Lamb With Pesto Sauce Food

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH BASIL & MINT PESTO

Steps:

• First, make the pesto. Put all the ingredients (except the olive oil and lemon juice) and a pinch of salt into the small bowl of a food processor. Pulse until very finely chopped. While the processor is on, drizzle the olive oil in to make a paste. Tip the pesto into a small bowl and stir in the lemon juice.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the scored lamb leg in a large roasting tin and use half the pesto to generously coat the skin and flesh, pressing it between all the cracks for extra juiciness. Put the rest of the pesto in the fridge, covered with cling film, and remove just before serving.
• Roast the lamb for 1 hr 45 mins. Check during cooking that it's not drying out - if the base of the roasting tin starts to look dry, spread a little more pesto over the top of the lamb.
• Remove the lamb from the tin, cover with foil and leave to rest for 30-40 mins before serving on lemon slices and fresh garden herbs, if you like. Carve at the table and serve with the remaining pesto to drizzle over.

RACK OF LAMB WITH MINT-BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Blend the mint, basil, nuts, cheese, lemon juice, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper in a food processor until the herbs are finely chopped. With the machine running, gradually blend in 1/3 cup of oil until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Generously sprinkle the lamb racks with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a grill pan or heavy large skillet over high heat. Place 1 lamb rack in the skillet and cook just until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the lamb rack meat side up on a heavy large baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining 2 lamb racks.
• Roast the lamb in the oven until cooked to desired doneness, about 20 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer the lamb racks to a work surface. Set aside for 10 minutes. Cut the lamb between the bones into single chops. Spread the pesto over 1 cut side of each chop. Arrange the chops, pesto side up, on plates or a platter, and serve.
• Do-Ahead Tip: The pesto and lamb racks may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead. Cover the pesto and lamb separately and refrigerate. Allow extra time for the chilled lamb to roast.
• Alternately, the racks of lamb can be sliced then broiled before serving. To broil the lamb: Use 18 to 24 meaty single lamb rib chops (about 2 1/2 ounces each, from 3 racks of lamb). Preheat the broiler. Arrange the lamb chops in a single layer over 2 heavy baking sheets. Lightly brush the lamb chops with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Watching closely, broil the lamb chops 3 inches from the heat source until cooked to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Spread the pesto over the chops. Arrange the chops pesto side up on plates or a platter, and serve.
• RECOMMENDED WINE #1: Boroli Barolo 1998
• REGION/ORIGIN: Barolo, Piedmont
• GRAPE/VARIETAL: Nebbiolo
• RECOMMENDED WINE #2: Avignonesi Vino Nobile d'Montepulciano 2001
• REGION/ORIGIN: Montepulciano, Tuscany
• GRAPE/VARIETAL: Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile - local clone of sangiovese)

LAMB LOIN CHOPS WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat grill on high.
• Rub the lamb with the olive oil. In a small bowl, combine the oregano, thyme, rosemary, pepper and salt. Rub mixture all over the lamb. Let it rest for 10 minutes at room temperature.
• While chops are resting, prepare the Mint Pesto.
• Grill the lamb chops 2 to 3 minutes per side, for medium rare.
• Serve the lamb chops with the Mint Pesto.
• Add the garlic to a food processor and pulse until chopped. Add the pine nuts and pulse to chop. Add half of the herbs and chop for 30 seconds, then add the rest of the herbs and chop. Add in the Parmesan and salt and pepper, pulse briefly until combined. While machine is running, slowly add the oil in a steady stream and process to desired thickness.

RACK OF LAMB WITH PISTACHIO PESTO, WORTH THE EFFORT!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Place pistachios, thyme and rosemary in a mini food processor. Add half of the olive oil and process to a paste. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour half of the pistachio pesto into a small bowl, stir in remaining olive oil, and set aside to use as a sauce.
• Spread some of the remaining pistachio pesto all over the lamb. Place strips of pancetta between the bones and wrap it around the meat, leaving bones exposed.
• Spread rest of pistachio pesto over pancetta and place rack in a medium-size roasting pan. Roast lamb until an instant-read meat thermometer registers 130 degrees, about 40 minutes for medium-rare.
• Transfer lamb to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes. Spoon 1 teaspoon of rendered pancetta fat into a medium-size skillet and heat over high heat.
• Add scallions and cook until softened and browned in spots, about 4 minutes.
• Cut rack of lamb into 4 servings of 2 chops each and arrange on plates, along with scallions. Drizzle pistachio pesto sauce all around chops and serve at once.

GRILLED BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Place lamb in roasting pan. Mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper together and pour over lamb. Turn lamb in the pan several times to coat it with the mixture and allow it to marinate several hours at room temperature. Turn occasionally.
• Preheat broiler. Broil the lamb (in the same pan) 10 minutes on one side and 10 minutes on the other, adding a little water to the pan from time to time to keep the bottom from scorching. Remove the pan from the broiler and brush the lamb on both sides with pesto.
• Before returning the pan to the broiler, insert a meat thermometer. Continue broiling until the thermometer reads 140 degrees.
• When lamb is done, remove the pan from the broiler. Brush the serving platter with a little pesto, place the lamb on it and sprinkle the lamb with lemon juice and salt to taste. Let rest in a warm place 5 minutes, slice thin and serve with some of the juices in the platter.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH PESTO, RADICCHIO AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Cut excess fat from leg of lamb, leaving thin layer. Set lamb in medium roasting pan. Make several slits in lamb and spoon some pesto into each. Rub remaining pesto into lamb. Cover lamb and let stand 2 hours at room temperature or refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Roast lamb 30 minutes. Add shallots to pan, turning to coat in pan juices. Roast 45 minutes. Add radicchio, turning, to coat in juices. Continue roasting until thermometer inserted into thickest part of meat registers 140°F for medium-rare, about 45 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let stand 15 minutes. Transfer lamb, shallots and radicchio to platter. Garnish with fresh basil sprigs and serve.

LAMB CHOPS WITH CORIANDER PESTO

Steps:

• Rub a little oil onto each side of the lamb, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Grill, barbecue or fry over medium-high heat for 5 mins, then turn over and cook 5 mins more for medium; 7 mins more for well done.
• While the meat is cooking, whizz together the rest of the ingredients with the remaining oil in a blender or with a mortar and pestle, to a rough paste. Serve the chops with the pesto drizzled over.

ROSEMARY-PESTO LAMB RACK

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 450°F. Place parsley, chopped rosemary, grated Parmesan cheese and garlic in processor. Process to coarse paste. With machine running, gradually add olive oil. Season pesto to taste with salt and pepper.
• Place lamb on small rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread all pesto over rounded side of lamb. Roast 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400°F and roast to desired doneness, about 15 minutes longer for medium-rare.
• Cut lamb between bones into chops. Divide chops between 2 plates; garnish with rosemary sprigs.

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• MINT PESTO:.
• In a blender or food processor add all the ingredients except the oil for the pesto, Puree this mixture while gradually adding the oil through the feeding tube, and continue mixing until an even, smooth consistency is reached. Reserve 1/2 cup for basting and dipping and set aside for later.
• Place the cut chops in a resealable plastic bag and pour the pesto sauce overtop. Seal the bag and toss gently to coat the lamb chops evenly. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for 5 hours.
• When ready, preheat the barbecue to medium high heat, 375°F.
• Remove lamb from marinade, wipe off the excess marinade from the bones to avoid them burning, but leave the marinade on the meat. Brush each chop with a small amount of olive il to help prevent the meat from sticking on the grill and season both sides of the meat with salt and pepper.
• Rub or spray your grill with oil to again help prevent the meat from sticking to the grates. Place chops directly on the grill and cook for approximately 4-5 minutes per side, basting every two minutes for medium rare, or adjust length to personal desired doneness.
• Remove the meat from the grill, place on a plate/platter and loosely cover with foil. Allow the meat to rest for 10 minutes eefore serving with remaining pesto as a dipping sauce.
• TIP: When grilling lamb on the bone you can cover the bones with foil to prevent burning.