Slow Roasting a Leg of Lamb Until It Is Melting Off the Bone

By: Fred Decker

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Slow cooking methods are usually reserved for the toughest of meats, and there are few parts of a lamb that fall into that category. However, even leg of lamb -- usually prepared as a medium-rare roast -- can benefit from long, slow roasting. A slow-roasted leg of lamb has a full flavor and rich, lush texture similar to pulled pork, with flesh tender enough to fall right off the bone. It's very different from medium-rare lamb, but enjoyable in its own right.

The Leg

The toughest and tastiest cuts in any animal come from the well-used muscles of the leg, shoulder and chest. In a lamb, those include the shoulder roast, leg, shank and seldom-seen breast cuts. Leg of lamb is tender enough to roast normally, removing it from the oven when it's medium-rare to medium and then carving it. However, the leg has enough fat and connective tissue to stand up to long, slow cooking methods as well.

Cooked vs. Fork-Tender

The difference between a leg that's conventionally roasted and one that's slow-roasted is very distinct. Leg of lamb that's roasted like any other cut of meat has a texture similar to a steak or lamb chops, firm and juicy. Slow-roasted legs develop a much different texture, lush and soft enough to be cut with a fork. That's because the long, slow cooking time allows the fat and connective tissues in the leg to dissolve, moistening the meat and converting the collagen in the connective tissues to natural gelatin. The lamb can be considered cooked at any temperature above 130 degrees Fahrenheit, but it won't be fork-tender and melting off the bone until it's spent lots of time at internal temperatures over 160 F.

Slow Roasting

Slow roasting the lamb that way requires very low temperatures that don't brown the meat, so it's important to do that first. Brown the leg in a large skillet or Dutch oven, then transfer it to your roasting pan. Rub the leg with olive oil, coarse salt and your choice of flavoring ingredients, such as rosemary, garlic, lemon juice and marjoram or oregano. Preheat your oven to 250 F, cover the pan and slide it into the oven. Roast the lamb for 6 to 8 hours at that temperature, turning it periodically, until you can easily pull off a morsel with a fork or your bare fingers.

The Next Level

You can add substantially to the lamb's flavor by adding aromatic ingredients such as onions, carrots and celery to the pan at the beginning, or a fennel bulb halfway through the cooking time. Alternatively you could roast carrots and baby potatoes alongside the lamb, where they'll absorb its flavors during the long cooking time. If you add 2 to 3 cups of broth and red wine to the pan, changing the method from slow roasting to braising, you'll be rewarded with an even tenderer leg of lamb. Strain the cooking liquid and thicken it to make a flavorful sauce for the meat and side dishes.