Gourmet Garden Roast Lamb

Ingredients
1.5kg roast
2tbs olive oil
1 tbsp Gourmet Garden Rosemary
1 tbsp Gourmet Garden Garlic
Step 1 - Place roast in oven & bake for 30-40mins at 180C.
Step 2 - Surround half cooked roast with peeled vegies. Bake for a further 25-30mins till vegies are golden.
Step 3 - Put olive oil in small dish. Stir Gourmet Garden Rosemary and Gourmet Garden Garlic.
Step 4 - Smear oil mixture over roast & vegies, bake for a further 5-10mins & drizzle with honey. Enjoy!

This recipe uses: Gourmet Garden Garlic & Gourmet Garden Rosemary

---

Easter for most Australians is a time for family gatherings and celebrations, with fish traditionally a Good Friday favourite and a hearty roast lamb the choice for Easter Sunday family dinners.

Leading Australian dietician, Karen Inge APD, has developed some easy to prepare fish and lamb recipes to serve at Easter, with all the meals nutritionally balanced to avoid the "high fat" factor often involved with holiday feasting.

"Easter can be a rather indulgent time, with Easter eggs, hot cross buns with lashings of butter and lots of family meals to enjoy. Our recipes are really easy and perfect for entertaining, and you can serve them knowing they are nutritious" said Karen.

"Easter eating should be traditional and tasty, but you can simply reduce the fat and salt content by using herbs and spices and adopting healthy cooking methods.

"The beauty of herbs and spices is that they add flavour, while also giving you a nutritional boost due to their high antioxidant count" said Karen.

A great Easter lunch starter is a simple prawn and parsley salad prepared by combining freshly peeled prawns with lemon juice, olive oil, mixed lettuce, Gourmet Garden garlic and parsley. Peel and chill the prawns, toss all the ingredients through and then serve on a platter for the family to help themselves.

Australia is renowned for its fantastic seafood. A whole barbequed fish such as snapper or trout, prepared with spices such as Gourmet Garden's oregano and chilli mixed with slices of lemon is a great way to serve a simple and healthy dish to the whole family. To prepare the fish simply brush the inside of the cleaned fish with olive oil and then brush 1-2 tablespoons of Gourmet Garden oregano and chilli, add a few slices of lemon, sprinkle freshly ground pepper and then wrap the fish in alfoil and cook on the barbie.

If the weather is cooler bring the cooking inside by simply placing the fish on a baking rack, in a baking dish and popping it into a hot oven. Other flavour options can include combining Gourmet Garden coriander with lemon grass and a touch of chilli for a Thai-style twist; or alternatively mix Gourmet Garden dill with some lemon juice and olive oil and brush on a piece of trout.

"There are many benefits from eating seafood" says Karen. "Fish is low in saturated fat and is an excellent source of protein, essential Omega 3 fatty acids, iodine and some vitamins"

"Flavours can always be added to fish and a good way without boosting kilojoules or fat intake is through herbs and spices such as dill, oregano rosemary or chilli" said Karen.

If you'd prefer fillets to the whole fish, try Gourmet Garden's recipe for "striped fish fillets", with a stripe of basil, chilli and garlic decorating the fillet before cooking. Alternatively, try a Mediterranean approach with grilled fish fillets served with a fantastic salsa verde made by blending lemon zest, Gourmet Garden parsley and garlic with some olive oil and capers.

A traditional slow-cooked lamb roast is always a family favourite and is perfect for serving at the Sunday table. Add some Gourmet Garden rosemary and garlic to a little olive oil and smear across the roast before cooking.

For the 'old school roast lover' the beautiful flavours of baked vegetables can always be enhanced by brushing the vegetables with a paste of olive oil and Gourmet Garden Italian herbs. Add the vegetables to the roasting dish and cook them amongst the juices of the slow cooked lamb for around 45 minutes, basting the veggies with the oil and herb mix to increase the flavour and reduce the risk of burning.

For a simple mint sauce combine a teaspoon of Gourmet Garden mint with half a cup of malt vinegar, a teaspoon of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice.

A great way to save time is to prepare your salads in the morning. A hearty potato salad is always a crowd pleaser, served with a zesty lemon and Gourmet Garden parsley dressing. Alternatively a tasty mixed salad can be prepared earlier by combining cucumber, sweet potato, macadamia nuts and rocket. Just before serving, drizzle your vegetables with a dressing made from olive oil, mustard, Gourmet Garden chives and vinegar.

Easter fruit platters are perfect for ending the meal and red plums, figs, custard apples, pears and grapes are some of the best fruit choices in Autumn.

If you want a warming dessert, try a fruit crumble, mix together your choice of apple, rhubarb, pears, figs and toss through some Gourmet Garden Ginger and a little honey.

Easy baked ginger apples taste great and are simple to prepare. Core unpeeled apples and stuff with a mixture made by your favourite dried fruit and unsalted chopped or flaked nuts mixed with a little honey and Gourmet Garden Ginger. For a really spicy twist add a touch of Gourmet Garden Mild Chilli to the fruit and nut stuffing.

Naturally no celebration would be complete without an Easter egg or two, with a special chocolate treat the ideal accompaniment for dessert and coffee.

With these recipes you will be able to keep your entertaining as simple and as pleasurable as possible while still looking after your family's health.

Gourmet Garden has over 150 recipes to see you through the holiday season and beyond at www.gourmetgarden.com