Hanging American Lamb Leg
Recipe provided by Hanging Lamb Leg - Over The Fire Cooking, courtesy of the American Lamb Board (Hanging American Lamb Leg | American Lamb).
Using hardwoods (oak, hickory, cherry, apple, etc…), build a campfire and allow to breakdown for 30 minutes before cooking.
While fire is burning down, season the American lamb leg with olive oil first, then add paprika, cumin, salt & pepper to taste. Make sure to cover lamb leg thoroughly with seasoning.
In a pot, make brine by boiling water. Once boiled, add all other brine ingredients (listed above) and let simmer for 15 minutes. Pour brine into a bowl or squirt bottle to be used while the lamb leg is cooking.
When fire is broken down, place tri-pod or other hanging device over top. Create a circle with the logs by moving everything out of the center of the fire to the edges. This will allow the heat to cook the lamb leg from all directions.
Hang lamb leg & let cook for 3.5-4 hours or until the internal temperature is around 135F for a medium-rare (125F = Rare & 145F = Medium-Well Done). Continue to maintain heat for the fire at a medium to high intensity throughout the cook. Make sure to spray lamb leg with brine ever 30 minutes to maintain seasoning & prevent burning.
Once the lamb leg is cooked to your liking, pull off the fire and let rest for 3 minutes. The lamb will have various cook temperatures with it becoming more rare near the bone. Serve immediately after resting!
