Kleftiko is a Greek lamb dish that is easy to make. While lamb is common in many cuisines around the world, it is still a rarity on American tables. This dish is certain to change your mind about lamb. Instead of the usual pot roast for a Sunday dinner, why not make this kleftiko. In Greek it literally means "stolen meat" because of the tale about a pair of thieves who stole a lamb and cooked it in a hole in the ground while they continued their illicit pursuits. You can "steal" this recipe, but be sure to say where you found it.
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. This is a low heat. You can also use the "warm" setting if your oven does not have temperatures below 300.
2. Put 1 1/4 lb lamb shank, cut into 1-inch cubes, into a baking dish and cover it with 1 tbsp. olive oil.
3. Add the two sliced onions, a clove of chopped garlic, 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary leaves, one or two whole bay leaves, and salt and pepper around the lamb in the baking dish.
4. Cut a strip of aluminum foil to fit around the rim of the baking dish. Cover the pan with the lid, ensuring that the aluminum foil is between the lid and the pan to form an airtight seal.
5. Place the dish into the oven and bake for four to five hours at 250 degrees F until the lamb registers at least 140 degrees on a meat thermometer. The temperatures for lamb are the same as for beef.
Tags: baking dish, aluminum foil
