Seared Rack Of Lamb With Pistachio Tapenade Recipes

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH TAPENADE

Steps:

• Combine the Nicoise olives, green olives, parsley leaves, olive oil, capers, anchovy fillets and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped and the mixture is tight. Set aside.
• Combine the lamb chops and half of the tapenade in a large bowl (reserve the remaining tapenade for garnish). Refrigerate and allow to marinate for 2 hours or up to overnight.
• Preheat the grill or a grill pan to medium-high. Lightly oil the grill grates.
• Add the lamb to the grill and turn up the heat slightly. Grill the lamb on each side for around 3 minutes for medium-rare, with an internal temperature of 130 to 135 degrees F. Serve with the reserved tapenade and a wedge of lemon.

LAMB AND TAPENADE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the tapenade and mayonnaise. Set it aside. Cut the loaf of bread in 1/2 lengthwise and spread tapenade mayonnaise over the cut sides of both pieces. Arrange the sliced lamb on the bottom piece of the bread and season it with salt and pepper. Scatter the arugula over the lamb, and set the top half of the bread on top of the lamb and press down gently. Cut crosswise into individual servings and either serve immediately or refrigerate, tightly wrapped in wax paper, until ready to serve.
• To Drink: A Russian River Valley pinot noir, such as Moshin or Gary Farrell Allen Vineyard, is the best choice.
• In a small bowl, toss together the olives and garlic. Add the parsley, basil, anchovy, capers, and lemon zest, mix together, season generously with black pepper, thin with olive oil, and set aside for 30 minutes before serving. The tapenade will keep in the refrigerator for a day or two, after which time its flavors will deteriorate.
• You can make this tapenade using almost any olive, including the mixed olives sold at the olive bars common in upscale markets these days. If you select the olives yourself, try a mix of kalamatas, picholines, cracked green, and California black. Salted capers are available in good delis and markets.
• Yield: about 1 cup

SEARED RACK OF LAMB WITH PISTACHIO TAPENADE

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the pistachios, olives, capers, garlic, and herbs and puree. While the machine is running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture becomes a paste. Add the zest and pulse 1 more time, drizzling in more oil if necessary. Reserve until ready to use.
• Have a butcher remove the 2nd and 7th rib bones from the 8 rib rack to make it a 6 rib rack. This will create 6 even chops that are thicker than a normal lamb chop. Cut into 6 even chops and season them generously with salt and allow them to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Coat a large saute pan generously with olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the lamb chops and cook for about 2 minutes on each side to brown. If the pan begins to smoke, lower the heat. The chops should be beautifully caramelized on both sides. Remove the chops to a sheet pan and schmear generously with the pistachio tapenade. Place in the oven and cook another 4 to 5 minutes for medium rare. Remove the chops from the oven and let them rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

LAMB BURGERS

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, toss in the diced onions and season with salt and crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to medium-high heat and cook the onions for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 4 more minutes. Turn the heat off and let cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the lamb, the cooled onion mixture, the dill, mint, oregano, lemon zest and 1/2 to 3/4 cup water. Sprinkle with salt and combine well. Make a little "tester patty," cook it and taste for seasoning.
• Preheat the grill.
• Form the lamb mixture into 4 equal patties and sprinkle with salt. Grill the burgers to your desired doneness, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Remove the burgers from the grill and let rest for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Cut the Whole-Wheat Pitas in half. Schmear each half generously with the Pickled Feta Spread. Top one half with a burger, then tomatoes, sliced onions and spinach. Place the other pita half on top.
• In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar and yeast and let sit for 15 minutes.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flours, cumin, salt and cayenne. Add the yeast mixture and the olive oil. Mix on medium speed to combine and knead the dough. It should take 6 to 7 minutes. The dough will be firm and not sticky or tacky.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and roll into 7-inch rounds (1/4-inch thick). Divide the dough between 2 sheet trays, cover them loosely with a clean tea towel or plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Bake the pitas for 3 to 4 minutes, then turn the pitas over and bake for 2 more minutes. Let cool and use as desired.
• Place the vinegar, sugar, salt, tea bags, bay leaf and herb stems, if using, in a small saucepan along with 1 cup water. Heat until the sugar and salt has dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Place the feta in a small container. Add the vinegar mixture and be sure that the feta is submerged in the liquid. Let sit for a couple of hours outside the refrigerator if using right away, or in the refrigerator if using in the future.
• Strain the feta from the pickling liquid and discard the tea bags, bay leaf and stems. Place the feta in a food processor and add the yogurt. Pulse until combined.

RACK OF LAMB WITH GARLIC AND HERBS

Steps:

• Brown lamb:
• Heat a dry 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until hot, at least 2 minutes. Meanwhile, pat lamb dry and rub meat all over with salt and pepper. Add oil to hot skillet, then brown racks, in 2 batches if necessary, on all sides (not ends), about 10 minutes per batch.
• Transfer racks to a small (13- by 9-inch) roasting pan.
• Coat and roast lamb:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Stir together garlic, herbs, salt, pepper, and oil. Coat meaty parts of lamb with herb mixture, pressing to help adhere. Roast 15 minutes, then cover lamb loosely with foil and roast until thermometer inserted diagonally into center of meat registers 120°F, 5 to 10 minutes more. Let stand, covered, 10 minutes. (Internal temperature will rise to 125 to 130°F for medium-rare while lamb stands.)
• Cut each rack into 4 double chops.

PISTACHIO CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Generously season each rack of lamb with herbes de Provence, salt, and black pepper.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Place lamb in skillet and cook, browning on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer lamb to a foil-lined baking sheet; set aside.
• Stir pistachios, bread crumbs, butter, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and black pepper in a bowl. Spread mustard on the fat-side of each rack of lamb. Pat pistachio mixture on top of mustard. Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is golden and lamb is pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.

PARMESAN-CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450. Put a large frying pan over high heat until very hot. Rub lamb with 1 tablespoon of the oil, season aggressively with salt and pepper and then sear the meat in the pan until it is golden brown all over, approximately 4 minutes a side. Place on a rimmed baking sheet, and let rest for 20 or 30 minutes, until cool.
• In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese and parsley. Rub the cooled-off lamb with the remaining olive oil, then pat the seasoned bread crumbs all over the meat in an even layer.
• Put the lamb back on the baking sheet, and roast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 120 degrees, approximately 20 to 30 minutes. (Tent the lamb with foil if the crust threatens to get too dark at the end.) Remove the lamb from the oven, and allow to stand, covered loosely in foil, for 10 minutes or so. (The internal temperature will rise to 125 degrees, or medium-rare, while the lamb sits.) Carve into chops, and serve on a warmed platter.