Explore Guides
Local food map
Auckland (New Zealand)
Hotels in area
Main course
Meat
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
860kcal
50gProtein
5gCarbs
75gFat
1gFibre
250 gServing
* Per serving · 250 g. May vary.
Roast Lamb
How to order / say it
Say it
Roast Lamb — [roast-LAM]
Order
I'd like the roast lamb, please.
Say locally
A classic lamb dish roasted with herbs, often served with seasonal vegetables.
Why try it?
Roast lamb epitomizes New Zealand's agriculture, especially the high-quality lamb it exports worldwide. It’s a dish that graces Kiwi tables during special occasions and family gatherings.
How it tastes
Succulent and tender lamb infuses with fragrant rosemary and garlic, providing a rich and mouth-watering aroma. The meat is complemented by a crispy skin and a medley of roasted vegetables for a complete meal experience.
Origin & History — first documented: 1880
Roast lamb became prominent in New Zealand cuisine in the late 19th century, following European settlement and the development of sheep farming. Over time, it became a celebratory dish, marking milestones across generations.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🥩 500 g lamb leg
- 🌿 10 g rosemary
- 🧄 5 cloves garlic
- 🧂 10 g salt
- 🧂 5 g pepper
- 🫒 50 ml olive oil
Method
- 1 Preheat oven to 180°C (356°F) and season the lamb.
- 2 Insert garlic and rosemary into incisions in the lamb.
- 3 Roast for 1.5 hours, basting occasionally.
- 4 Rest before slicing and serve with vegetables.
More from Canterbury
© Wikimedia Commons
Snack
Meat
Mince Pie
MINS pie
A savory pie filled with minced beef, seasoned with various herbs.
🥩
Main course
Meat
Muttonbird
Tītī
TEE-tee
Salted and preserved seabird, traditionally harvested and enjoyed by Ngāi Tahu.
© Wikimedia Commons
Soup
Meat
Boil-up
BOY-el up
Hearty soup with pork bones, kumara, and puha.
© Wikimedia Commons
Bread
Vegetarian
Fry Bread
FRY bred
Simple fried dough bread often served as a side or snack.
🌱
Snack
Vegan
Kumara Fries
Kūmara Fries
KOO-mah-rah
Sweet potato fries, often seasoned and roasted or fried.
🥩
Main course
Meat
Wanaka Venison Stew
wan-ah-ka ven-ih-sin stew
A comforting stew made with venison and local herbs.
© Wikimedia Commons
Soup
Fish & Seafood
Wellington Seafood Chowder
WEL-ing-tun SEE-food CHOW-der
A creamy harbour-style soup combining local fish, shellfish, potatoes and aromatics.
🌿
Main course
Vegetarian
Kānga Pirau
KAH-nga pee-RAH-oo
Traditional fermented corn porridge.
Dessert
Vegetarian
Raspberry Friand
raz-bore-ee free-ond
A light almond cake with fresh raspberries.
Snack
Meat
Wellington Mince Pie
WEL-ing-tun MINSS pie
A handheld pastry pie filled with richly seasoned minced beef and onion gravy.