Nitrate & Nitrite Free Greek Roast Lamb with Lemon and Herbs
Total time11 hr 55 min
Prep time25 min
Cook time3 hr 30 min
4.6
(22)
Slow-roasted lamb is one of those dishes that feels like a celebration the moment it comes out of the oven — deeply golden, falling-off-the-bone tender, and perfumed with garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs. The beauty of this recipe is that every bit of flavor comes from real, whole ingredients: a fragrant paste of olive oil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, and ginger that gets rubbed into the meat and left to work overnight. Garlic slivers pressed directly into the lamb ensure that savory depth reaches all the way to the bone, while lemon rounds and rosemary sprigs in the roasting pan keep things bright and aromatic as it braises low and slow.
For anyone avoiding cured or processed meats because of added preservatives, a bone-in leg of lamb like this is a naturally clean choice — no hidden additives, no curing agents, just honest meat and pantry staples. The bone broth used for roasting keeps everything moist and adds richness without any questionable ingredients, especially if you use a homemade batch or a trusted compliant brand. A final blast of high heat at the end gives you that irresistible caramelized crust that makes the whole kitchen smell incredible. Finished with a scatter of fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon, this is the kind of centerpiece roast that earns serious table silence — the good kind.
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1 bone-in leg of lamb (about 5–6 lb), trimmed of excess fat
6 cloves garlic, peeled and cut into thin slivers
For the herb paste
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
1 tbsp lemon zest (from about 1 large lemon)
2 tbsp fresh oregano leaves, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ground ginger
1 ½ tsp fine sea salt
For roasting
1 cup bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
½ cup water
1 large lemon, sliced into rounds
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
For serving
fresh parsley, roughly chopped, for serving (optional)
lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
1
In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped oregano, chopped rosemary, thyme, turmeric, ginger, and sea salt. Stir until a cohesive paste forms.
2
Using a small sharp knife, cut 12–15 slits about 1 inch deep all over the surface of the lamb. Press a garlic sliver into each slit, pushing it in as far as it will go.
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Nitrate & Nitrite Free Greek Roast Lamb with Lemon and Herbs | Fig App