Mediterranean Lamb Food

GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN-SPICED LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large baking dish, combine all the ingredients-except for the lamb chops and salt-and mix until combined.
• Add the lamb chops and rub the seasoning mixture onto both sides. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours, turning over the lamb chops halfway through. You can also let the lamb chops sit overnight.
• Preheat a grill, grill pan, or broiler. Remove the chops from the spice rub and salt both sides generously. Cook about 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
• Serve and enjoy.

PERFECT ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

Steps:

• Bring the leg of lamb to room temp. Take the leg of lamb out of the refrigerator and leave in room temperature for about 1 hour. In the meantime, prepare the remaining ingredients and make the lamb rub.
• Prepare the seasoning. To make the rub or seasoning, in a food processor, combine the rub ingredients. Blend until smooth. Set aside (or in the fridge, if preparing in advance).
• Salt the meat. When ready, pat the lamb dry and make a few slits on both sides. Season with salt and pepper.
• Sear the Lamb. Turn the oven on broil. Place the leg of lamb on a wire rack and put it directly on the top rack so that it's only a few inches away from the broiler element. Broil for 5-7 minutes on each side or until the leg of lamb is nicely seared. Remove from the oven, then adjust the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• Apply the seasoning or rub. When the lamb is cool enough to handle, insert the garlic slices in the slits you made earlier. Now cover the leg of lamb on all sides with the wet rub and place it in the middle of a roasting pan with an inside rack. Add two cups of water to the bottom of the roasting pan.

MEDITERRANEAN ROAST LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F, lightly oil a shallow roasting pan.
• In your blender (food Processor), with the metal blade blend the olives, garlic, spices and oil.
• Blend until almost pureed.
• Smear all over the lamb leg, place roast in the pan and roast for apprx 1 hour (apprx 20 minutes per lb.) or until the internal temp reaches 155F.
• Let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.

MEDITERRANEAN LAMB

Steps:

• Cook the leg of lamb in a slow oven for 1 1/2 hours.
• Mix the remaining ingredients together.
• Pour this mix over the lamb, and cover with a lid or foil.
• Cook for a further 1 1/2 hours in a slow oven.
• Slice the meat thickly and serve with the sauce-it may need to be reduced a little before using.

MEDITERRANEAN STYLE LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Separately cooked white beans and braised fennel and 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil.
• Blue print stew technique: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Season the flour with salt and pepper. Coat the meat with flour and shake off excess. Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Brown the meat, in batches, until browned on all sides. Remove browned meat to a plate. Add seasoning vegetables to remaining oil in casserole, cover and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until totally tender. Return browned meat to seasoning vegetables with juices that have collected on the plate. Add optional tomato ingredients, bouquet garni and liquid. Season lightly with salt, bring to a simmer, cover and set in oven to cook for about 1 1/2 hours or longer or until meat is fork tender. Remove casserole from oven, remove meat and keep warm, degrease the liquid. Either puree the solids into the liquid to form a thick sauce, or strain the solids out and reduce the sauce until intensely flavored. Add any additional seasoning ingredient (like barbecue sauce) and fresh herbs at last minute. To cook the vegetable garnish, either cook it in the stew liquid before you puree or reduce it, then return the meat to the liquid to rewarm it. Or cook the garnishes separately.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB - MEDITERRANEAN STYLE

Steps:

• Remove all the fat from the lamb (or most of it).
• Make small slits just large enough for garlic slivers evenly in the leg of lamb, and insert the garlic slivers.
• Cut the carrots into thick slices, the onions and lemons into quarters.
• Rub the lamb with olive oil, put salt and pepper all over.
• Put the lamb into a pan and place all the vegetables around it.
• Fill up with olive oil (1/2- 1 cup) and boiling water.
• Put into oven at 400°F and roast for an hour.
• After one hour, turn meat over and fill pan with the whole bottle of beer.
• Put back into oven for another hour.
• The vegetables give a very nice sauce.
• Experiment with the amount of lemon.
• A nice variation is adding potatoes (quarters) when turning the lamb, gives great side-dish.

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE LAMB STEW

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender process the tomatoes with juice until smooth; set aside.
• Place the currants in a heat-proof bowl; cover with very hot water and set aside while browning the lamb.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven.
• Season the lamb with salt and ground black pepper; add to the oil and brown on both sides; remove the lamb to a plate or bowl.
• Add in onions and cook stirring for about 5 minutes adding in the garlic and red chili flakes the last 2 minutes of cooking.
• Add in tomato paste and bay leaf; cook stirring for 1 minute.
• Return the lamb with all the juices that have accumulated in the bowl back to the pot.
• Drain the water from the currants.
• Add in the pureed tomatoes, currants and all remaining ingredients except the salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil stirring over medium heat.
• Reduce heat to very low and simmer uncovered for about 1-1/2 hours or until the lamb is tender.
• About halfway through cooking season with salt and ground black pepper to taste.
• Just before serving remove and discard the cinnamon stick and bay leaf (if you are making this a day in advance refrigerate with the cinnamon stick and bay leaf left in).

MEDITERRANEAN RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place lamb in a shallow roasting pan. In small bowl, combine the lemon zest, oregano, garlic, oil, salt and pepper. Rub over lamb., Bake 30-40 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°). Let stand 5 minutes before cutting. If desired, serve with fresh oregano and lemon slices.

MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES WITH LAMB

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan. Cook the lamb and shallots over a high heat for 2-3 mins until golden. Add the courgettes and stir-fry for 3-4 mins until beginning to soften.
• Add the spices and toss well, then add the peppers and garlic. Reduce the heat and cook over a moderate heat for 4-5 mins until they start to soften.
• Pour in the stock and stir to coat. Add the tomatoes, season, then cover with a lid and simmer for 15 mins, stirring occasionally until the veg are tender. Stir through the coriander to serve.

MEDITERRANEAN MEAT MARINADE

Steps:

• Combine olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, sage, thyme, marjoram, basil, oregano, garlic powder, and pepper in a large, shallow dish. Mix with a fork until mixture looks uniform.

MEDITERRANEAN GRILLED LAMB STEAKS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Cook garlic, bay leaf, fennel seeds, and zest, stirring, until fennel seeds are golden, about 1 minute. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium, then add tomatoes with their juice, artichokes, and olives and cook, covered, until vegetables are tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Discard bay leaf and zest.
• Meanwhile, heat grill pan over medium-high heat until hot.
• Cut lamb across the grain into 4 (1-inch-thick) steaks. Brush both sides of steaks with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper (total).
• Grill lamb, turning once, about 10 minutes total for medium-rare.
• Spoon tomato mixture onto plates and top with lamb.

MEDITERRANEAN LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Using a pestle and mortar or wooden spoon and bowl, pound together the fresh mint, fresh rosemary and the garlic, then mix with 1 tbsp olive oil.
• Smear over four lamb chops or cutlets.
• Place the eggplant, zucchini and red bell pepper on to a baking sheet.
• Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and place the lamb chops on top.
• Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
• Top the chops with feta cheese and add the cherry tomatoes to the pan.
• Cook for a further 10 minutes until the cheese just starts to brown.
• Serve the chops with the roasted vegetables, toasted ciabatta bread and mixed leaf salad.