Lavender Crusted Rack Of Lamb Food

LAVENDER-CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• If your lamb rack doesn't come already frenched (with rib bones exposed), use a sharp knife and cut the meat and tendons away from the bones along the top of the ribs; this is mostly for show - we often just cook the racks as-is and the tougher meat near the bone either gets put in the compost pile or made into stock (whatever you do, don't waste it - Fido would love it)
• Cut the lamb with a sharp knife between the vertebrae so that you now have two evenly sized racks. Salt the lamb.
• Combine the allspice berries, lavender, coriander, cinnamon stick, peppercorns and cumin in a spice grinder or (cleaned out) coffee grinder and make into powder. I had to help pre-break the cinnamon stick into many small pieces. Mash the garlic with a mortar and pestle or the side of a knife with some salt on a cutting board to make into a paste. Grate or zest the lemon rind just until you get to the white part all the way around. Combine all of your ground and pureed spices.
• Spread the spice mixture all over the lamb and let sit for 10 min. You could prepare the recipe to this point and let the rub sit on the lamb overnight, but it needs at least a few min for the meat to absorb some of the flavors.
• Heat a grill or large cast-iron pan with a dollop of lard over medium-high heat. Prepare a roasting rack or cooling rack over a baking sheet. Sear the lamb on both sides. Transfer to a prepared rack. If the bones are frenched, wrap just them in aluminum foil, but leave the meat exposed. Top the meat with the bay leaves and thyme sprigs.
• Roast the lamb rack in the oven until the internal temperature is 130 degrees for rare or 135 for medium-rare or 140 for medium. The lamb is going to continue to cook while it rests, an important step.
• Tent the lamb with aluminum foil and let rest for 10-15 min, covered. Remove the aluminum foil and bay leaves and thyme sprigs and compost the plants. (If you used dried thyme, brush off gently, leaving the rub from earlier.) Cut the lamb chops between the ribs, finding the opening between the joint. Garnish with the fresh mint. Serve with roasted vegetables and a glass of dry red wine.

PANKO-CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil.
• In a medium bowl, crumble the goat cheese with a fork. Add the panko, garlic, rosemary, thyme, 1 teaspoon fleur de sel, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil and stir to moisten the crumbs. Set aside for a few minutes or cover and refrigerate.
• Remove the racks of lamb from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you plan to cook them. Place the lamb, fat side up, on the prepared pan. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons fleur de sel and 1 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 12 minutes exactly. Remove from the oven and, working quickly, use a knife to spread the mustard on the top of the lamb. Spread the crumb mixture evenly on the mustard, pressing gently to help the mixture adhere. Return the lamb to the oven right away and continue roasting for another 12 to 18 minutes (depending on the size of the lamb), until the crumbs are golden brown and the meat is 120 degrees F for rare or 125 degrees F for medium rare. (Insert an instant-read thermometer horizontally through the meat.)
• Cover loosely with aluminum foil and allow the lamb to rest for 8 minutes. Cut the racks into single or double chops and serve hot.

PANKO-CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil.
• In a medium bowl, crumble the goat cheese with a fork. Add the panko, garlic, rosemary, thyme, 1 teaspoon fleur de sel and 1 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil and stir to moisten the crumbs. Set aside for a few minutes or cover and refrigerate.
• Remove the racks of lamb from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you plan to cook them. Place the lamb, fat-side up, on the prepared pan. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons fleur de sel and 1 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 12 minutes exactly. Remove from the oven and, working quickly, use a knife to spread the mustard on the top of the lamb. Spread the crumb mixture evenly on the mustard, pressing gently to help the mixture adhere. Return the lamb to the oven right away and continue roasting for another 12 to 18 minutes (depending on the size of the lamb), until the crumbs are golden brown and the meat is 120 degrees F for rare or 125 degrees F for medium rare. (Insert an instant-read thermometer horizontally through the meat.)
• Cover loosely with aluminum foil and allow the lamb to rest for 8 minutes. Cut the racks into single or double chops and serve hot.

