Kleftiko

Welcome to Chios Radio.gr. Today we will climbing in the mountains, because I would like to eat really wild meat.
But I start from the beginning…
Kleftiko is baked sealed, wrapped in parchment paper.

The lamb is delicious in marinade of olive oil with garlic, juice from lemon and spices mixed together. We can also cook potatoes, onions, tomatoes and pepper within the sauce and dry white wine. When I think about it I begin to be hungry.
But first I want to tell you the history of this dish…
Story of this dish is beginning when rebel people were living in Greek mountains. They were stealing shepherd’s meat and then they were eating it. Stolen lamb prepared in pits in the ground, because they didn’t want nobody to inquired about their secret place and smell could betray them.
Now I will tell you about the recipe...

Ingredients
• 1 kg leg of lamb,
• 2 red onions
• 2 1/2 bell peppers
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• juice of half a lemon
• 1 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1/2 a cup olive oil
• 1/2 a cup dry white wine
• 200g yellow cheese
• 5 medium sized potatoes
• 1/2 ripe tomato, sliced
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• parchment paper
• kitchen string

STEP BY STEP
** We start by washing thoroughly the lamb and cutting it into portions, after we place in a large bowl.
** Cut the onions in half and then in four wedges. Cut the peppers in 2-3 cm chunks and slice 2 cloves of garlic. Add the vegetables in the bowl with the lamb and pour in the olive oil, white wine and lemon juice. Add the mustard, sprinkle with oregano and season with salt and pepper. Use your hands to blend all the ingredients together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, chill and let marinade for at least 2 hours. It is the best to leave the meat for the lamb kleftiko marinade overnight, to soak up all the wonderful flavours.
** Once the meat for the lamb kleftiko is marinated, return the lamb at room temperature. In the same bowl add the cheese and blend. Preheat the oven to 180C.
** To prepare the potatoes for this lamb kleftiko recipe, peel the potatoes and cut in four pieces.
** So now we can insert everything in parchment paper.

** Roast the lamb kleftiko in the oven for about 1 hour 45 minutes until tender. Remove the tin from the oven and increase the temperature to 220C. Unwrap the lamb kleftiko. Baste the lamb with the juices and return in the oven for a further 20 mins until browned.

Meal is ready. Enjoy!