Sauteed Lamb Trimmings Food

PAN-ROASTED DOUBLE-CUT LAMB CHOPS

Steps:

• Cut each rack of lamb into 4 double chops of even thickness. Stir together 2 cups olive oil, the chopped rosemary and oregano, the garlic and 2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper (or 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes) in a large bowl. Add the lamb chops, bones up, and rub the mixture evenly over the meat. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400˚. Remove the lamb from the refrigerator and wipe off any excess marinade with a paper towel. Season generously with kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Heat an extra-large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add the lamb, rounded fat-side down. Cook until well browned, about 4 minutes. Turn the chops on their sides in the skillet and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Turn the chops so the fat side is facing up and cook 2 to 3 more minutes. (It's OK if some of the bones are sticking out of the skillet to make space.) Carefully pour off the fat from the skillet and transfer the skillet to the oven. Roast until a thermometer inserted into the center of the lamb registers 125˚ for medium-rare to medium doneness, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Return the skillet to the stovetop over medium-high heat; add the butter and rosemary and oregano sprigs to an open space in the pan. Let the butter melt and start to foam, then baste the chops with the butter a few times until well coated.
• Transfer the chops to a platter and top with any remaining butter from the skillet. Sprinkle with flaky salt and the remaining 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper (or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes). Garnish with rosemary and oregano sprigs.

SAUTEED SICILIAN LAMB

Steps:

• Set a large saute pan over high heat and add the oil. Sprinkle the lamb with salt and pepper. Add the lamb to the pan along with the garlic and saute until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the oregano and pepper flakes and stir. The lamb is done when browned all over but still tender. Transfer to a dish and set aside.
• Set the pan back over the heat and reduce the heat to medium. Add the onions, roasted peppers and mushrooms to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the vegetables begin to soften, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Deglaze the pan with the wine, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in the olives, capers and lemon zest. Bring to a simmer and reduce by two-thirds, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Return the lamb to the pan and stir together to incorporate the flavors and heat through.
• Serve the lamb with rice pilaf and garnish with the parsley.

SAUTEED LAMB TRIMMINGS WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Combine lamb slices, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic in bowl, add salt and pepper to taste, mix well and allow to marinate 30 minutes or more.
• Heat a heavy skillet until very hot. Add about a third of the lamb slices, spreading them out, and brown them on one side, about 1 to 2 minutes. Do not move the pieces while browning them. When the undersides are browned (top surfaces should still be a bit raw) quickly stir the slices around in the pan and remove them to a serving bowl. Cook the remainder of the slices in 2 more batches, removing them to the serving bowl.
• Add pesto to the skillet and stir in more lemon juice and salt to taste. Return all the lamb slices (with juices) to the skillet, stir to coat evenly with the sauce and empty the skillet into the serving bowl. The slices should be just heated through. They should not be medium rare and not tough and dry.

SAUTEED LAMB WITH GREEN OLIVES

Steps:

• Pit the olives and blanch them in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside. Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water for 2 minutes, then refresh them under cold water. Peel, quarter and seed the tomatoes and set aside.
• In a large, heavy casserole, heat the butter and oil over medium heat. Add the lamb. Raise the heat to high and brown the lamb on all sides. Sprinkle in the flour and stir and saute for 1 minute or until the flour adheres to the meat. Add the olives, tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme and crushed garlic. Season sparingly with salt and pepper. (The olives are salty.) Simmer, covered, for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Transfer the lamb, olives and the liquid to a deep serving bowl. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley. Serve with boiled potatoes or steamed rice.

SPICE-RUBBED LAMB CHOPS (PAN SAUTEED)

Steps:

• Stir together the thyme, cumin, coriander, paprika, and salt in a small bowl; season with pepper.
• Put lamb on a plate and rub each side with the spice mixture; let stand from 10 minutes to an hour.
• Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a medium heavy skillet over medium-high heat until very hot.
• Add chops and reduce heat to medium.
• Cook chops, flipping halfway through, until deeply browned, about 10 minutes for medium-rare.
• Transfer each chop to a serving plate.
• Divide arugula between plates and drizzle with the remaining teaspoons of oil.