LAVENDER HERB CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat grill/oven to medium-high, approximately 400ºF.
• In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs, butter, rosemary, thyme and lavender. Mix the ingredients together until they are well combined. Tip: Your fingers work best for mixing.
• Brush the meat portion of the lamb rack liberally with the Dijon mustard. Cover the lamb with the lavender/bread crumb mixture making sure to coat it well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place lamb on lightly oiled grill or pan and place on grill or in oven.
• Cook lamb until bread crumbs brown. Then flip lamb rack over to bottom side and allow it to cook until medium-rare. Note: internal temperature should be 125ºF.
• Remove from grill/oven, let it rest for several minutes and serve while still hot.

CHEESE AND HERB CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in a food processor and blend until herbs are finely chopped.
• Transfer crumb mixture to a bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and toss to coat.
• Using a sharp knife, make diagonal cuts in fat side of the lamb racks, spacing lines one inch apart.
• Make cuts in opposite direction, forming diamond patterns on all racks.
• Heat 1 tablespoons of olive oil heavy large skillet over high heat.
• Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper and place one rack in pan, fat side down.
• Cook until golden, about 5 minutes; transfer to a work surface.
• Repeat with remaining racks.
• Spread scored side of each rack with 1 tablespoons of mustard, then coat with 1/3 of the crumb mixture, pressing to adhere.
• Place on rimmed baking sheets and bake in preheated oven at 425 degrees F. until golden and thermometer inserted into center of lamb registers 135 degrees F. for medium-rare, about 40 minute.
• Let stand 10 minutes and then cut racks into chops.

HERB-CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB WITH WHITE BEAN PURéE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the breadcrumbs, herbs, zest and Parmesan into a food processor with 1 tbsp of the oil and some seasoning. Blitz until everything is finely chopped.
• Heat the remaining oil in an ovenproof frying pan. Season the lamb, then brown it well on all sides and turn off the heat. Turn the racks so that they are fat-side up, and brush liberally with the mustard (Step 1, above). Pack over the herb crust (Step 2), drizzle with a bit more oil, and roast for 25 mins until the crust is golden and the lamb is cooked - this will produce lamb that is pink in the middle but cooked all the way through. If you like your lamb rarer, roast for only 20 mins; if you like it more done, give it 5 mins more. Put the lamb on a board to rest.
• While the lamb is cooking, blitz the beans with the garlic, anchovies, rosemary, lemon juice, some seasoning and 7 tbsp olive oil (or enough to make it a smooth purée. Tip into a saucepan to gently heat.
• Wilt the spinach in the remaining olive oil in another frying pan. Once the lamb has rested, carefully carve it into chops (Step 3), trying to keep the crust intact. Divide the warm bean purée between 4 plates, add a small mound of spinach, then arrange 3 lamb chops on top of each portion. Sprinkle with stray crumbs and drizzle with a little olive oil.

CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200*C/fan 180*C.
• Mix together the herbs, breadcrumbs and lemon zest and place on a plate.
• On a separate plate, mix together the mustard and honey.
• Place the racks of lamb in the mustard and honey, moving them around so they’re well covered, then roll in the herby breadcrumbs.
• Heat a frying pan, add a little olive oil and place the lamb in it to brown on all sides, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then cook in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked as you like it.
• Serve with Potato and Fennel Dauphinoise, some dressed rocket and a little salsa verde--.

MUSTARD AND HERB CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Mix the bread crumbs, parsley, mint, rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a small bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Bring lamb to room temperature. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange the coals on one side of the charcoal grate (modified two-level). Set cooking grate in place, cover gill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Season the racks liberally with salt and pepper. Place the lamb fat side down close to, but not directly over, the coals. Cover and grill until well browned, about 8 minutes, turning 180 degrees half way through. Remove racks from the grill and place fat side up on a platter or cutting board.
• Spread the mustard over the fat side of the lamb. Carefully press the breadcrumb mixture into the mustard on each rack.
• Place the racks back on the grill, fat side up, close to, but not directly over, the coals. Continue to cook until an instant read thermometer registers 130F when inserted into the side of the rack, another 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the grill and let rest uncovered for 10 minutes. Cut between each rib into chops and serve.