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Ingredients

1. 2 sticks unsalted butter
2. 3 tablespoons vadouvan (see Note) or curry powder
3. 2 tablespoons coarsely grated orange zest
4. 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary
5. 2 tablespoons kosher salt
6. 1 tablespoon crushed pink peppercorns
7. 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8. One 8 1/2- to 9-pound semi-boneless leg of lamb (shank bone in)
9. 1 cup water

Directions

1. In a saucepan, combine the butter, vadouvan, zest, rosemary, salt, pink peppercorns and black pepper. Cook over moderate heat until the butter is melted; let cool.
2. Rub the curry butter all over the lamb. Roll the boned portion of the lamb into a cylinder and tie it with butcher's twine at 3-inch intervals. Set the lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and let stand for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 325°. Roast the lamb for about 2 1/2 hours, basting it every hour, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 130° for medium-rare meat. Transfer the lamb to a carving board and let rest for 15 minutes.
4. Pour the pan juices into a small saucepan and skim off the fat. Set the roasting pan over moderately high heat. When the drippings sizzle, add the water and bring to a boil, scraping up the browned bits. Add the deglazed drippings to the pan juices and keep hot. Carve the lamb into 1/2-inch-thick slices and serve with the curried jus.

Notes

Vadouvan is available from spicehouse.com.