Roasted Rack of Lamb Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best temperature to eat rack of lamb? ›

Look for about 125-130 degrees as a final internal temperate of the center of the meat. The outer edges will be done more, but the center should be medium-rare. Take it out the pan at about 120 degrees. Tent it foil and let it rest a good 10 minutes — the temperature will continue to rise.

For lamb that oozes exquisite scrumptiousness you should baste your meat every 15 minutes while it is cooking in the oven. Basting is when you pour the juices and fat that have escaped from the meat back over the meat to keep it moist and add flavour.

Before roasting, sear the lamb fat side down in a cast iron pan to help develop a beautiful caramel color on the outside of the lamb chops. This simple recipe combines brown sugar, mustard seed and mustard powder to create a balanced caramelized crust.

THE FINGER OR TONG TEST

Very soft = rare – bright red, raw centre. Soft = medium rare – pink inside with a red centre. Springy = medium – pink throughout. Firmer = well-done range – mostly brown inside.

Lower temp = more succulent meat – Tough cuts like lamb shoulder need slow-cooking to tenderise them. The lower the roasting temperature, the less total moisture evaporation and thus juicier meat.

A meat thermometer takes all the guesswork out of cooking the rack of lamb. Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat to test the doneness. It should read 125°F for rare or 135°F for medium rare. Remember: the temperature still will rise a bit after you take it out of the oven to rest.

Tent a large piece of foil over the roasting pan (make sure it does not touch the lamb) then place the pan on the middle rack of the 325 degrees F heated-oven. Roast covered for about 4 to 4 ½ hours. Add the potatoes and onions and return the pan to the oven, covered, for 1 to 1 ½ hours or so.

Yes, lamb meat can become more tender the longer you cook it, but it depends on the cut of lamb. Here's a breakdown of how different cuts of lamb respond to cooking: Lamb Shank: When cooked low and slow, lamb shanks become more tender as long as they don't dry out.

Key Ingredients for Roast Leg of Lamb

Garlic: Adds a buttery seasoning on top of the lamb just before it goes in the oven. Rosemary sprigs: Adds a rich, aromatic flavor to the leg of lamb. Olive oil, salt, and pepper: This serves as the rub over the leg of lamb.

Why is my lamb so tough? ›

Temperature is by far the most critical aspect of cooking lamb chops. Undercooking even tender lamb chops can render them unpleasantly chewy, while overcooking will lead to tough, dried-out meat. Rib chops should be cooked to about 130°F, while loin chops are better at 135°F or even 140°F.

Season Well: Pat the chops dry and season them with a mix of olive oil, paprika, thyme, garlic, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Marinate for at least 5 minutes, or up to an hour if possible. Searing: Preheat a cast iron skillet or heavy pan over medium-high heat. Sear the lamb chops for 3-5 minutes on each side.

Cook the lamb.

Arrange the lamb with the ribs pointing down. Cook for 15 minutes at 450ºF, then flip over and cook for another 10 minutes until the lamb has an internal temperature of 130ºF.

Searing the rack of lamb before finishing it in the oven can be a very good technique, particularly if you have chosen a simple seasoning. Searing renders excess fat from the rack, builds in additional flavor, and can also create a nice caramelization of the surface of the meat.

Season lamb racks with salt and pepper and rub garlic-rosemary oil all over them. Set racks fat-side up on a large rimmed baking sheet and let stand for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 450°F. Roast lamb in upper third of oven for 15 minutes. Turn racks and roast for 10 minutes longer for medium-rare meat.

In our experience, we found most lamb cuts, whether a rack of lamb or lamb loin chops, taste best when served medium rare. So, the meat's internal temperature should reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius). It will have a nice, juicy pink center, and seared exterior.

Medium rare: pull from oven at 135 degrees and let rest until it reaches 145 degrees. Medium: pull from oven at 150 degrees and let rest until it reaches 160 degrees. Well: pull from oven at 160 degrees and let rest until it reaches 170 degrees.

Rack of lamb serving ideas:

Risotto—say, our mushroom risotto—tastes particularly good alongside lamb, though grain salads, like farro salad, are a great alternative. A simple spinach salad + Greek lemon potatoes would also be perfect.

Whether boneless or bone-in, the perfect leg of lamb should be either oven-roasted until blushing pink on the inside (with an internal temp around 130°F) or roasted long and slow for several hours until the meat is very tender and falls apart to internal temp around 175°F (I often use the slow cooker for that).