Sardinian Lamb With Sauce And Pasta

Total Time: 1 hr 52 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 12 mins

Ingredients

• 4 lbs leg of lamb, bone in, brought to room temperature
• kosher salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil (use 2 for stuffing and 1 for browning)
• 6 garlic cloves
• 5 sprigs fresh rosemary, 2 chopped, 3 whole
• 2 large onions, peeled and quartered
• 2 large bell peppers, cut into large chunks (green and red)
• 2 lbs tomatoes, coarsely chopped (peeled if skin are tough)
• 1 lb thin spaghetti
• grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• fresh basil, if you have it

Recipe

• 1 pre-heat oven to 325.
• 2 in a food processor, combine 2 tbs of olive oil, salt, pepper, 2 large sprigs of rosemary leaves, garlic and process.
• 3 cut several deep slits into the meat and fill with the above mixture. rub the rest of the mixture over the outside of the lamb.
• 4 heat a large, deep, oven proof baking pan to medium high heat and add 1 tbs. of olive oil.
• 5 brown the leg all over.
• 6 lift the meat and place the three large sprigs of rosemary beneath it.
• 7 add the tomatoes with juice, onions, peppers, salt and pepper to taste.
• 8 cover with foil and cook for 17 minutes per lb (medium rare).
• 9 remove meat from pan, cover with foil and let rest for 15 minutes.
• 10 while the meat is resting, cook the pasta to one minute shy of the box instructions for al dente. be sure to use lots of water and add a good amount of salt to the water once it comes to a boil.
• 11 place the sauce made with the lamb in a large pot over medium heat.
• 12 a minute before the pasta is done, add 2 small ladles of the pasta water to the sauce if you think it is too thick.
• 13 drain the pasta and add to the sauce.
• 14 toss well, grate in some parmesan cheese and simmer for a minute or two.
• 15 place the pasta and sauce in a pretty family style serving platter.
• 16 add 2 tbs of olive oil and toss.
• 17 thinly slice the lamb and place on top of the pasta.
• 18 grate on a little more parmesan cheese and sprinkle with chopped fresh basil if you have it --.
• 19 enjoy!