Spiced Lamb Stuffed with Apricots and Walnuts
Updated Feb 15, 2021, Published Mar 30, 2015
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This lamb starts with a sweet and spicy rub of Sephardic tradition, and the mixture of walnuts apricots is similar to another Passover dish, charoset.

Spiced Lamb Stuffed with Apricots and Walnuts
Ingredients
- 1 3-4 pound boneless leg of lamb, pounded to even thickness
For the spice rub:
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
For the filling:
- 1½ cups dried apricots
- ¾ cup walnuts
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup loosely packed fresh mint
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Chopped cilantro or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Place the lamb in a large casserole dish. Whisk together all of the spice rub ingredients and rub evenly over both sides of the lamb. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a food processor, pulse together the apricots, walnuts, and cinnamon until the mixture is finely ground. Add the mint and pulse until it is finely chopped and the mixture forms a paste.
- Remove the lamb from the refrigerator and uncover. Lay it out on a work surface (such as a large, rimmed baking sheet) with the fattier side facing down. Spread the filling mixture evenly over the lamb. Roll it up tightly and secure with kitchen twine.
- In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the lamb and cook for about 8 minutes, turning halfway through to sear both sides. Remove from heat and transfer to the preheated oven. Roast for 1½ -2 hours, until a meat thermometer registers 145°F (rare) or 160°F (medium).
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a cutting board. Tent with foil and let rest for 20 minutes before slicing. Garnish with cilantro or parsley if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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