• Pink peppercorn lamb with balsamic onions

    Tasty dinner idea for the sweet and salty cravings!

    PREP TIME 20 min | TOTAL TIME 2 hours | SERVES 6

     

    INGREDIENTS 

    • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
    • 8 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
    • 1 tbsp pink peppercorns, crushed, plus extra, to serve
    • 1.7 kg boned leg of lamb
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 800 g baby (dutch) carrots, trimmed
    • 1 garlic bulb, halved crossways
    • ¾ cup pitted green olives, halved

    Balsamic onions

    • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
    • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
    • 400 g baby onions, halved

    Salsa verde

    • 1 cup firmly packed fresh parsley
    • 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
    • 2 tsp drained capers, rinsed
    • 1 garlic clove, crushed
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar

     

    METHOD

    PREHEAT the oven to 150°C.

    COMBINE crushed garlic, thyme and peppercorns in a small bowl. 

    PLACE lamb on a chopping board, cut-side up; cover with plastic wrap, pound with meat mallet. Rub garlic mixture on the cut side of the lamb. 

    ROLL lamb tightly; tie with kitchen string at 2cm intervals. Place lamb in a large deep roasting pan; brush with 1 tablespoon of the oil.

    ADD carrots to another roasting pan; drizzle with 1 tablespoon of oil. 

    ROAST lamb and carrots, uncovered, for 1 hour 40 minutes or until lamb is cooked as desired. 

    ADD garlic to carrots, drizzle with remaining oil; roast alongside lamb, for the last 20 minutes of cooking.

     

    Balsamic onions 

    BRING vinegar and mustard to the boil in a small saucepan. 

    REDUCE heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until the glaze thickens slightly. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat; cook onions, stirring, 10 minutes or until soft, brushing frequently with glaze.

     

    Salsa verde 

    COMBINE parsley, thyme, capers, garlic, oil and vinegar in a food processor and blend until well mixed.

     

    REMOVE lamb from the oven; cover with foil. Increase the oven to 200°C. Add the olives to the carrots; roast for 5 minutes or until heated.

    ADD balsamic onions to the carrot mixture; toss to combine. 

    SERVE lamb with carrot mixture, salsa verde and extra peppercorns. 

     

    FOOD TEAM TIP: Dutch carrots are also sold as heirloom carrots; they are available from most supermarkets and greengrocers.

     

    Pink peppercorn lamb with balsamic onions

    Serves: 6
    Prep Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 2 hours

    Ingredients

    • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
    • 8 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
    • 1 tbsp pink peppercorns, crushed, plus extra, to serve
    • 1.7 kg boned leg of lamb
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 800 g baby (dutch) carrots, trimmed
    • 1 garlic bulb, halved crossways
    • ¾ cup pitted green olives, halved
    • Balsamic onions
    • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
    • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
    • 400 g baby onions, halved
    • Salsa verde
    • 1 cup firmly packed fresh parsley
    • 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
    • 2 tsp drained capers, rinsed
    • 1 garlic clove, crushed
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar

    Instructions

    1

    Preheat the oven to 150°C.

    2

    Combine crushed garlic, thyme and peppercorns in a small bowl. 

    3

    Place lamb on a chopping board, cut-side up; cover with plastic wrap, pound with meat mallet. Rub garlic mixture on the cut side of the lamb. 

    4

    Roll lamb tightly; tie with kitchen string at 2cm intervals. Place lamb in a large deep roasting pan; brush with 1 tablespoon of the oil.

    5

    Add carrots to another roasting pan; drizzle with 1 tablespoon of oil. 

    6

    Roast lamb and carrots, uncovered, for 1 hour 40 minutes or until lamb is cooked as desired. 

    7

    Add garlic to carrots, drizzle with remaining oil; roast alongside lamb, for the last 20 minutes of cooking.

    Balsamic onions 

    8

    Bring vinegar and mustard to the boil in a small saucepan. 

    9

    Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until the glaze thickens slightly. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat; cook onions, stirring, 10 minutes or until soft, brushing frequently with glaze.

    Salsa verde 

    10

    Combine parsley, thyme, capers, garlic, oil and vinegar in a food processor and blend until well mixed.

    11

    Remove lamb from the oven; cover with foil. Increase the oven to 200°C. Add the olives to the carrots; roast for 5 minutes or until heated.

    12

    Add balsamic onions to the carrot mixture; toss to combine. 

    13

    Serve lamb with carrot mixture, salsa verde and extra peppercorns. 

     

    Made this pink peppercorn lamb with balsamic onions ? Tag us @foodandhomesa #cookingwithFH on Instagram!

     

    ALSO SEE: Paprika lamb chickpea tray bake

    https://www.foodandhome.co.za/recipes/paprika-lamb-chickpea-tray-bake

    Feature image: Aremedia