Roast Leg of Lamb Day

Roast Leg of Lamb Day - Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Food & Drink Meat

Sheep have had a long history as part of the culinary delights of the world, whether you think of the ubiquitous roast mutton that permeates British culture, or the sheep that were in the manger with Joseph and Mary when the Christian Messiah was born, sheep have been with us a long time. Roast Leg of Lamb Day celebrates that most popular of sheep based dishes, the roast leg of lamb, rich, savory, and all too often served with Mint, it’s hard to go wrong with a good roast leg of lamb.

History of Roast Leg of Lamb Day

When we say sheep have been with us for a long time, we mean a loooooong time. The origin of the domesticated sheep goes back to 11,000 BC in Mesopotamia, and share the distinction of being one of the first animals domesticated by mankind. These sheep were known as mouflon, and weren’t quite the woolly sheep we know today.

Then they were raised for their meat, milk, and skin for parchment and vellum. In fact, the wool that we so often think of sheep for today wasn’t an important part of their use until 6000 BC in Iran.

What Roast Leg of Lamb Day serves to remind us of, is that when we indulge in this wonderful dish, we’re sharing a meal that our ancestors have shared for thousands of years. Mutton and Sheep’s milk have a staple protein since we first transitioned from hunting and gathering to an agricultural lifestyle.

Now mutton is a much-loved meat, an important staple in cultures all over the world, while their wool is vital to many an economy. So on Roast Leg of Lamb Day honor this noble animal and its contribution to the human culture!

How to celebrate Roast Leg of Lamb Day

How best to honor it than by indulging in a delicious dish of Roast Leg of Lamb. If you’ve never made Roast Leg of Lamb, it’s remarkably simple. Simply place it in a roasting pan and rub it down with olive oil, then give it a solid dusting of salt and pepper. Broil it in the oven for 5 minutes, flip it over, and broil it again, and then apply a healthy measure of rosemary and garlic. Cover it with aluminum foil, and roast it for one hour at 325F. Voila, you now have a magnificent roast leg of lamb, and you and your family can rejoice!

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