HOW TO USE ROSEMARY RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Stuffing a leg of lamb is a great way to transform a regular cut into something a bit special for Easter, and this recipe ensures it’ll be bursting with flavour. If you’ve never made homemade gravy before, give it a go – you can’t beat it!
  2. Preheat your oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6. Turn the leg of lamb upside down on a chopping board and very gently cut halfway down into the leg along the bone so the meat opens out, creating a pocket.
  3. Make your stuffing by peeling a couple of garlic cloves and popping them into a food processor. As it’s whizzing away, add the parsley and rosemary leaves, then the anchovies. Scrape this mixture into a bowl, then add the ciabatta and pine nuts to the processor. You want it to be quite coarse so just pulse it a few times, then tip it into your bowl of herbs along with the chopped olives and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper, then get your clean hands in the bowl and scrunch everything together. If it looks too dry, add a little lemon juice.
  4. Pack this stuffing into the pocket of the lamb, then wrap the meat back over and tie it tightly with string, pushing the remaining rosemary sprigs underneath the string. Drizzle over a little olive oil, pat this into the lamb and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Place your roughly chopped onion, carrot and celery in a roasting tray with any remaining unpeeled garlic cloves and lay your lamb on top. Roast for about an hour and a half. In Italy, they’ll start basting the lamb after 30 minutes by pouring a swig of wine over the meat and veg every 15 minutes or so until the meat is cooked. Trust me – it is well worth doing and makes it juicy and delicious! When cooked, transfer the lamb to a board or platter to rest while you make your gravy.
  6. Spoon off most of the fat from your tray, then put it on the hob over a low heat. Add the flour and mash everything together with a potato masher. Add a glass of red wine and bring to the boil, to cook off the alcohol. Pour in the stock and bring back to the boil, scraping all the goodness from the bottom of the pan as you go. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  7. Sieve your gravy into a jug or pan, using a ladle to really push all the goodness through. Discard any veg or meat left behind. At this point, your lamb will have been resting for around 15 minutes and will be perfect for serving. Dish it up and tuck in!

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 240°C/475°F/ gas 9.
  2. Take the beef out of the fridge 1 hour before you want to cook it, to let it come up to room temperature. Place a large sturdy roasting tray in the oven to heat up.
  3. Strip most of the rosemary leaves into a pestle and mortar, and peel and add 3 cloves of garlic, then bash to a paste with a pinch of sea salt and a lug of oil.
  4. Tip the paste onto the beef and massage all over, getting into all the nooks and crannies.
  5. Quickly squash the remaining unpeeled garlic cloves and scatter into the hot roasting tray with the beef. Place straight into the oven and roast for around 50 minutes, basting occasionally with the juices from the tray.
  6. When the time’s up, reduce the temperature to 190°C/375°F/gas 5 for around 10 minutes, or until the beef is beautifully golden brown on the outside and pink in the middle – leave in for longer if you prefer your beef well done.
  7. Carefully transfer the beef to a platter, dot the knob of butter on top, then use the remaining rosemary to brush all over the meat. Cover with a double layer of tin foil and a tea towel, then leave to rest.
  8. Serve the beef with the resting juices drizzled over the top – delicious served with perfectly golden roast potatoes, Amazing Yorkies, dressed watercress and a good dollop of horseradish.