Greek · main

Lamb Kleftiko

Lamb Kleftiko reads umami 8.6, richness 8.4 and citrus 5.4 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Greek main, about 3 hr 20 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 9.1 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 2.5 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 6.8 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 3.0 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 8.7 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 4.2 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 8.6 · Richness 8.4 · Citrus 5.4 · Sourness 4.7 · Allium 3.9 · Earthy 2.8 · Salinity 2.7 · Sweetness 2.0 · Fruity 1.8 · Funk & Ferment 1.8 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Bitterness 1.4 · Herbaceous 1.4 · Nutty 1.2 · Heat 0.8 · Floral 0.6

What's in it (11)

• 3 lbs lamb shoulder, bone-in
• 6 cloves garlic, sliced
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 lbs potatoes, quartered
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 3 bay leaves
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• parchment paper

Time & effort: about 3 hr 20 min (20 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 264.8 kcal, 13.2 g protein, 10.7 g fat, 29.1 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (2 steps)

1. Stud the lamb with garlic, rub with oregano, lemon, and olive oil, then place on a bed of potatoes and tomatoes.
2. Seal tightly in parchment and foil and slow-roast at 160C for 3-4 hours until falling from the bone.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Abgoosht / Dizi (Lamb and Chickpea Broth) — Persian
• Moroccan Beef Tangia — Moroccan
• Ossobuco alla Milanese — Italian
• Greek Braised Lamb and Orzo One-Pot — Greek
• Braised Beef Shank Osso Buco with Gremolata — Italian-American

Keep reading: what umami, richness, citrus mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →

Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.