1. By Nils Ebert Roast lamb castilian style

2. In Spanish, Christmas Eve is called "La Noche Buena," literally translated as "The Good Night.". Lamb is also a traditional meal in the entire country during Christmas Roasted lamb is a very typical Christmas Eve recipe in several areas of Castilla (Spain)

3. Ingredients for 4 – 6 people 1.5 kg (3 ½ lb) leg of lamb 2 tablespoons of olive oil Salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon fresh thyme 2 cloves of garlic finely sliced 1 wineglass of dry white wine 300 ml of water 2 tablespoons of wine vinegar Juice of 1 lemon Potatoes (the quantity just depends on how much you want to cook with the lamb) 1 or 2 large onions 4 or 5 whole garlic cloves (or add less if you don't want such a strong flavour) Roast lamb castilian style

4. Make some cuts in the leg of lamb and put some slices of garlic into them. Rub the lamb with the olive oil, spice it with salt, pepper and the thyme over the surface of the lamb. Let the lamb sit for an hour to absorb the flavours. Roast lamb castilian style Preparation (1) Peel and cut the potatoes into slices about 1cm thick and place on the bottom of a roasting tin. Slice the onions and mix them with the potatoes and peel the garlic but leave the cloves as a whole and add to the potatoes and onions.

5. Put the white wine, water, vinegar and lemon juice into a pan and bring to the boil. Preparation (2) Roast lamb castilian style Place the lamb on top of the potatoes, onions and garlic and pour about half of the liquid (white wine, water, vinegar and lemon juice boiled before) over the meat.

6. Place all in a preheated oven at 230ºC/450ºF for 15 minutes. Then turn the heat down to 190ºC/375ºF and continue to roast it. Pour from time to time some of the liquid over the meat. If the potatoes soak up too much of the liquid you can make more. Roast lamb castilian style Preparation (3) For cooking time allow 15 minutes per 450g (1lb) if you like your lamb pink, and 25 minutes per 450g if you like it well done in the manner that the Spanish like it!

7. Traditionally in Spain this would be served along with the potato that is cooked with it but you might choose to serve it with some roast potatoes and vegetables of your choice. Roast lamb castilian style Buen provecho y...

8. ¡Feliz Navidad!