Spring Lamb With Minted Gravy Food

MINT CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Cook mint leaves in a pot of boiling water for about 10 seconds.
• Transfer mint leaves to a bowl of ice water; soak for 30 seconds, drain and squeeze dry.
• Combine blanched mint with garlic, olive oil, bread crumbs, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend for 20 to 30 seconds until fine and crumbly.
• Transfer mint mixture to a large bowl; stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, set aside.
• Combine 1/4 cup Dijon mustard and 2 teaspoons honey in a small bowl, set aside.
• Combine extra-virgin olive oil, rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a jar with a lid. Shake vinaigrette vigorously until combined, about 30 seconds. Set vinaigrette aside.
• Slice 1/2 to 1-inch slits between each bone of the lamb racks to assure the meat roasts evenly.
• Season each rack with salt and black pepper on all sides.
• Heat vegetable oil in skillet over high heat. Brown each lamb rack for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
• Transfer lamb racks to the foil-lined baking sheet.
• Brush each rack with mustard and honey mixture. Sprinkle mint mixture over the top and sides of each rack.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned on top and medium rare in the center, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 125 to 130 degrees F (52 to 54 degrees C). Remove from oven and allow lamb to rest for 10 minutes before serving, drizzled with honey mustard vinaigrette.

LEG OF LAMB WITH MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lower third. Rub lamb with a generous amount of salt and pepper, then rub with oil. With the tip of a sharp paring knife, cut twenty 1/2-inch-deep slits all over lamb; insert garlic slivers into openings.
• Place lamb on a roasting rack set on a rimmed baking sheet; place in oven. Immediately reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Roast lamb until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part (avoiding bone) registers 125 degrees to 135 degrees for rare, or 135 degrees to 140 degrees for medium, 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours. Remove from oven; let rest 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile, make the mint sauce: In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, sugar, and water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until liquid is syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in mint, and let cool completely.

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH MINT

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high. Mix the olive oil, mint, red pepper flakes, and salt to taste in a bowl. Rub the lamb chops all over with the garlic. Transfer a few tablespoons of the mint oil to a small bowl and brush on the chops.
• Grill the chops until charred, 3 to 4 minutes per side. (Press the middle of a chop with your finger: It should be slightly firm with a little give for medium-rare doneness.) Transfer to a platter and brush with some of the remaining mint oil. Sprinkle with mint and serve with more mint oil.

SPRING LAMB WITH MINTED GRAVY

Steps:

• Starting 2-3 days BEFORE cooking, purchase spring lamb.
• At Easter time, it's a good idea to order it from a butcher in advance.
• Have the butcher take the bone out AND remove the gland, but tell him NOT to tie it.
• Ask for the string so you can tie it at home after marinating.
• At home, rub the lamb well, inside and out with the combined marinating ingredients.
• Roll up lengthwise and use the butcher's string to tie it up by tying lengths of string every 2-3 inches.
• Marinate the lamb for two days before cooking.
• On the day of cooking, plan on 2 hours of roasting time.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Place lamb in roasting pan and roast (uncovered) for 20 minutes and then reduce heat to 250°F and continue baking for about 1 1/2 hours.
• Meat thermometer should reach 140°F.
• Remove lamb from oven and let rest, covered in foil, while making gravy.
• Make one quart of brown gravy using a good quality beef base and diluting it with 3 1/2 cups hot water.
• Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and thicken with roux.
• Add the sherry and butter, whisking to blend well.
• Season with salt and pepper and stir in the mint jelly, stirring until melted.
• Serve with lamb.
• For roux: Melt 4 tbsp butter in saucepan over medium heat, and add 4 tbsp flour.
• Stir constantly with wooden spoon about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat.
• (See "roux" search if you need further details).

RACK OF LAMB WITH MINTED PEA PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.
• Place the lamb on a rack in a baking dish.
• Place the mint, garlic, vinegar and sugar in a food processor and work until a paste forms.
• Add the olive oil slowly to the mixture adding a little more if the mixture seems too thick-if the mixture seems too runny, add a few more mint leaves.
• Season to taste.
• Coat the lamb with the mint paste and marinate for 15 minutes.
• Place in the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until done to your liking.
• Minted Pea Puree: Place the potato in a saucepan and boil until tender.
• Add the peas and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Drain and place in food processor along with butter and mint leaves.
• Pulse for a short time so mixture is smooth, but with a little texture.
• Serve with the lamb.

HONEY GLAZED ROAST LAMB WITH HONEY MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350°F.
• Combine the flour, salt, pepper, cinnamon and rosemary and rub well into the lamb on all sides.
• Lay the onion and carrot in the bottom of the roasting tin and the lamb on top.
• Roast, allowing 25 to 30 minutes per 500g (1 lb 2oz) of weight, less for a pinker meat.
• Turn the joint halfway through to cook evenly.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce; warm the vinegar and honey until the honey has dissolved, then stir in the mint and leave to cool.
• About 30 minutes before the end of cooking time, carefully lift out the meat and strain off the fat from the roasting tin (leave the vegetables).
• Replace the meat, best side up.
• Spread with the honey, and add the cider to the pan.
• Return to the oven, increasing the heat to 375*F, and finish roasting, basting once or twice.
• Lift the joint and vegetables on to a hot serving platter.
• Blend the cornstarch with 1 TBS of cold water, add to the roasting tin and boil, stirring for a few minutes to make gravy.
• Strain into a hot sauceboat.
• Serve the lamb with the hot cider gravy and honey mint sauce.

LAMB CHOPS WITH MINTED HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Brush the chops on both sides with a little oil and season with black pepper.
• Put the chops under the broiler, 4 inches from the heat, and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side for medium-rare chops, slightly longer for well-done.
• Arrange the lamb chops on warmed serving plates and serve immediately with the warm minted hollandaise sauce.
• Good served with asparagus and a carrot salad.
• Hollandaise sauce: Whisk together the lemon juice, viegar, and egg yolks.
• Put over a saucepan of simmering water and whisk until thick.
• Melt the butter and add, a little at a time, to the egg-yolk mixture, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens.
• Stir in the fresh mint and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer to a gravy boat and serve immediately.
• Variation: Lemon and Thyme Hollandaise: Make the sauce as directed, substituting 1 tsp grated lemon zest and 1 tbls chopped fresh thyme for the chopped mint.
• Serve with the lamb chops.