, AIP-friendly

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 -6

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 2.5 - 3 lb boneless leg of lamb, pasture-raised
• 4-6 cloves garlic
• ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ⅔ cup Terra Delyssa Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, roughly chopped
• sea salt and black pepper
• additional rosemary and other herbs, like oregano, thyme, marjoram, etc - to make a basting brush, optional

Instructions

• Peel the skins off the garlic cloves and slice them into thin slivers. With a sharp knife, make slits across the lamb and insert the garlic slivers. Repeat, adding as many as you can.
• Add the olive oil, lemon juice and fresh rosemary to a durable, sealable plastic bag. Season with salt and pepper. Add the lamb and seal the bag, pressing out air. Turn bag to coat lamb, then put bag in a shallow baking pan and place in the refrigerator to marinate, turning bag over occasionally, overnight or up to 3-days before grilling.
• Bring lamb to room temperature, about 1 hour, before grilling. Just before grilling, remove the lamb from the marinate and shake off excess marinade. Pour the marinade into a shallow bowl. If you'd like to get fancy, tie a bunch of sturdy sprigs of fresh herbs together with kitchen twine to make a basting brush (or just use a regular basting brush).
• Make sure your grill grates are clean. Heat one side of your grill to a high heat. Place the lamb on the direct heat and sear on all sides. Just about 1-2 minutes per side, until browned. Move the lamb to the unheated side of the grill, and keep the high-heat side on high.
• Cook the lamb on indirect heat, turning every 15 minutes to evenly cook on all sides, basting with the marinade as you go. Cook to 120 - 125º for rare, 140-145º for medium-rare, 160º for medium. It may take 40 minutes to 1 hour (or longer), depending on the size of your leg.
• Remove from the grill and transfer to a platter, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 20 minutes. It will continue to heat through as it rests, so be sure not to overcook on the grill.
• Then cut across the grain, as slices or into bite-sized chunks/cubes (which is how my dad usually does it) season with sea salt and black pepper. Serve.
• Serve with a Greek salad, roast potatoes or Greek Potato Salad, feta, kalamata olives and/or tzatiki all make incredible compliments. Enjoy!

Notes

This marinade amount will work for a roast as large as 5 lbs, no need to adjust. Cook time may increase, however.
if you don't have access to an outdoor grill, you can sear and fully cook in a well-seasoned grill pan, cooking for approximately 12-15 minutes per side (or until desired internal temp is reached) or roast the lamb in the oven at 325ºF, quickly searing first in a hot pan over high-heat.