Seeded Lamb Chops With Tamarind Recipes

TAMARIND-GLAZED LAMB SKEWERS WITH DRIED-APRICOT RELISH

Steps:

• For glaze:
• Bring first 4 ingredients to boil in small saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced to 1 cup, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in lime juice.
• For apricot relish:
• Mix apricots and next 5 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Season relish to taste with salt and pepper. (Glaze and relish can be made 1 day ahead; cover separately and chill. Bring relish to room temperature. Stir glaze over medium heat until heated through.)
• Thread lamb and onion pieces onto skewers, using about 6 onion and lamb pieces per skewer. (Skewers can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Sprinkle skewers with salt and pepper. Grill lamb to desired doneness, turning once and basting with glaze during last minute of grilling, about 2 minutes total for medium-rare. Transfer skewers to platter. Serve with relish.
• Available at Indian markets.

TURKISH LAMB CHOPS WITH SUMAC, TAHINI, AND DILL

Steps:

• Prepare the lamb:
• Combine the Turkish red pepper, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds in a small bowl. Heat a small skillet over medium-low heat, add the spice mixture, and toast until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into a mortar or spice grinder, add the salt and black pepper, and either pound or briefly grind until you get a coarse-textured spice mix. Don't overdo it if you've gone electric here-the coarse texture is an essential part of the dish.
• Pat the spice mixture all over the lamb chops, and let them marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or uncovered in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
• Make the tahini sauce:
• While the lamb is marinating, in a food processor, blend the lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. Then add the tahini and ground cumin, and blend until a thick paste forms. With the processor running, gradually add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is smooth enough to drizzle.
• Heat a grill or broiler to high.
• Drizzle the chops lightly with olive oil. Grill the chops until they are charred on the outside and cooked to taste within (or broil the chops on a broiler pan or rimmed baking sheet). Cooking time will depend on how thick your chops are, so watch them carefully: 2-inch-thick bone-in chops will take at least 3 to 5 minutes per side for rare. You'll need less time for thinner chops, and more time if you like them cooked medium rare or beyond. Let the lamb rest for 5 minutes before serving.
• To serve, drizzle the tahini sauce over the chops, and garnish them with the dill sprigs. Add a dusting of the red sumac if you like.

SHERRIED LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Trim as much fat as possible off the lamb chops. If there is meat on the loose ends of the chops, roll them up and secure to the eye of the chop with a toothpick. Otherwise cut these tails off. Dust chops lightly with flour seasoned with salt and pepper
• Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet large enough to hold the chops in a single layer. Over high heat lightly and quickly brown the chops on both sides. Remove them and cover to keep warm.
• Lower heat to medium, add the pepper and onions and saute until tender. Add the garlic and saute for another minute or two but do not allow the garlic to brown. Stir in the sherry, tomatoes and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Return chops to the pan and cook over medium heat, basting constantly with the sauce, until cooked as desired. For medium-rare chops, the cooking time is no more than about three minutes. The tops will be medium in about five minutes and well done in seven to eight minutes. For well-done chops the pan should be covered so too much of the sauce does not evaporate.
• Sprinkle with parsley and olives, garnish with lemon wedges and serve.

LAMB CHOPS WITH INDIAN SPICES

Steps:

• Marinate the chops in the lime juice, vinegar, chilli powder and a pinch of salt while you make the rest of the marinade.
• Heat 100ml of the oil in a small saucepan and add the gram flour, stirring continuously for a minute or two until the flour forms a smooth sandy paste and you begin to smell a nutty aroma. Transfer the paste to a bowl and leave to cool.
• Crush the star anise using a pestle and mortar, then tip into a food processor with the chillies, garlic, papaya and the remaining oil and blend to a smooth paste. Mix both pastes over the marinated meat and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours.
• To cook the chops, preheat the oven to fan 180C/conventional 200C/gas 6. Lift the chops out of the marinade and wipe off any excess so the chops are just lightly coated. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan and fry the chops in batches for a couple of minutes on each side until browned. Transfer to a roasting tray and roast for 10-20 minutes depending on how pink you like your lamb. Serve the chops with mint sauce and winter salad.