How to perfectly roast a leg of lamb

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Whether it's for an al fresco lunch braai or a special celebration, few things are as impressive – and delicious – as a perfectly cooked leg of lamb. The only thing better than how beautiful it looks is how easily it falls apart into tender pieces. But how do you make sure a leg of lamb is perfectly pink, deliciously moist and packed with flavour every time? First, you need to choose the perfect lamb. Woolworths' lamb is free range and has a medium layer of fat. Next, you need to cook it at a low, even temperature to allow the fat to melt and disperse, keeping the meat moist and tender.

Need more advice to cook perfect lamb? Here are five tips for slow-roasting a leg of lamb.

1. Allow the lamb to come to room temperature. This will allow it to cook more evenly, preventing an overcooked exterior and undercooked interior.
2. Score the leg of lamb. Make tiny incisions into the fat layer using a sharp knife. This helps the fat to render more quickly so the exterior is crisp and evenly cooked.
3. Pierce the lamb and rub in umami bombs. Make a paste of garlic, rosemary, anchovies and salt, and rub it into all the incisions and crevices.
4. Grill the lamb. Grilling the lamb before you roast it creates a crisp, golden crust.
5. Let the oven do the work! Wrap the lamb tightly in foil, place it on a bed of flavourful root veg, and roast it at a low temperature for a few hours. You can go as low as 110°C for an overnight roast, or 160°C for four hours.

Watch the video to see these tips in action!

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honey-and-miso slow-roasted leg of lamb recipe

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Videography: Kaylene Sauls
Photography: Shavan Rahim
Production: Bianca Strydom
Food assistant: Bianca Jones

Woolworths only sells A2 lamb, which means the meat will have a medium layer of fat. This layer is only enough to keep the meat basted during cooking, guaranteeing tender, moist lamb. A leg of lamb is super versatile: cook on a gas braai, slow roast it in the oven and serve whole for an impressive table centrepiece, or shred roast lamb for multiple lunchbox options. Think in a wrap with tzatziki, as a pulled lamb burger with mint sauce, or in a traditional Middle Eastern shawarma. Whichever way you serve it, you're guaranteed melt-in-your-mouth, flavourful lamb every time you shop at Woolworths.