SEO Keywords: Lamb Kleftiko Style Roast,Translating to "lamb stolen", kleftiko was traditionally cooked in underground ovens or pits to mask the delicious aroma of the lamb that Greeks living in the mountains had stolen. This method helped them avoid capture by the enemy.
Nowadays, kleftiko is made by cooking lamb for hours in tightly wrapped parchment. For this recipe, we are using lamb shanks with vegetables, plenty of lemon, and oregano in the kleftiko style, .
Ingredients:
- 4-6 lamb shanks
- 2 Spanish onions, cut into quarters
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 6 potatoes, cut into thick wedges
- 4 carrots, chopped into large pieces
- 3 capsicums, cut into large pieces
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 4 lemons
- 2 Tbsp dried oregano
- 1 cup water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Lamb and Vegetables:
- In a large bowl or tray, combine the lamb shanks and vegetables.
- In a separate bowl, mix the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, water, salt, and pepper. Whisk well to combine.
- Pour the marinade over the lamb and vegetables. Mix thoroughly and let it marinate for up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (fan forced).
3. Prepare for Baking:
- Line a large baking tray with 3 to 4 sheets of baking paper, allowing the paper to overhang around the edges of the tray.
- Place the marinated lamb and vegetables into the lined tray, ensuring all the juices are added as well.
- Cover with more baking paper on top and scrunch the overhanging paper with the top layer to seal well around the tray.
- Cover the tray with aluminum foil for an extra seal.
4. Bake the Lamb:
- Bake for 2 hours.
- After 2 hours, you can serve the lamb as is or uncover the top layer of paper and bake for an additional 20 minutes to develop color.