A whole roasted leg of lamb makes an extravagant centerpiece for lavish meals, but it can be a finicky thing to prepare properly. The problem is its tapered shape, which means one end inevitably cooks more quickly than the other. If that same leg is butterflied, it becomes a much simpler proposition. It forms a large and relatively flat piece of meat that can be slow-roasted for even cooking, or roasted quickly at high heat for a well-browned exterior and pink interior, like a giant lamb chop.

Lay the butterflied leg on a clean cutting board, with its split side facing up. With a sharp knife, remove any large seams of fat and visible connective tissue. Some of the muscles are noticeably thicker than the remaining portion of the leg. There are corresponding thin areas next to most of them. For even cooking, "butterfly" these thick muscles by slicing horizontally into them, leaving part of the muscle attached, then flip the rounded portion on its back into a nearby thin spot.

Pin the newly-sliced muscles into place with bamboo skewers, then sprinkle the lamb on both sides with coarse salt. Let it rest in your refrigerator for an hour, so the salt can penetrate.

Place the lamb on a foil-lined baking sheet, and preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Season the lamb with any additional spices or herbs, as desired. Slide the sheet pan into your oven, on a middle rack.

Slow-roast the lamb until its internal temperature reaches 120 F when tested with an instant-read thermometer, approximately 30 to 40 minutes depending on its size and your individual oven. Remove the sheet from the oven, and position one of the racks near the top. Preheat the broiler.

Broil the lamb for four to six minutes, until the top is well-browned and the lamb's internal temperature reaches 125 F. Let the leg rest for at least 15 minutes, then remove the skewers before carving it. It will continue to cook during that time, finishing at medium-rare.

Place the butterflied leg on your cutting board, and trim away any connective tissue or large seams of fat with the tip of a sharp knife. Even out the thick and thin sections of the leg by horizontally halving the thickest spots, and flipping the sliced muscle into a thin spot. Hold these pieces in place with bamboo skewers.

Sprinkle the lamb with coarse salt or immerse it in a seasoned marinade, and refrigerate it for an hour. If you've opted for a marinade, dry the leg of lamb when you take it out of the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to a temperature of 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Rub or sprinkle the lamb with any additional seasonings to taste, and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet with the cut side facing up.

Roast the lamb for 15 to 20 minutes, then slide the sheet from your oven and turn the leg so the smoother outside is facing up. Return it to the oven and roast it for another 15 to 20 minutes, until its internal temperature reaches 125 F. Remove the leg to a serving platter and let it rest under a loose covering of foil for at least 15 minutes.

Remove the skewers, then carve and serve the roast.