Lamb Chops With Roasted Eggplant Relish Food

LAMB CHOPS WITH EGGPLANT CAPONATA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook 3 minutes. Add the eggplant, season with salt and pepper and cook until the eggplant begins to soften, about 3 more minutes. Add the rosemary, tomato and vinegar and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the capers and pine nuts; set aside to cool slightly.
• Place a large skillet over high heat. Season the lamb chops with salt and pepper. Working in batches, place the lamb chops in the pan, fat-side down, and cook until the fat begins to render, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the chops onto their sides and cook until crisp and brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare.
• Divide the eggplant caponata and lamb chops among plates and garnish with arugula.

CUMIN AND HONEY SCENTED LOIN LAMB CHOPS WITH EGGPLANT

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the mustard, canola oil, honey, cumin, and chili powder. In a rectangular pan, arrange the chops so they are in one layer, pour the marinade over the chops, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Allow the meat to marinate at least one hour and up to 6 hours, turning the meat over at least once.
• EGGPLANT: In a large bowl or rectangular glass dish, drizzle the eggplant slices with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with the cumin and herbes de Provence. Season with salt and pepper.
• When ready to grill, prepare a charcoal or wood fire and allow it to burn down to ashes, or preheat a broiler if cooking indoors. Place the eggplant rounds on the grill and cook 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until slightly charred and tender. Remove from the grill and reseason with salt and pepper. (This may also be done on the stovetop, with a Teflon-coated grill pan.)
• Season the lamb chops with salt and pepper and place on the grill. Grill chops for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until medium rare. (This may also be done in the broiler.)
• To serve, place the eggplant slices on a large platter, overlapping in an oval. Place the lamb chops over the eggplant. To serve on individual plates, place 2 slices of eggplant on each plate and top with two lamb chops.
• Serve with your favorite grain salad, glazed carrots, haricots verts, or sliced tomatoes.

PAN ROASTED LAMB LOIN WITH SWEET AND SOUR RELISH AND (SMOKY OR GRILLED) EGGPLANT PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat the grill over medium-high heat and the oven to 275 degrees F.
• For the eggplant puree: Place the Japanese eggplant slices into a perforated hotel pan over a solid hotel pan or on a rack set over a sheet pan and season with salt. Season the Italian eggplant flesh with salt and place into the hotel pan or on the rack with the Japanese eggplant slices, let sit about 5 minutes.
• Place the eggplant into a bowl and add a drizzle of the extra-virgin olive oil, rosemary leaves, and thyme leaves. Place the whole eggplant onto the hottest part of the grill, flesh-side down. Cover with metal bowl and cook, about 5 to 6 minutes. Place the Japanese eggplant slices onto the cooler part of the grill and cook for about 2 to 4 minutes per side. Both the Japanese and Italian eggplants should be done at the same time.
• Remove the charred flesh of the Italian eggplant and discard the skins. Add the flesh and seeds to a blender. Drizzle in about 1/2-cup extra-virgin olive oil, juice of 1 orange, and salt, to taste. Taste and re-season, if needed.
• For the lamb: Season the lamb loins with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides. Place a saute pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. Once heated, add the lamb to the pan and sear until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip and continue to sear on the other side, another minute. Add the butter, remaining rosemary sprig and thyme sprig and allow the butter to melt. Baste the lamb with the melted butter and place into the oven. Roast the lamb for about 10 minutes, or until the lamb is medium-rare to medium, about 125 to 130 degrees F.
• When the lamb is done, remove the lamb from the oven and set aside briefly to rest prior to slicing. (2 servings)
• For the sweet and sour relish: To a small saucepan over medium heat add 2 cups white wine and 1 cup golden raisins.
• To a high-sided saute pan over medium heat, add 2 to 3 tablespoons blended oil. Once heated, add the shallots and season with salt, to taste. Next, add the garlic and stir to combine. Once fragrant, add the diced eggplant and season again with salt. Add the pine nuts, capers, the juice of 2 oranges, and about 1/2 cup sherry vinegar. Once the flames stops, add the raisins and wine and stir to combine. To a small saute pan, add about 1 tablespoon cumin seeds and place over low heat to toast. Once toasted add the cumin seeds and about 2 tablespoons sugar. Allow the eggplant to cook down and simmer for about 4 to 5 minutes.
• For plating: To a medium bowl add the arugula, sliced chile and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Toss to combine.
• For each serving, spoon some of the smoky eggplant puree onto a plate. Slice half the tenderloin into 1/2-inch rounds and plate in between the grilled Japanese slices. Top with some of the sweet and sour eggplant relish and the micro arugula salad. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.

LAMB CHOPS WITH ROASTED-EGGPLANT RELISH

Steps:

• Pat lamb chops dry and sprinkle evenly with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until it shimmers, then sear lamb, turning over once, until browned, about 5 minutes total for medium.
• Meanwhile, toss together eggplant, pimientos, onion, parsley, sugar, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve eggplant relish over lamb.

MAMA'S OH-SO-SAVORY LAMB AND EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a colander set in a bowl or the sink; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and toss to coat. Let eggplant stand for at least 1 hour. Rinse off the bitter liquid and excess salt and drain well.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and celery; cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent and celery is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• While vegetables are cooking, combine ground cumin, oregano, rosemary, paprika, mint, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or mortar and pestle and mix well; this is the lamb seasoning (see Cook's Note). Set seasoning aside.
• Stir eggplant cubes and garlic into the vegetables in the skillet, mixing well, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and sprinkle with half of the lamb seasoning mixture. Reserve remaining seasoning. Stir gently and cook for 5 minutes more.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
• Pour chicken broth and half the can of tomato sauce into the skillet and simmer for 10 minutes; add a little water if the sauce starts to get dry. Transfer the sauce to the prepared casserole dish.
• Return the skillet to the stove over medium-high heat and heat the reserved tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Place ground lamb into skillet and sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Brown lamb in the hot oil, stirring frequently, until the meat is evenly browned; it should look like imperfect meatballs.
• Gently transfer the lamb to the casserole dish, pushing it down into the vegetable mixture so that it is at least partially submerged. Stir fresh lemon juice into the remaining tomato sauce and pour the sauce over the casserole.
• Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending upon how tender you like your vegetables.