BRAISED LAMB WITH RED WINE AND PRUNES

Steps:

• Cut lamb into 2-inch cubes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and brown in a large skillet over medium-high heat; remove.
• Add onion, garlic, prunes, ginger, cinnamon, salt and pepper; cook until fragrant. Add wine, stock or water and browned lamb. When the liquid boils, lower heat to a simmer, cover and cook until tender, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Garnish: Parsley.

SAUTéED LAMB CHOPS WITH RAMPS, ANCHOVY, CAPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Season chops on both sides with salt and pepper, sprinkle with rosemary, and set aside for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Put a large sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and swirl to coat bottom of pan. When oil is hot, add chops in one layer, without crowding. (If necessary, use two pans or work in batches.)
• Cook chops until nicely browned on first side, about 4 to 5 minutes. (Maintain brisk heat, but adjust if they seem to be browning too quickly.) Flip chops and cook to medium-rare, until red juices rise on surface, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove chops to a serving platter and keep warm.
• Return pan to stovetop over medium-high heat. Add a little olive oil if pan looks dry, then add shallot and cook until lightly browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add anchovies, mashing them with the back of a spoon, to combine.
• Add chopped ramps (or garlic, if using), capers, olives and red pepper and stir to incorporate shallot mixture. Raise heat to high and add white wine. Cook rapidly until reduced by half. Add chicken broth and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and zest and turn off heat.
• Meanwhile, roughly chop reserved green ramp tops, if using, and mix with chopped parsley. Stir parsley mixture into sauce. Spoon sauce generously over lamb chops and serve.

SAUTEED LAMB CHOPS WITH BéARNAISE BUTTER

Steps:

• Sprinkle lamb chops with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, sauté lamb chops until browned on both sides and cooked to medium-rare, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to platter and tent with foil to keep warm.
• Arrange 2 chops on each of 8 plates. Top each chop with rounded teaspoonful Béarnaise Butter and serve.

THIN-CUT LAMB SHOULDER CHOPS IN A SKILLET WITH SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim the fat from the outside edges of the chops. Salt them on both sides lightly, using 1/4 teaspoon. Spread the flour on a plate or on a piece of foil; dredge the chops in it on both sides to coat lightly, then shake off the excess flour.
• Put the oil and butter in the skillet, and set over medium-high heat. As the butter foams, lay the chops in the pan. Fry them on the first side for 2 minutes, then flip them over and fry for 2 more minutes-the meat should only be light brown; if chops are darkening too fast, lower the heat.
• Scatter the garlic in empty hot spots in the pan. Cook for a minute, stirring the slices until they're sizzling, then drop the anchovy bits into the hot spots and stir as they heat and melt away. Shake the skillet and sprinkle the peperoncino in the hot spots, and give them a minute of sizzling.
• Turn the meat over, so the first side is down again. Fry for 2 minutes-shaking the pan now and then-and flip over once more; by now there should be some nice caramelization on the meat.
• Spill the vinegar into the hot spots; shake the pan and tilt it to distribute the juices all around; sprinkle another 1/4 teaspoon salt all over. After about 2 minutes, turn the meat pieces again.
• Now plop the mustard into several different hot spots; shake and stir and caramelize it for a minute.
• Turn the meat one more time-it will be getting darker-and pour the broth into the skillet. It should come well up the sides of the meat, almost but not quite over the top. Get the juices boiling, then lower the heat to keep a lively bubbling simmer in the pan.
• Relax! Let the meat cook, the sauce thicken, and the flavors come together for 4 or 5 minutes. Taste the sauce-sprinkle in more salt if you like. Drizzle another tablespoon of olive oil all over to give the sauce more shine, if you want.
• When the sauce has become syrupy and looks the way you like it, sprinkle the parsley all over. Turn the meat once more, shake the skillet one last time, and take it off the heat.
• To serve, put a chop on a warm plate and spoon over some of the sauce.
• This intensely flavored dish beckons a mellow contorno, such as mashed or baked potatoes, or the Potato, Parsnip, and Scallion Mash (page 361).
• Polenta (page 215) would also be quite nice, or riso al salto (page 233), would be delicious to mop up the sauce.