Lamb Calabrian Style Recipes

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH SALMORIGLIO SAUCE

Steps:

• Grind herbs, zest, juice, and 1 teaspoon coarse salt to a paste with a mortar and pestle. Transfer to a bowl and add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pat lamb dry and season with kosher salt and pepper. Heat a lightly oiled well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then grill lamb, turning once, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare.
• Serve sauce spooned over lamb.

LAMB CHOPS, CALABRESE, WITH TOMATOES, PEPPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Cut each pepper lengthwise along the creases, remove the stem, seeds, and pithy core, and skin with a swivel-blade vegetable peeler. Cut into approximately 1-1/2" squares.
• Sprinkle the chops on both sides with a little salt.
• Put the olive oil into a 12" skillet and turn on the heat to high. When oil is hot, slide in the lamb chops. Brown them throughly on one side, turn over, and brown thoroughly on the other side. Remove from the pan to a plate and set aside.
• Put the chopped onion into the pan and cook it over lively heat, stirring frequently, until it becomes a rich gold colour. Add tomatoes with their juice, turning them over in the pan once or twice, and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the cut up peppers, parsley, olives, salt and generous grindings of black pepper. Turn heat down to medium; cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, until the peppers are tender but firm.
• Sprinkle the chops with pepper and return them to the pan with the sauce. Turn the chops over several times to coat well and after about a minute or so, empty the full contents of the skillet onto a warm serving platter and promptly serve to hungry diners.

LAMB SCALLOPINI WITH PEPPER AND ONION AGRODOLCE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil for agrodolce in a pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion with a pinch of salt in the hot oil until they start to soften up and take on some color, 4 to 5 minutes. Drizzle in more olive oil if the onions look dry. Add chile peppers and garlic; cook until peppers just start to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Add dried mint and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar; cook, stirring, for exactly 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut the lamb into four equal 4-ounce pieces and pound between plastic wrap to about 1/8-inch thick medallions. Trim any easy-to-cut silver skin off if you like. Transfer to a Silpat®-lined baking sheet and season generously with kosher salt and pepper. Dust both sides of the meat generously with flour using a sifter and let sit for at least 10 minutes before frying.
• While lamb rests, stir salt and pepper to taste, cayenne, remaining 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, rosemary, and parsley into the agrodolce mixture. Taste and adjust, adding more salt, oil, and/or vinegar as you see fit. Reserve until needed; keep in fridge if making ahead, but let come to room temperature before serving.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, but not quite smoking. Pan-fry the lamb medallions until browned, about 2 minutes per side. They are very thin, so be careful not to overcook. Serve immediately topped with the agrodolce.