Leg of lamb - has anyone used anchovies?

[DoneThings]

I read a recipe which suggests slavering lamb in anchovy before roasting. Has anyone done this? Any other good ideas? I did a lamb roast with lentils once but can’t remember whose recipe it was. Not made roast lamb for a long time & I have in-laws coming tomorrow!

Yes, dont overdo it but its really nice

My best lamb that I ever did was slow cooked in the oven for 7 hours, low heat, but it was shoulder not leg, not sure if that makes a difference

Anchovies are great for umami. You won’t be able to taste them but you’ll notice the difference.

Lots of things will have a similar effect. Fish sauce, soy sauce, mushrooms (mushroom paste), seaweed, shrimp paste, and so on.

Yes anchovies work really well, they give it a lovely savoury (but not fishy) taste. I often do the lamb in garlic, rosemary and oregano and serve with Greek salad, flat breads and garlicky roasted new potatoes, or rubbed in harissa and served with Moroccan style sides like roasted veg and cous cous. Today I am cooking this with Spanish potatoes and a couple of Ottolenghi veg sides (you can tell we eat quite a bit of lamb 😂 love it for big groups as slow cooked, it’s so forgiving if people are late etc)I:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spanish-style-slow-cooked-lamb-shoulder-beans