Arnaki Kleftiko (bandit's Lamb)

Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 lbs leg of lamb
• 12 garlic cloves, peeled
• 6 ounces cheese, cut in cubes (kefalotyri, pecorino)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 lbs baking potatoes (peeled and cut in half or quarters)
• 3 medium carrots, cut in chunks
• sea salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 5 sheets of parchment cooking paper
• water

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 480°f
• 2 rub the lamb with a little olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
• 3 with a sharp knife, pierce the lamb and insert a clove of garlic and a piece of cheese into each opening. do this until the cloves are all inserted into the lamb.
• 4 drizzle the potatoes and carrots with any remaining oil, season to taste with salt and pepper.
• 5 on a clean work surface, spread out the parchment sheets and lay the lamb in the center, with the potatoes and carrots. if there is any remaining cheese, add as well.
• 6 close the parchment paper and secure well, tucking the sides underneath to make a packet.
• 7 fill a roasting pan 1/3 full of water, add the packet and cook for 2 hours 30 minutes, adding more water to the pan as needed to keep from getting dry.
• 8 when done, lift the entire packet onto a serving platter, and cut open at the table to serve.
• 9 alternate preparation: cut meat into serving size portions and wrap each portion, together with portion-size serving of potatoes and carrots, individually. set side by side in roasting pan to cook, and serve one packet to each plate.