Lamb Chops Champvallon Recipes

SPICY STICKY LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
• Toast the coriander and fennel seeds in small pan over a medium flame, shaking every 30 seconds so they don't burn. Once they've given off a lovely aroma and have turned a darker tone, remove from the hot pan and cool completely on a plate. Then throw them into your spice grinder and grind to a fine powder.
• Mix the spices with the yogurt, tomato paste, ginger, garlic, hot sauce, brown sugar, salt, a healthy few grinds of freshly ground black pepper, apple cider vinegar, and oil. Taste and season according to your palate.
• Cover each chop with the marinade, rubbing it into the meat and fat. You can marinate overnight, a few hours, or just 30 minutes. I've done all three and it tastes great every way.
• Bake the chops in a 9- by 13-inch baking dish until the lamb is cooked to medium-rare, or to your liking, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest, tented with foil, for about 5 minutes before serving.

LAMB CHOPS WITH LEMON-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a dish large enough to hold the lamb chops in a single layer, combine half the lemon juice, 1/3 cup olive oil, the rosemary, garlic, 1 teaspoon of the salt and pepper. Add the lamb, turn to coat with the marinade and set aside for about 15 minutes at room temperature or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat, for about 1 minute. Pat the chops dry and season on 1 side with salt and pepper. Add enough oil to lightly coat the surface of the pan. Working in batches if needed, add the chops seasoned side down to the pan. Cook until crisp and brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Season the top side with salt and pepper, turn, and continue cooking until just firm and an instant-read thermometer registers 130 to 135 degrees F, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and tent with foil to keep warm. Allow the chops to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Pour off any fat left in the pan. Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the chicken stock, and scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add half the remaining lemon juice and simmer until the mixture is reduced to a glaze, about 4 minutes. Swirl in 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the basil and olives and season. Return the lamb chops to the sauce and toss and turn to coat thoroughly with sauce. Arrange chops on a platter, pour sauce over shops and garnish with basil leaves.

LAMB CHOPS WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dry the lamb chops well and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the oil to the pan and heat until shimmering. Lay chops in the pan and cook, turning once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the sides of the lamb registers 125 degrees F, about 4 minutes per side. After cooking the lamb on each side, stand it up on it's edges to brown the sides as well, about 2 minutes more. Reduce the heat if needed so the browned bits remaining in the pan don't burn. Remove chops from the skillet and set aside in a warm place.
• Pour off all but 1 1/2 tablespoons fat from the skillet. Add the garlic and cook, tilting the skillet to keep the garlic submerged in the fat, and cook until golden, about 1 minute. Add the wine and rosemary, stirring up browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and simmer over high heat until syrupy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth and cook until reduced by about half, another 5 to 6 minutes. Remove pan from the heat and briskly whisk in the butter. When the butter has incorporated, whisk in the mustard and heavy cream. Season with additional salt and pepper.
• Serve 2 chops per person with the sauce.