Lamb with Pomegranate Molasses, Garlic & Mint

Garlic and Mint Lamb with Pomegranate Molasses is a really simple dish to prepare and cook. It's perfect for a barbecue or cooked in the oven and needs very little attention, giving you plenty of time to do something else or prepare a delicious salad.

Perfect for lazy garden days at home or casual entertaining, the pomegranate molasses adds great colour and sweetness to this dish that the whole family will love.

What is pomegranate molasses?

Pomegranate molasses is basically pomegranate juice which is reduced down, without adding sugar, until it becomes a syrup. It has a sweet flavour but also a tang, making it perfect for using with meat marinades, in dressings and also diluted as a refreshing cordial.

In the UK I have been able to get it from some branches of Sainsbury's but it's easy to get hold of online too.

What are the ingredients for Lamb with Pomegranate Molasses?

I've used a 2 kg leg of lamb in this dish, which is plenty to serve six people, or plenty of leftovers, whichever way you look at it! It is delicious served cold or used in a curry, so nothing will go to waste.

The rest of the ingredients are simple; 80g of pomegranate molasses or about 5 tablespoons, water, mint leaves and 2 large cloves of garlic.

 

How do you make Lamb with Pomegranate Molasses?

Start by drying the lamb with kitchen towel. Cut 10 slits in the lamb.

Cut each garlic clove into 5 slices. Take a mint leaf and wrap around a piece of garlic then push into a slit in the lamb. Repeat with the remaining garlic.

If you are cooking this on a rotisserie attach the lamb to it now.

 

Heat the oven or barbecue to 180 C/350 F.

Mix the water with the pomegranate molasses.

Transfer the lamb to the rotisserie, turn it on. Put the lid on and ensure the temperature stabilises at 180 C.

For extra flavour, and to catch the juices, put a tray underneath with some damp hickory woodchips.

To oven cook, transfer to a large oven dish, lined with foil or use a disposable foil pan. This will stop the glaze from burning on the pan and it will be easy to clean afterwards. Trust me, I have cooked too many glazed hams in the oven and ended up with a pan that took a month to clean

Glaze the lamb with the molasses mixture.

Depending on the exact size of the lamb leg you will need around 2 hours to cook the lamb if you like it medium.

The guidance is 20 minutes for 450g of lamb, but obviously ovens are often different. To be sure of the internal temperature use a meat thermometer, which should register 82 C or 180F.

Baste the lamb with the pomegranate molasses marinade every 30 minutes or so to build up a rich, shiny finish.

When the lamb has finished cooking transfer to a platter and cover loosely with foil for at least 15 minutes. This will make it easier to carve.

I hope that you enjoy the is Lamb with Pomegranate Molasses. We often have s spit roast duck with pomegranate molasses - I can't tell you how crispy the skin gets!

What to serve with this dish

 

• Pomegranate Pistachio Cous Cous Salad

• Carrot and Celeriac Remoulade

• Asparagus Broccoli and Endamame Salad

Other roast meat recipes

• Pulled Pork with Pineapple Sauce

• Gammon with Bourbon Ginger Glaze

• Lamb Kleftiko

• Roast Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary

• Slow Roast Belly Pork with Chilli

• Tuscan Roast Pork with Apples and Potatoes

• French Tarragon Roast Chicken

📋 Recipe

Food safety

We sometimes take for a granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience, that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove