Slow-cooked Mexican leg of lamb
I wanted somewhere the eight of us could meet. I wanted a shared style of food where everyone could just pitch in an amount of money and have a feast. It had to be reasonably priced and a good layout so we could all share the table.
This was my list of desires for the meeting of the bridal party a few months before the wedding. Agave, a local Mexican restaurant fitted the bill perfectly. They served a 4-hour leg of lamb that was perfect for sharing and at $80, the price was right too.
When we arrived, a quick scan of the menu revealed a rather large price hike. The lamb was now $125! We still ordered it because I’d been raving about how deliciously tender and tasty it was. It was disappointing. The meat was pretty tough and tasteless compared to the original.
A couple of months later they were closed. It seems that upping the price and dropping the quality was a last-ditch effort to save themselves.
The ingredients
I didn’t want to miss out on having the lamb ever again so last week I endeavored to recreate it myself. I’d never cooked a leg of lamb before and had no idea what I was doing but it seems the fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants method paid off this time.
The meat was fork tender and perfectly spiced. I was rather proud of myself. What was even better was it cost me $20 for the lamb and everything else I had at home. It sure beats the $125 we paid last time!
The ingredient list might look long but this is a really really easy dish to make.
Onion lining
Place the onions in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl. They’re there to stop the lamb sitting on the bottom and burning (and to add a bit of flavour). It probably wouldn’t matter if you didn’t have them but I thought it better to be safe than sorry.
Ready for cooking
Carefully place the lamb leg on top of the onions so it doesn’t touch the sides.
In a small bowl, combine the oregano, cumin, salt, sugar, garlic, lime juice, oil and paprika and then pour them over the lamb. Yes I just got out all the Mexican ingredients I could find and kept adding them until I hit something that smelled right. Will was subjected to a ‘close your eyes and smell this does it smell Mexican?’ while watching the Origin.
Tip in the tinned tomatoes and then put the chili, bay leaf, cinnamon and cloves on top.
Put the lid on the slow cooker, set it to low and let it do its thing for 8 hours.
Slow-cooked Mexican leg of lamb
After the eight hours, I took the lid off and spooned some of the liquid over the top then put the lid back on and put it on high for 30 minutes.
You probably don’t need to do that but I would spoon the juices over and let it sit in the cooker for a little while longer.
Slow-cooked Mexican leg of lamb
Very carefully transfer it to a serving dish. It will be super tender at this stage and practically falling off the bone so you have to be carefully not to lose the lot.
Falling off the bone
I served mine in the middle of the table with tongs so everyone could help themselves. If you want it to be a bit prettier, you could shred the meat before and serve it ready to go in a serving bowl. I personally think it’s more fun having the leg on the table.
Ready for wrapping
I think the best way to eat it is wrapped in warm tortillas with some salsa, guacamole and cheese. Wrap them up and gobble them up. Enjoy!
What about you? Do you recreate dishes you try in restaurants?
Slow-cooked Mexican leg of lamb
Slow-cooked Mexican leg of lamb
a Claire K Creations original recipe
serves 4
- 1.5kg leg of lamb on the bone
- 3 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp sea salt flakes or 1 tsp regular table salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp crushed garlic
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 onions, peeled and quartered
- 3 red chilies sliced in 3 pieces
- 1/2 tsp hot paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cinnamon quill
- 6 whole cloves
- 1 tin diced tomatoes
- flour tortillas to serve (I usually make my own)
Accompaniments
- grated cheese
- guacamole
- salsa
- sour cream
- chili
In a small bowl, combine the oregano, cumin, salt, sugar, garlic, lime juice, oil and paprika.
Place the chopped onions on the bottom of a slow cooker and place the lamb on top so it’s not touching the sides of the bowl.
Pour over the spice mix and the chopped tomatoes and then add the cinnamon stick, bay leaf, cloves and chopped chili on top.
Put the lid on and cook on low for 8 hours.
Take the lid off and spoon the juices over the lamb. Put the lid back on and cook on high for half an hour.
Carefully remove the lamb to a serving platter.
Serve it with tortillas and your choice of accompaniments.
If you liked this post, why not subscribe and receive updates straight to your inbox?
I am Claire & I love food. Here you'll find my favourite recipes, tips, tricks, restaurants & plates full of frivolity with the odd crafty post. New inspiration posted daily.
I have no doubt your version is worth much more than the money we spent on the underwhelming lamb that night! It looks delicious, I’m adding it to my “To Cook…” list right now x x
It was very underwhelming wasn’t it?! xx
That’s a lovely meal Claire. I can’t believe the restaurant practically doubled the price overnight and even then, the meal was terrible. That’s so expensive. No wonder they are now out of business. So much better to make your own. This looks so yummy and all that slow cooking has made the lamb look so very tender. xx
I couldn’t believe it either. In true Claire style I went back in and spoke to them but they really didn’t have anything to say about it. I was only telling them that their lamb supplier had given them some dodgy lamb but they didn’t want to hear it!
We’re all going to read this post — every single word of it and we’re going to come away with just one line.
“Does this smell Mexican??”
I love you to bits. You’re so cute.
Yes I thought that might be the case! The best part was there was no strange look. Just an obedient sniff and yes. He’s used to it!
Hehe snap! I have a shoulder of lamb defrosting and I am just trying to figure out what to do with it. It’s so disappointing when a dish you’ve been looking forward to doesn’t fulfil expectations!
Ooh look forward to hearing what you did with it.
Yes I know that feeling tonight… I attempted beef cheeks and they were a big fat fail
Hehe “does this smell Mexican”. That looks like a great way to cook a leg of lamb. I find that when trying to recreate restaurant dishes at home and there’s something missing, the answer is usually “add butter”. Probably doesn’t apply to Mexican food, though
Haha yes I think the butter is the secret ingredient too. I’m fine to eat it in a restaurant but I can’t bring myself to add it to my own food.
The lamb leg looks so tender and juicy!
It was Angie! Thank you slow cooker.
Wow I’m surprised Will responded to a non-football question with the Origin on! Here it’s strictly football only during those times. Great creation and one I will definitely try. I’m usually non-adventurous with lamb (garlic and rosemary only) but this looks wonderful.
It was probably to get me out of the way of the TV! It’s an easy way to expand your lamb repertoire.
What can I say but yum!
I love cumin in Mexican food for its lovely earthy flavour.
I’d never thought of it like that. It’s warming and comforting without being stodgy isn’t it?
Claire, that’s a fabulous recipe, thank you! I’ll be bookmarking this one. We don’t have a slow cooker, but I have poached lamb before on the hob, so I’ll try with these flavourings next time!
Celia I think a slow cooker might need to be your next purchase. I imagine this would work just as well cooked any other way nice and slowly.
I guess bad lamb is one of the reasons they went out of business haha. Love the flavours in this dish Claire – I’m bookmarking this for our next part-ay
Haha I would say so! I was sad to see it go but I’ve heard rumours a Japanese restaurant is taking its place and you know how I feel about Japanese!