The glorious weather continues. Okay, it probably hasn’t been going on for that long but every morning you wake up to blue sky in England is a real bonus for me. And the sky couldn’t be bluer. My mission today? To come up with a dish that pairs perfectly with the loveliest Italian wine – Kurtatsch Curtis 2018 Merlo Cabernet Alto Adige – how about butterflied leg of lamb?
My first thought? Barbecue (naturally) but as I am between barbecues (big news coming on that front), I ended up using the oven. I couldn’t resist the beautiful butterflied leg of lamb I spotted at my local Farmers’ Market. Now what to do with it!
Delicate Moroccan flavours match wonderfully with this stunning Italian blend. So I made up a quick and simple marinade using Ras El Hanout. Literally translated this spice mix from North African means ‘top of the shop’ which reflects its expensive ingredients. Good blends will have around 20 spices – I have read that there could be up to 100. Spices like cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, rose buds and other flowery concoctions. It does have something of a floral flavour to it.
Mix 2 tsps of Ras El Hanout, 2 tbsps of olive oil and the juice of a lime. Rub the marinade into the lamb making sure it is thoroughly covered. Marinade for three to four hours.
Then all you have to do is put the lamb in its marinade into the oven at 180C and cook for 30mins. Remove from the oven and take the butterflied leg of lamb out of the marinade. Cover with foil and rest for 10 mins. Then slice thinly and serve with your choice of salad or vegetables.
As it’s so summery I made up a fresh crunchy salad which I am going to call my sunshine salad. It just looks like summer. A mix of cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce, radishes, little yellow peppers and cucumber. I paired it with a delicious ranch dressing – beautifully creamy and garlicky.
The perfect pairing for the Kurtausch Curtis 2018 Merlo Cabernet Alto Adige. This red wine is crafted by Kurtatsch in the Dolomite Alps in the German-speaking part of Italy. It’s similar to a Bordeaux blend, made from 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a beautifully rounded wine with aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry, plenty of body and a lovely long finish. A wonderful companion to my spiced, tender lamb.
The wine facts
Kurtatsch Curtis 2018 Merlot Cabernet Alto Adige is available online from Italian wine specialists Independent Wines who offer free next day delivery and free gift wrapping on all orders. Find out more here.
Kurtausch Curtis 2018 Merlto Cabernet Alto Adige retails for £17.93.
