Lamb Chops With Fennel Arugula Red Onion And Black Olive Salad Recipes

LAMB CHOPS WITH FENNEL, ARUGULA, RED ONION AND BLACK OLIVE SALAD

Steps:

• For the lamb chops: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine the rosemary, garlic, crushed red pepper and lemon zest in a small bowl. Add 1/4 cup olive oil to the mix. Reserve.
• Remove 2 rib bones from each rack of lamb and cut the remaining racks into 6 equal, thicker chops (instead of 8 thinner chops).
• Sprinkle the lamb chops with salt and reserve at room temperature. Brush both sides of the chops with the rosemary mixture.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring to a medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the lamb chops on all sides, including the fat edge. (Remember: Brown food tastes good! If your pan gets too hot, lower the heat. Ditch the oil in between the batches and start off with fresh oil. It is really important not to crowd the pan while browning the chops. If the pan is crowded, the chops will steam instead of browning and getting crispy.) When all the chops are browned, arrange them neatly on a sheet tray (with sides, you don't want any juices or fat to run off). Brush the browned chops with the rosemary mixture. Roast the chops for 8 to 10 minutes for medium-rare, 12 to 15 minutes for medium.
• For the salad: Meanwhile, toss together the fennel, arugula, radicchio, red onion and olives with the olive oil, lemon juice and a generous sprinkle of salt in a large bowl. Taste to make sure it is delicious. Arrange the salad on a large serving platter and top the salad with the hot lamb chops to wilt the salad a little bit. Brush the chops with any remaining rosemary oil and drizzle any juice from the baking sheet over the lamb.
• Chop chop!

SPICED LAMB CHOPS WITH FENNEL AND CUCUMBER

Steps:

• Using a knife, mortar and pestle or spice grinder, finely chop or coarsely grind fennel seed. (Just grind it enough to break down the whole seeds: You're not looking for a powder.)
• Season lamb with salt, pepper and fennel seed.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place lamb fat-side-down in the skillet and cook until it's a good golden brown, about 2 minutes. (This also renders some of the fat, which you'll sear the meat in.) Using tongs, turn the lamb and cook until it's nicely browned on each side, 1 to 2 minutes per side, which will give you medium-rare meat. Transfer lamb to a cutting board to rest for at least 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss sliced fennel bulb, cucumber and shallot in a medium bowl. Zest and juice 1 lemon and add to the fennel. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve lamb chops whole on a large serving platter, or slice lamb away from the bone or rib about 1/4-inch thick, then transfer to a large serving platter or divide among plates. Cut remaining lemon in half and squeeze over lamb. Scatter with dill or mint and serve alongside fennel salad and cooked grains, if you like.

LAMB CHOPS WITH BLACKBERRY PAN SAUCE AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Season lamb chops with a 5-finger pinch of salt on all sides as well as black pepper. Heat a large sauté pan (not non-stick) over high heat and add canola oil. Once the oil shimmers when you tilt the pan (this means it's sizzling hot), add the chops in a single layer (sear in 2 batches, if necessary, to avoid overcrowding the pan). Sear until chops are well browned, and beginning to char around edges, about 3 minutes. Flip and repeat on the other side. Transfer to a baking sheet (reserve pan and drippings) and continue to cook in oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of the chop registers 145° for medium-rare, about 5 minutes.
• If necessary, pour off excess fat from pan to equal about two tablespoons (this might not be necessary, depending on the fat content of the chops). Add shallot and rosemary to pan over medium-low heat and cook, frequently stirring to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan, until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Add about 1 cup of the blackberries (reserving a few for the salad), and cook until softening and releasing their juice, about 3 minutes. Add wine and increase heat to medium. Cook until wine is reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low and swirl in butter and season with scant 1/2-teaspoon salt.
• Arrange arugula on a large platter. Mix lemon juice with olive oil in a small bowl with the remaining 1/2-teaspoon salt. Drizzle over arugula and toss gently with reserved blackberries. Place lamb chop on top of the arugula and spoon the pan sauce over the chops and some of the arugula.
• Pair with a rich and full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from Tom Gore Vineyards.

MARINATED LAMB CHOPS WITH FENNEL AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil, garlic and pepper in a shallow baking dish large enough to hold the lamb chops. Place the lamb chops in the dish and coat well with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Wipe the oil off the lamb chops. Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, add the chops and sear until medium rare, about 30 seconds per side. Remove the chops from the skillet and wrap in foil to keep warm.
• Reduce the heat to very low. Add the shaved fennel, cover the skillet with a lid and cook until the fennel is soft, about 20 minutes. Remove the fennel from the skillet with a slotted spatula and divide among 4 warmed plates.
• Increase the heat and add the white wine and chicken broth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 15 minutes. Stir in the olives and season with salt and pepper to taste. Place 2 lamb chops over the fennel on each plate, spoon the sauce over the top, sprinkle with the fennel tops and serve immediately.