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Roast Breast of Lamb with Leek and Chestnut Stuffing

Ready in 1 hr 40 mins

Recipe by Graham 

Roast Breast of Lamb with Leek and Chestnut Stuffing is a great way to cook breast of lamb using a leek and chestnut stuffing to absorb all the flavours... a French technique with English soul for a tempting family dish.

Breast of lamb is a forgotten cut, which means it's great value, as well as deliciously tender when slow-cooked. It's cheap; it's most often packaged as a 2-3 portion rolled and boneless joint, just right for a Sunday lunch plus leftovers; and it comes with the promise of sweet and tender meat.

Ideally, buy a whole unrolled breast from a butcher and ask them to de-bone it for you. When you've got it back in the kitchen, pare off as much fat as you can get at, without destroying the beast out of existence. Then roll it up with you chosen stuffing to make a really glorious roast dinner.

Preparation Time

25 Minutes

Cooking Time

1 Hour 15 Minutes

Ingredients for Roast Breast of Lamb with Leek and Chestnut Stuffing

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Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements

To serve 6:

2 lb lean boned breast of lamb
  salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons crushed cardamom seeds
FOR THE LEEK AND CHESTNUT STUFFING
2 oz butter
1 medium leek
2 cloves of garlic
6 oz cooked, peeled chestnuts
2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley
2 oz fresh white breadcrumbs
1 egg

How to Cook Roast Breast of Lamb with Leek and Chestnut Stuffing

  1. Wash and finely chop the leek, peel and finely chop the garlic, finely chop the chestnuts, chop the parsley and beat the egg. In a large bowl mix all the stuffing ingredients together. Place the breast of lamb on a chopping board and unroll it, skin side down. Trim off any excess fat then season on both sides with the salt, pepper and cardamom.
  2. Spread the stuffing mix evenly over the surface of the lamb and re-roll, securing with butcher's string or elasticated meat bands (available from your butcher's shop or meat counter).
  3. Weigh the joint with the stuffing. Place on a metal rack in a large non-stick roasting tin and open roast in a preheated moderate oven (Mk 4 - 350ºF - 180ºC) for 45 minutes for the preferred, calculated cooking time, basting with any rich meat juices. Remove from the oven when it reaches 5ºC (10ºF) below the desired doneness. The temperature will continue to rise as the meat stands.
  4. Serve the lamb with roast potatoes and herby baby carrots.
GRAHAM'S HOT TIP:
When shopping for chestnuts make sure you get them peeled and prepared either vacuum packed or in jars.