Lamb Chops With Dates Feta Sumac And Tahini Food

LAMB CHOPS WITH DATES, FETA AND TAHINI

Steps:

• In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, combine 1/3 cup oil, the cumin, 2 garlic cloves, the Aleppo pepper and half the lemon juice. Add lamb, turn to coat, cover baking dish and chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• In a blender, combine remaining garlic clove, 3 tablespoons oil, the tahini, the yogurt, salt and pepper to taste, and 3 tablespoons water. Blend until it has the consistency of thick heavy cream, adding more water or adjusting seasoning if necessary. Set aside.
• Heat a grill, grill pan or cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot. Remove lamb from marinade, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes on each side for rare. If you'd like, prop each lamb chop on its fatty side to briefly sear it, around 30 seconds. Transfer to a cutting board to rest.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk to combine the remaining scant 3 tablespoons oil, the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with dates, feta, mint and dill. Place on serving platter, top with lamb, and drizzle with tahini dressing. Garnish with extra herbs and sumac, and serve with remaining tahini sauce on the side. Serve immediately.

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.

SESAME SUMAC PAN FRIED LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Place the lamb chops in a dish suitable for marinating.
• Stir together the olive oil, lemon juice, sumac, sesame seeds, garlic powder, herbs, salt and pepper.
• Pour over the lamb and marinade for at least 10 minutes but up to 24 hours covered in the refrigerator.
• Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Add the lamb chops and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
• Flip onto the fat cap and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the fat is golden brown and crisp.
• Add the lemon slices and cook for a minute per side.
• Turn the lamb chops back onto their sides then drizzle over the honey and allow to caramelize for a minute or two.
• Place the feta in the bowl of a food processor and pour in the cream. Blend until smooth.
• Dollop the feta onto a serving platter and smear across the plate with the back of a spoon. Top with the lamb chops then add the lemon slices and scatter over the coriander/cilantro. Serve with flatbread or naan.

LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or grill pan until very hot. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the lamb with the salt and pepper.
• Mix the oil, garlic and rosemary. Spoon half on the lamb and grill 1 minute per side. Place on a sheet pan and cover with the rest of the marinade. Roast in the oven until an instant-read thermometer reaches 125 degrees for rare, 130 degrees for medium rare.
• Cool for 5 minutes, then slice off individual chops and serve with sea salt for dipping. (S.R.O. uses tiny lamb chops, which fit into scallion ''sleeves.'' The racks generally sold by your butcher will be too big for this touch.)