Meats and oven dishes

Borrego assado no forno

Lamb marinated with garlic, wine and herbs, slow roasted with potatoes.

RegionNational / Alentejo
DifficultyAverage
Total time2 hours 20 minutes
Servings6 servings
Photo of Borrego assado no forno — traditional Portuguese recipe
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

Editorial content from Empório Portugal. Traditional recipes may vary by region, family and cook.

About the recipe

Borrego assado no forno is a festive dish on many Portuguese tables, especially at family times and celebrations.

The fragrant marinade and slow roasting leave the meat tender and the potatoes full of flavour.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 kg of lamb in large pieces
  • 1 kg of potatoes
  • 5 cloves of garlic
  • 200 ml white wine
  • 100 ml of olive oil
  • Rosemary or bay leaf
  • 1 spoonful of Portuguese colorau
  • Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Season the lamb with garlic, wine, olive oil, herbs, colorau, salt and pepper.
  2. Let it marinate for a few hours.
  3. Roast covered initially.
  4. Add the potatoes and pour over the sauce.
  5. Bake until golden and tender.
  6. Serve with green salad or greens.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • A long marinade mellows the flavour of the meat.
  • Basting during roasting helps prevent the meat from drying out.
  • Potatoes should be golden and moist.

Possible replacements in Brazil

  • Locally sourced Brazilian lamb can be used in this adaptation.
  • Rosemary can be swapped for bay leaves.

Pairing

An Alentejo red wine. For people over 18 years old; drink in moderation.

Editorial note from Empório Portugal

This recipe is part of the editorial curation of Empório Portugal, developed from the Portuguese culinary tradition. Like any traditional recipe, it can vary depending on the region, the family and the cook.

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Quick facts

Prep
30 min
Cooking
1 hour 50 minutes
Total time
2 hours 20 minutes
Yield
6 servings
Difficulty
Average
Occasion
Easter, Sunday lunch

Pairing

An Alentejo red wine. For people over 18 years old; drink in moderation.

Empório tip

A long marinade mellows the flavour of the meat.

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