This lamb recipe is foolproof - even for beginners. Pair it with crisp, tender, garlicky herb hasselback potatoes for a visually stunning holiday feast.
Cut
Lamb Bone-In Leg
Cook
Oven
Serves
8
Prep time
20 Minutes
Cook time
1 hr or more
Level
Basic
Print recipe
Perfect Leg of Lamb with Hasselback Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 1 Atkins Ranch Bone-In Lamb Leg
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary or 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbsp kosher or sea salt
  • 1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

Hasselback Potatoes

  • 3 lbs petite red or gold potatoes
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt
  • 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
  • 4 Tbsp finely chopped fresh basil leaves or 2 tsp dried basil
  • 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh green onions or chives
  • 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley leaves or 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated or minced

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a shallow roasting pan with aluminum foil.
  2. Pat lamb dry. Use a sharp knife to score the top side of the lamb by making shallow cuts in a diamond pattern.
  3. Combine garlic, oil, rosemary, thyme, Dijon, salt and pepper.
  4. Place lamb, fat side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Spread garlic mixture evenly over lamb and into cuts.
  5. Roast until desired doneness, about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing.
  6. Increase oven heat to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  7. Use a sharp knife to make crosswise cuts in each potato, about 1/8 inch apart, stopping about 1/4 inch from the bottom.
  8. Place potatoes in a single layer, cut side up, on baking sheet. Drizzle with 4 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  9. Bake until both tender and crisp, about 55 minutes.
  10. Combine remaining 8 tablespoons olive oil with basil, chives, parsley and garlic in bowl.
  11. Serve potatoes immediately, drizzled with olive oil mixture.

Hints & Tips
While dried herbs can be used as a substitute, nothing compares to the bright, aromatic notes of fresh herbs.