Skip to Content
Recipes

How to Have a Roman “Feaster”

9:58 AM EST on March 5, 2023

a photo of leg of lamb.

Easter is a home game for Rome, so it makes sense that the celebration there is the center of the universe on that sacred Sunday in early April. All that business at the Vatican and churches throughout the Eternal City aside, it’s around the tables where denizens celebrate Easter in a way that honors the second great religion of Rome: Food. Here’s the menu for what we at Appetito call the holiday of “Feaster.” What we have is a classic roast lamb with potatoes, peas & pancetta, and a fennel and orange salad (best enjoyed after the main meal).

Leg of Lamb with Roasted Potatoes

Leg of Lamb with Roasted Potatoes

Recipe by Andrew Cotto
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: Recipes
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

2

hours 

Ingredients

  • 1 7-8 lb 1 bone-in leg of lamb, trimmed of excess fat

  • 6 6 cloves garlic, mashed

  • 1/4 cup 1/4 fresh rosemary, minced (5 additional sprigs for garnish)

  • 1 tbsp 1 Kosher salt (extra for additional seasoning)

  • 1/2 tbsp 1/2 black pepper

  • 3 tbsp 3 extra-virgin olive oil

  • 8 8 medium-sized Yukon gold potatoes, quartered

  • 2 cups 2 beef broth

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 425°. 
  • Make one-inch incisions around the meat. 
  • Mix garlic with minced rosemary, salt, pepper, olive oil. Rub all over the leg of lamb, stuffing the incisions. Let rest in open air for 30 minutes on the rack of a roasting pan. 
  • Roast until lamb begins to brown, about 30 minutes. 
  • Reduce heat to 350°.
  • Add potatoes, seasoned with salt, pepper, and lightly coated in olive oil. 
  • Roast for 30 minutes. 
  • Add the cup of beef broth and roast another 30 minutes or until the lamb is medium-rare. 
  • Remove lamb and let rest for 20 minutes, loosely covered in foil.
  • Toss potatoes and add more broth, as needed; return to oven until nicely browned.
  • Slice lamb, season to taste, sprinkle with two freshly stripped rosemary sprigs, garnish with remaining sprigs, and serve aside the warm potatoes.

Notes

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @appetitomagazine on Instagram and hashtag it with #italianfoodanddrink

Like this recipe?

Follow @Appetitomagazine on Pinterest

Follow us on Facebook!

Follow us on Facebook

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More Stories

Carne da Macello: When Italians Turn People into Meat

Italian gives human expendability a distinctly culinary form.

September 14, 2026

Appetito Travels: An Expert’s Guide to Bologna, Italy

Spend three days exploring the food, restaurants and culinary traditions of Bologna and nearby cities.

September 14, 2026

Anthony Mangieri of Una Pizza Napoletana on Competitions

Our EIC speaks with Anthony Mangieri of Una Pizza Napoletana ahead of the 2026 Top 50 Pizza Worldwide competition in Naples.

September 14, 2026

Mondays With Michele: Where the Week Begins with Italian Flare

Michele Sessa introduces her new column "Mondays with Michele" that will feature Italian recipes to set the tone for the week.

September 14, 2026

Sunday Shop: NYFW Bag-Worthy Beauty Products

Morgan Hines seeks out the best in not only food and drink but style, housewares, and more. Welcome to Appetito’s Sunday Shop!

September 13, 2026

I Tried Giadzy’s Gluten-Free Pasta and Even My Teenager Loved It

This Italian-made pasta passed the ultimate test at my dinner table.

September 12, 2026