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December 28, 2020
Greek lamb Kleftiko recipe
The very best traditional Greek lamb kleftiko recipe (Greek lamb wrapped in parchment paper)! Juicy and tender, melt-in-the-mouth lamb kleftiko with fluffy potatoes and a delicious white wine sauce, infused with the aromas of garlic, sweet onions, roast peppers and juicy tomatoes.. Simply irresistible!Lamb kleftiko is a rustic, traditional Greek recipe made with slow cooked lamb, first marinated in garlic, olive oil and lemon juice. This traditional recipe was originally cooked in an earth oven, a simple pit in the ground, used to trap heat and smoke. Lamb ‘kleftiko’ literally means lamb ‘stolen’. This name is said to originate from the Klephts who would steal lamb or goats and cook the meat in hidden underground ovens in order to seal the flavors and smells and avoid being caught!
Equipment
- kitchen baking paper
Ingredients
- 1-1 1/2 kg leg of lamb, boneless (approx. 2kg)
- 2 small red onions
- 2–3 bell peppers (green, red, orange)
- 4 cloves of garlic (2 sliced and 2 whole)
- 2 tbsps mustard
- 1 pc juice of half a lemon
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 200 g Kefalotyri or Graviera or any hard yellow cheese cut into cubes
- 5 medium sized potatoes
- 1/2 ripe tomato sliced
- salt
- freshly ground pepper
Instructions
1
- To prepare this Greek lamb kleftiko recipe, start by washing thoroughly the lamb and cut into portions (approx. 5*6 cm). Place in a large bowl or basin and set aside.
2
- Prepare the vegetables for the lamb kleftiko. Cut the onions in half and then in four wedges. Cut the peppers in 2-3 cm chunks and slice 2 cloves of garlic. Add the vegetables in the bowl with the lamb and pour in the olive oil, white wine and lemon juice. Add the mustard, 2 whole cloves of garlic, sprinkle with oregano and season with salt and pepper. Use your hands to blend all the ingredients together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, chill and let marinade for at least 2 hours. It’s best to leave the meat for the lamb kleftiko marinade overnight, to soak up all the wonderful flavours.
3
- Once the meat for the lamb kleftiko is marinated, return the lamb at room temperature. In the same bowl add the cheese (cut into 2cm cubes) and blend. Preheat the oven to 180C
4
- To prepare the potatoes for this lamb kleftiko recipe, peel the potatoes and cut in four pieces. (The lamb kleftiko will require about 2 1/2 hours baking, so it’s best to cut the potatoes in large pieces, to keep their shape.)
5
- Now it’s time to wrap the lamb kleftiko in parchment paper. Lay 4 long pieces of parchment paper to form a star. Pop the potatoes in the centre of the parchment paper and season with salt and a pinch of oregano. Pour the marinade from the lamb over the potatoes and set the lamb and vegetables on top of the potatoes. Layer with the sliced tomato and enclose the lamb kleftiko into a pouch. To enclose the lamb kleftiko hold the parchment paper from the edges, crosswise and grab with your hand in the middle, just above the stuffing and squeeze. Use the kitchen string to tie tightly the whole thing together, just above the stuffing and lift into a roasting tin.
6
- Roast the lamb kleftiko in the oven for about 1 hour 45 minutes until tender. Remove the tin from the oven and increase the temperature to 220C. Unwrap the lamb kleftiko and scrunch the parchment paper under the rim of the tin. Baste the lamb with the juices and return in the oven for a further 20 mins until browned. Remove the pieces of lamb from the pouch and wrap them in some foil to rest. Toss the potatoes and return in the oven for about 20 minutes, until nicely coloured.
7
- Return the lamb pieces in the roasting tin and serve the lamb kleftiko as it is. Enjoy!
Notes
If you are not too keen on Lamb, a very popular variation of this lamb kleftiko is ‘pork kleftiko or exohiko" so if you fancy experimenting you can give this one a try too! So go ahead, prepare this traditional Greek lamb kleftiko recipe for your friends and family and impress them with this delicious hearty, traditional family dinner!
