Rosemary Pesto Lamb Rack Recipes

GRILLED DOUBLE LAMB CHOPS WITH POMEGRANATE-MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, half the lemon zest and juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a quart-size resealable plastic bag. Crush the thyme sprigs in your hands and toss them in as well. Add the lamb chops and seal the bag. Squeeze the bag and move it around to coat the chops evenly with the marinade. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat a grill for indirect and direct cooking over medium-high heat. For gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes turn off one of the middle burners. For charcoal grills, bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups. (Be sure to consult the grill manufacturer's guide for best results.)
• Stir together the pomegranate seeds, almonds, mint, honey, the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and remaining lemon zest and juice, a pinch of salt and a grind of black pepper in a small bowl. Reserve.
• Remove the lamb chops from the bag and pat dry. Season all over with salt and pepper. Place the lamb chops medallion-side down on the hot side of the grill and cook to develop dark grill marks, about 4 minutes. Flip the lamb chops and cook for another 4 minutes. Turn the chops fat-cap side down to start rendering the fat, 1 minute. Flip the chops bone-side down and move them to the indirect side of the grill. Cover and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the middle of the chops reads 125 degrees F for medium-rare, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the chops and let rest 5 minutes before serving. Spoon some pomegranate-mint pesto over each chop.

ROSEMARY-PESTO LAMB RACK

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 450°F. Place parsley, chopped rosemary, grated Parmesan cheese and garlic in processor. Process to coarse paste. With machine running, gradually add olive oil. Season pesto to taste with salt and pepper.
• Place lamb on small rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread all pesto over rounded side of lamb. Roast 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400°F and roast to desired doneness, about 15 minutes longer for medium-rare.
• Cut lamb between bones into chops. Divide chops between 2 plates; garnish with rosemary sprigs.

ROASTED RACK OF LAMB WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Let the lamb come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before you are ready to roast. Season the lamb on all sides with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet with a heatproof handle over medium-high heat. Put the rack into the pan, fat side down, and sear it until it is browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the rack over and sear the other side for 2 minutes. Put the pan into the oven, and roast the lamb until it is medium-rare, or until the internal temperature reaches 125 to 130 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the lamb from the oven, cover it with foil, and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing into chops. Serve with the Mint Pesto.
• Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture is almost smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper, to taste. The pesto may be made 1 day ahead, covered and refrigerated. Bring the pesto to room temperature before serving.

ROSEMARY PESTO

Steps:

• Thoroughly wash fresh herbs and pat dry. Strip rosemary from stalk and chop.
• Combine rosemary, parsley, garlic, cheese, nuts and oil into food processor and blend well.
• Season to taste.

RACK OF LAMB WITH PESTO CRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Season lamb with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spread the pesto over the surface of the meat. Coat the meat thoroughly with breadcrumbs, packing them down lightly with your hands. Cover the exposed bones with aluminum foil and place lamb, breadcrumb side up, on a baking sheet.
• Roast lamb for 15 minutes, then remove foil and bake 20 minutes longer. Remove lamb from oven, let it rest for 5 minutes, then dust lightly with salt. Slice into thick double chops or single chops. Serve immediately.

RACK OF LAMB WITH PISTACHIO PESTO, WORTH THE EFFORT!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Place pistachios, thyme and rosemary in a mini food processor. Add half of the olive oil and process to a paste. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour half of the pistachio pesto into a small bowl, stir in remaining olive oil, and set aside to use as a sauce.
• Spread some of the remaining pistachio pesto all over the lamb. Place strips of pancetta between the bones and wrap it around the meat, leaving bones exposed.
• Spread rest of pistachio pesto over pancetta and place rack in a medium-size roasting pan. Roast lamb until an instant-read meat thermometer registers 130 degrees, about 40 minutes for medium-rare.
• Transfer lamb to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes. Spoon 1 teaspoon of rendered pancetta fat into a medium-size skillet and heat over high heat.
• Add scallions and cook until softened and browned in spots, about 4 minutes.
• Cut rack of lamb into 4 servings of 2 chops each and arrange on plates, along with scallions. Drizzle pistachio pesto sauce all around chops and serve at once.