This delicious lamb leg roast does have a few steps involved but it is worth it! You will make an amazing sourdough pesto stuffing and roast it to perfection for all your family to enjoy!

Lamb with Sourdough, Basil and Macadamia Pesto

Ingredients

• 400g white sourdough, crusts removed and discarded, bread torn into 1cm pieces
• 3/4 cup (180ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
• 1 bunch basil, thick stalks removed and discarded, leaves chopped
• 1/2 cup (75g) roasted macadamias
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1/2 cup (40g) finely grated parmesan
• Zest & juice of 1 lemon
• 3kg easy-carve lamb leg (ask your butcher to leave untied so you can add stuffing – substitute 3kg boneless lamb leg)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a large oven tray and line with baking paper. Place sourdough on prepared tray. Drizzle with oil and season to taste. Bake, tossing occasionally, for 12-15 minutes until golden and crisp, then transfer to a bowl.
2. Meanwhile, to make the pesto stuffing, place the basil, macadamias, garlic, parmesan and oil in a blender and whiz until pureed. Season to taste, add lemon zest and juice and pulse until combined.
3. Spoon pesto over croutons and toss to combine. Season to taste and stand for 1 hour at room temperature to marinate and slightly soften the croutons.
4. Increase oven to 220°C. Place the lamb on a chopping board. Place as much macadamia pesto stuffing as you can in the middle of the leg then roll lamb to enclose stuffing. Cut 8 pieces of kitchen string long enough to tie the lamb. Lay the string at even intervals on the bench. Place the rolled lamb onto the string. Bring up each piece of string and tie a knot to secure the lamb firmly so that it holds its shape during cooking.
5. Place lamb on a wire rack in a deep roasting pan. Roast for 1 hour 15 minutes for medium or until cooked to your liking. Remove from oven, cover loosely with foil and rest for 20-25 minutes before carving.
6. Serve with a fresh salad or roast vegetables.

Bon Appetite!

Recipe supplied by Gina from Yandina Butchery. Yandina Butchery can deliver their amazing free range and chemical free meats anywhere on the Sunshine Coast. Shop online or text on 0417 779 374