- 2 (9 pound) legs of lamb, bone in, trimmed of excess fat
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
- 1 medium head garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brandy
- 1 1/2 cups Homemade Chicken Stock, or canned low-sodium chicken broth skimmed of fat
- Let lamb stand at room temperature for one hour. Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Remove all but a thin layer of fat from the lamb. Rub lamb with 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place on a rack in a heavy roasting pan.
- Meanwhile, rub head of garlic with 1/4 teaspoon oil; wrap loosely in foil. Bake until garlic is very soft, about 1 hour. Let cool.
- Cut off top of garlic head; squeeze roasted garlic into a bowl. Using a fork, mash garlic to a paste. Add extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, parsley, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix well.
- Rotate pan after lamb has roasted 1 1/4 hours. After 30 minutes more, slather lamb with roasted-garlic paste. Roast an additional hour (for a total roasting time of about 2 3/4 hours), or until an instant-read thermometer inserted at the thickest part reads 160 degrees F. Remove from oven, and let rest 20 minutes.
- Transfer lamb to a carving board. Pour off fat from roasting pan; place over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with flour, and stir with a wooden spoon. Pour in brandy; scrape up brown bits from bottom of pan. Lower heat to medium; let liquid reduce by half. Add stock, stirring until incorporated. Add rosemary and salt and pepper to taste.
- Slice lamb; serve with sauce on the side.