Crushed-Herb Lamb

1 leg of lamb (5 1/2 to 5 3/5 lb)

6 cloves garlic

2 shallots (about 1-oz each)

about 2 tsp rock salt or kosher salt

2 Tbsp dried thyme

2 Tbsp dried rosemary

2 Tbsp fresh ground pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

Trim and discard fat and any transparent membrane from surface of lamb.

Peel garlic and shallots and cut into 1/4-inch thick slivers. Pierce lamb all over with the tip of a small knife and insert garlic and shallots into cuts (lamb will look like a porcupine). Also tuck 2 tsp rock salt into cuts, spacing evenly over meat.

Mix thyme, rosemary, pepper and olive oil. Pat mixture all over the lamb.

If cooking over charcoal briquettes, ignite 60 briquettes on fire-grate of a barbecue with a lid. When coals are dotted with gray, about 25 minutes, push an equal number of coals to opposite sides of grate. Add 5 briquettes to each mound of coals. Put a foil drip pan between coals. Set grill in place.

If using a gas barbecue, turn heat to high and close lid for at least 10 minutes. Adjust burners for indirect grilling (heat on parallel sides of grill but not in center). Set a drip pan between burners and put grill in place.

Put lamb on grill over drip pan, but not directly over heat. Cover barbecue; open all vents. (If cooking over charcoal, after 30 minutes, add more briquettes to each mound of coals).

Cook until a meat thermometer inserted through thickest part of meat to bone registers 125 degrees for rare (1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes), or 135 degrees for medium-rare (about 1 hour and 10 to 30 minutes).

Transfer meat to a platter and let rest 10 minutes. Carve and salt to taste.

Notes: For carving, select a leg of lamb with an exposed shank bone. It makes a great handle. Slice the meat parallel to the bone. Outside slices will be well done, and the center rare.

Makes 8 or 9 servings.