Herbed Leg of Lamb with Olive Butter and Roasted Tomatoes
This butterflied leg of lamb is slathered with an olive-spiked, mustardy butter before roasting.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup coarsely chopped shallots
- 1/2 cup crushed garlic cloves
- 1/3 cup thyme leaves, parsley leaves, and chopped rosemary
- 3 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 (5-pound) well-trimmed boned and butterflied leg of lamb
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- 2 pounds cherry tomatoes
- 2 thyme sprigs
- 1 stick plus 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup pitted and chopped picholine or niçoise olives
- 1/4 cup dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- kosher salt
- pepper
Direction
- In a blender or food processor, combine the shallots, garlic, thyme, parsley, rosemary, mustard, and 1/3 cup of the olive oil; blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the butter.
- Arrange the lamb fat-side down on a rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Spread the herb butter all over the lamb, leaving a 1-inch border. Refrigerate until the butter is semifirm, 30 minutes. Roll up the lamb with the butter inside and tie securely with kitchen twine at 1-inch intervals. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Rub the lamb with 2 tablespoons of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 130°F for medium-rare. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board and let rest for 20 minutes. Leave the oven on.
- On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the tomatoes with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the thyme sprigs and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, stirring, until softened.
- Discard the strings and thinly slice the lamb. Serve with the roasted tomatoes and olive butter.
- In a bowl, combine the butter with the olives, mustard, and parsley and season with salt and pepper.