- Wipe the meat dry with paper towels. With a small knife make slits about 1-inch deep all over the meat and insert the slivers of garlic and rosemary.
- In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, and pepper and mix well with a fork. Rub the mixture all over the lamb, coating it well. Place the meat in a deep dish, cover it, and let it marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Place the lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and add the wine to the pan. Roast for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees, basting the meat every 15 minutes with the pan juices. Remove the roast to a cutting board and let cool slightly.
- Carve into pieces, arrange on a platter, and pour the pan juices over the meat. Serve immediately.
- This recipe yields 8 servings.
- Comments: Roast baby lamb, considered a delicacy, takes the place of honor on the Italian Easter table. The word abbacchio refers specifically to baby lamb weighing between 15 and 25 pounds and milk-fed. Lamb is prepared in many ways in Italy: Grilled on a spit, braised, stewed, and roasted in the oven. The Romans take particular pride in their method of cooking lamb.
Notes:
Recipe from "Ciao Italia" by Mary A. Esposito, (Morrow Cookbooks, 1991) |
