Lamb With Chianti Vinaigrette Recipes

CRISP LAMB WITH YOGURT AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Using a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic and salt into a paste. Gradually mix in the olive oil. Stir in the herbs and pepper.
• Fit the lamb into a roasting pan big enough to contain it. Smear it thoroughly with the paste, and place it ribs-side down in pan. Cover tightly with foil, and roast until it reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees, 2 to 3 hours, depending on size of breast. Meat should be wobbly but not falling apart. Allow to cool, then cover and rest in the refrigerator overnight.
• The next day, prepare the sauce. Whisk 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the yogurt. Then the lemon juice. Stir in mint, lemon zest and salt. Before serving, drizzle sauce with remaining tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with pepper and a pinch of paprika to taste.
• Light your grill, or place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the breast and ribs away from the bone that runs lengthwise between them. Cut the breast into half-inch slices that resemble thick-cut bacon, and separate the ribs. Reserve fat from the roasting pan. Cook a few pieces of lamb at a time on fairly high heat, until browned and crispy on both sides, approximately 4 to 6 minutes.
• Brush the onions with some of the lamb fat. Place them on the grill or on a pan under a preheated broiler. Cook them, turning once or twice, until flimsy and slightly charred. Remove them to a large bowl and dress with the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

CHINOIS GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH CILANTRO MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, mix together all the marinade ingredients. Pour them over the lamb and let it marinate for 1 hour. Remove from the marinade and let stand until ready to cook.
• While the lamb is marinating, prepare the vinaigrette.
• Season the lamb with salt and pepper and place it on a hot grill. Grill medium rare, about 15 to 20 minutes; or cut the rack into chops and saute them in a pan over high heat for about 2 minutes on each side. (Cook the chops in several batches, if necessary, but don't crowd the pan.)
• Make an island of the sauce on each plate. Place lamb chops on center. Decorate with cilantro or mint sprigs on top and serve with stir-fried vegetable or stir-fried rice.
• To make the vinaigrette, combine all the ingredients, except the oil, and blend. Slowly add peanut oil. Season with salt and pepper and strain, if necessary, into a bowl.

SHOULDER OF LAMB BRAISED IN CHIANTI

Steps:

• Salt and pepper the lamb. Warm the olive oil in a wide-bottomed pot. When the oil is very hot, add the lamb. Brown the meat well on all sides over medium heat for 10 minutes. Remove it from the pan.
• Add the carrot, celery, shallot, garlic and thyme and cook over low heat, loosening any brown pan crust with 2 tablespoons of water. Add the meat to the pan and stir in the flour. Cook over medium-low heat for 5 to 8 minutes.
• Raise the heat to high, add the Chianti and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, 2 hours. Remove the meat from the sauce, discard the thyme and puree the sauce in a food processor. Return the meat to the sauce, stir in the vinegar and serve. Can be made a day in advance and gently re-warmed.

CHIANTI AFFOGATO

Steps:

• Combine the wine, sugar, orange zest, peppercorns, salt, basil and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to help dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat to medium low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow to steep for an additional 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher.
• Divide the gelato among six coffee cups. Pour the warm wine syrup over the top, and serve with demitasse spoons.