This leg of lamb comes with herby lemon and paprika marinade, and really enriches the senses for al fresco dining for what is a very special time of the year. It can be cooked on the barbecue or in the oven. Serve simply with potato wedges and greens for a laid-back meal with friends. Reduce the dried red chilli flakes if you prefer a milder marinade.

Ingredients: (serves four to six)

• 1 x 2.5kg leg of lamb
• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 tsp dried red chilli flakes
• 6 tsp chopped rosemary
• 6 sprigs thyme, leaves picked
• 1 fresh bay leaf, finely chopped
• 1 lemon, juice only
• 2 tbsp Thai fish sauce
• 2 tbsp Spanish sweet smoked paprika
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp flaky sea salt
• ½ tsp coarsely ground or crushed black pepper

Top Tips:

• You can buy a ready-boned or a butterflied leg of lamb, or ask your butcher to bone it for you.
• To cook on the barbecue, preheat the barbecue (10 minutes for gas and up to 40 minutes for charcoal). When hot, grill the lamb for about 10–12 minutes on each side. Rest for 5 minutes on a board covered with kitchen foil before carving into thick slices.

Method:

Step One

To prepare the lamb, turn the leg over to the point where the bone runs closest to the surface. Using a sharp knife, split the meat along the bone and ease it away from the bone along both sides, leaving the bone as clean as possible. At the fatter end of the joint, there is a group of smaller bones, so continue to cut around them too until you can lift all the bones from the meat and are left with a butterfly shaped, bone-free joint. Trim away any excess fat and sinew. Lay a piece of cling film over the meat and bash the surface with a rolling pin to flatten the thick sections lightly. The meat should be an even thickness throughout.

Step Two

Mix the marinade ingredients together. Rub the marinade all over the lamb and set aside in a roasting tin, skin-side up, for about 30 minutes.

Step Three

Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas mark 7.

Step Four

Roast the lamb for 15 minutes, reduce the temperature to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas mark 4 and roast for a further 15 minutes. This will give you pink lamb, if you would rather it slightly less so, cook for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Rest for at least 15 minutes. Place on a board before carving into thick slices.

Step Five

Serve with potato wedges, your choice of vegetables and some of the meat juices.