Leg Of Lamb In A Spicy Yogurt Sauce - cooking recipe

Ingredients

5 -6 lbs leg of lamb
For the Sauce
2 ounces blanched almonds
8 ounces onions, coarsely chopped
8 cloves peeled garlic
4 pieces ginger, approx 1 inch,peeled and coarsely chopped
4 fresh hot green chilies, coarsely chopped
20 fluid ounces plain yogurt
2 tablespoons ground cumin
4 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
16 cardamom pods
2 inches cinnamon sticks
10 black peppercorns
Garnish
4 tablespoons sultanas
1 ounce blanched split almonds or 1 ounce slivered almonds

Preparation

Remove all the fat from the outside of the leg and the white skin, or ask your butcher to do it.
Put the leg in a baking dish, stainless steel or glass is preferred because of the yogurt marinade.
Put in your blender or food processor the almonds, onions, garlic, ginger, green chilies and about 3 tablespoons of the yogurt, process to a paste.
The remaining yogurt you put in a dish, beat lightly until smooth, add the paste and the cumin, coriander, cayenne and garam masala, mix.
Stab the lamb all over, making good deep cuts.
Now the fun begins, using your hands push generous amounts of paste in the natural openings of the lamb, then in the cuts you made.
Spread remaining paste all over and around the lamb, the side that will be up should get a thick layer.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
When ready to bake, remove the lamb from the fridge and give it enough time to get to room temperature.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Heat the oil in a small pan on a medium flame, when hot add the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and peppercorns, when the cloves swell, this just takes seconds pour the hot oil and the spices over the lamb.
Cover the dish with its own lid or tightly with aluminum foil, bake covered for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for another 45 minutes or longer if you prefer.
During this time baste the meat regularly with the sauce.
Scatter, or make nice pattern, the sultana's and almonds over the top of lamb in the yogurt paste.
Bake for another 5-6 minutes.
Remove the dish from the oven; leave it a warm place for 15 minutes or so.
Take the leg out of the pan, spoon the fat from the top of the sauce, strain the sauce and discard the whole spices.
Serve the leg on a platter with the sauce poured around it.