Name: Greek inspired lamb Kleftiko
Prep time: 135 min
Cook time: 165 min
Total time: 300 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Cuisine
Ingredients: 1.5 kg leg of lamb; 1 tbsp vinegar; 4 garlic cloves crushed; 2 tsp Dijon mustard; 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice; 1 tbsp dried oregano; 1/2 cup olive oil; 2 red onions chopped; 1 red pepper deseeded and cut into strips; 1 yellow pepper deseeded and cut into strips; 6 potatoes peeled and quartered or baby potatoes; 8 baby tomatoes halved; 1/2 cup white wine; 200 g feta cheese cubed; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Ingredients (16)

1.5 kg	leg of lamb
1 tbsp	vinegar
4	garlic cloves — crushed
2 tsp	Dijon mustard
1/2 cup	fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp	dried oregano
1/2 cup	olive oil
2	red onions — chopped
1	red pepper — deseeded and cut into strips
1	yellow pepper — deseeded and cut into strips
6	potatoes — peeled and quartered or baby potatoes
8	baby tomatoes — halved
1/2 cup	white wine
200 g	feta cheese — cubed
1 tsp	salt
1/2 tsp	black pepper

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Method:

Wipe the lamb with paper towel dipped in vinegar and set aside in a large bowl.

Prepare the marinade by mixing the garlic, mustard, lemon juice, oregano and olive oil. Pour over the lamb and cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight if possible.

Prepare the vegetables for the kleftiko: roughly chop the onions, slice the peppers, peel and quarter the potatoes and halve the baby tomatoes. Keep the vegetable separate until ready to assemble the kleftiko.

Preheat the oven to 180°C and bring the lamb to room temperature.

Prepare to wrap the lamb in the baking paper. Using a large roasting tin, lay 4 sheets of paper over one another to form a star inside the dish. Place the potatoes, peppers and tomatoes in the center of the paper and season with salt and pepper and some fresh oregano.

Pour the marinade over the vegetables and place the lamb on top. Pour the white wine and season the meat with salt and pepper.

Enclose the lamb and vegetables into a pouch, by holding the baking paper from the edges, crosswise and bring the paper sheets to the middle above the meat and scrunch together. Use the string to tie the pouch and position in the middle of the roasting tin.

Roast the lamb for about 2 hours until tender. Remove the roasting tin from the oven and increase the temperature to 220°C. Open the lamb and scrunch the paper under the rim of the roasting tin. Baste the lamb with juices and return to the oven for a further 30 minutes until browned and tender.

Remove the lamb from the pan and cover in some foil to rest. Toss the vegetables in the pan and add the feta. Return to the oven for a further 15-20 minutes until nicely coloured.

Serve slices of the meat with the vegetables, a green salad and rustic bread.

Supported by the Red Meat Industry of SA – Recipes and styling by Gerrie du Rand and photos by Michelle Parkin.