Masala Lamb Chops Simply Cook Food

LAMB TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Special Equipment: Chimney starter, newspaper, vegetable oil, 4 pounds natural lump charcoal, and metal skewers
• Combine 1 tablespoon of the garam masala, 1 teaspoon of the salt, cumin, coriander, and pepper in a 1-gallon resealable bag. Seal and shake the bag to combine. Add the lamb and shake to coat. Add the yogurt to the bag, seal and squish to coat. Refrigerate the bag in a leak proof container for 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Spritz 4 to 5 pieces of newspaper with vegetable oil and put in the bottom of a charcoal chimney starter. Fill the chimney with half of the charcoal and light the newspaper.
• When the charcoal is lightly covered with gray ash, carefully pour it onto the bottom grate of a kettle grill and spread evenly. Top with the remaining unlit charcoal, spreading evenly so as not to suffocate the lit charcoal. Set the second grate in the kettle and cover until ready to cook.
• Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a 12-inch straight sided saute pan over medium-high, until it shimmers and almost begins to smoke. Add the onion and remaining teaspoon of salt, and cook until the onion is browned around the edges, 11 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the garlic, ginger and chile. Cook, stirring constantly, until the onions have softened and browned completely, approximately 7 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of garam masala and stir several times to coat.
• Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they have reduced slightly and deepened in color, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the lamb from the yogurt mixture, leaving as much yogurt on the meat as possible. Thread the pieces of lamb, 1/4-inch apart, onto the skewers. Grill until the yogurt has slightly charred or blackened, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove the lamb from the skewers. Add the lamb and coconut milk to the tomato mixture and stir to combine and heat through. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with mint or cilantro and serve over basmati rice.
• Combine all of the seeds, peppercorns, cloves, chile, and cinnamon in an 8-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, moving the pan constantly, until you smell the cumin toasting, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the mixture to a plate and spread out to cool for 5 minutes.
• Once cool, add the toasted mixture and nutmeg into a spice grinder. Process until a fine powder is formed, approximately 1 minute. Use immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

INDIAN LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Put the lamb and all the first marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Chill for at least 2 hrs, and up to 4 hrs.
• Blend all the second marinade ingredients together. Remove the lamb from the first marinade and put it in a clean bowl. Add the second marinade and rub it into the lamb, then chill for a further 4 hrs, or overnight.
• Light a barbecue with a lid, then barbecue the chops on a high heat until cooked to medium (around 8 mins), making sure the meat isn't directly on the flame to avoid burning the spices. The key is to keep the lid on so the temperature is consistent. Or cook in the oven on a baking tray for 12 mins, and finish off under the grill for 2 mins to crisp them up. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over and green chutney on the side (see our recipe).

HANDI LAMB CHOP MASALA

Steps:

• Heat oil.
• Add onions and cook until brown.
• Add ginger and garlic paste, red chilli powder, garam masala and salt.
• Cook well.
• Add the mutton chops to the sauce then add the tomatoes and stir well.
• Add some water and allow the chops to cook until tender.
• When cooked, add the yoghurt.
• Mix well and re-heat carefully.
• Serve hot garnihed with chopped corriander leaves and ginger strips!

CHAAMP MASALA (LAMB CHOPS MASALA)

Steps:

• Put the ginger and garlic into the container of an electric blender with 2-3 tablespoons of water and blend to a paste. Put the chops, tomatoes, onions, cayenne pepper, yoghurt, salt and ginger-garlic paste into a large wok or heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir and bring to the boil.
• Turn the heat to low, cover and simmer for 50 minutes or until the chops are almost cooked. Add the cumin seeds and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the meat is tender and the sauce thick. Add the garam masala and lemon juice and stir. Sprinkle fresh coriander over the top and serve.
• TIPS.
• In the Punjab, tomatoes are grated to make a puree. Don't be tempted to use ready-prepared tomato puree instead of fresh. The spice combinations in garam masala vary in different parts of India. In the Punjab this one which you can try making yourself is common: 5 tbsps coriander seeds, 3 tbsps cumin seeds, 2 1/2 tbsps black peppercorns, 2 1/2 black cardamom seeds, 2 in cinnamon stick, 4-5 cloves, 1/6 nutmeg. Put the coriander and the cumin into a cast-iron frying-pan over a medium heat. Stir until lightly roasted. Allow to cool. Grind with the remaining ingredients in a clean coffee grinder and store in a tightly lidded jar.

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH GARAM MASALA

Steps:

• Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. In a bowl, combine garam masala, salt, and pepper. Place lamb chops on a baking sheet or platter, and drizzle with oil; rub chops to coat evenly all over. Sprinkle tops of chops with half the spice mixture, and gently rub onto meat. Turn chops over; repeat with remaining spice mixture.
• Grill chops until they reach desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro.