Warm Salad Of Asparagus Spears And Seared Lamb Chops With Fresh Food

WARM SALAD OF SPRING VEGETABLES WITH GRIDDLED LAMB

Steps:

• Get a bowl of iced water at the ready and bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Cook the asparagus in the water for 3 mins, then scoop into the iced water with a slotted spoon. Cook the peas for 2 mins, then place in the iced water. Cook the broad beans for another 2 mins, pop into the iced water, then remove them from their skins. Cut a cross in the bottom of each tomato, then blanch in boiling water for about 10 secs before placing in iced water. Peel, quarter and deseed the tomatoes and cut the flesh into small chunks.
• Heat the oil and coriander seeds gently in a small saucepan, then take off the heat and stir through all the veg and the vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, and stir through the tarragon and mint.
• Heat a large griddle pan or barbecue. Season the lamb with salt and pepper, and cook for 4 mins on each side for medium, or 6 mins for well done. Serve each lamb chop with the vegetable dressing.

SEARED PETITE LAMB CHOPS WITH ROSEMARY BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine olive oil, parsley, rosemary, and garlic. Season with salt, to taste. Set aside.
• Set a 12-inch oven-safe saute pan over medium-high heat. Season the lamb with 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the black pepper. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of the oil to the saute pan and place the lamb, fat side down, in the pan. Sear the lamb until the fat has rendered and the skin is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook the lamb, turning to cook evenly on each side, about 2 minutes each side. Baste them with the herb and oil mixture. Transfer the pan to the oven and cook until the lamb is rare, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can grill the lamb chops.
• Make the balsamic drizzle while the lamb is cooking: Set a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat and add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the shallots to the pan and sweat until translucent, about 1 minute. Add the garlic to the pan and sweat for 30 seconds. Pour the balsamic vinegar into the pan and bring to a boil. Add the rosemary and allow the balsamic to gently boil and reduce until only about 1/4 cup of balsamic remains, about 10 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Remove from the heat and swirl the butter into the pan. Remove the rosemary sprigs before using.
• When the lamb is rare, remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. To serve, slice each double chop in half, and drizzle with the balsamic reduction.

LAMB CHOPS WITH ROSEMARY PLUM SAUCE AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON VINAIGRETTE AND DICED EGG

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Arrange asparagus and potatoes on baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Season with salt and black pepper. Roast 20 to 25 minutes, until tender and golden brown.
• Meanwhile, season lamb chops all over with salt and black pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chops and sear 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove lamb from pan and set aside. Add leeks to the same pan and saute 3 minutes, until soft. Return lamb to pan.
• In a small bowl, whisk together plum sauce, plum preserves and rosemary. Pour mixture over lamb chops. Simmer 5 minutes, until lamb is tender and medium-rare to medium.
• In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest, oil and mustard. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Arrange asparagus on a serving dish. Drizzle lemon vinaigrette over top. Top with diced egg. Serve lamb chops with asparagus and potatoes on the side and extra sauce (with leeks) spooned over top.

LAMB CHOPS WITH CHARRED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 12-inch high-sided pan over high. Sprinkle both sides of lamb chops with 2 teaspoons salt. Add chops to pan; cook, flipping once, until browned and a thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 135°F, about 6 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer chops to a plate.
• Discard all but 1 tablespoon drippings from pan. Add asparagus; cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro, vinegar, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Transfer mixture to a bowl.
• Return pan to medium-high (do not wipe clean). Add sliced bread; cook, flipping once, until lightly toasted, about 1 minute per side.
• Spread 3 tablespoons yogurt on each of 4 plates. Spoon asparagus mixture over yogurt and top with radishes. Place lamb chops alongside. Serve with toasted bread.

LAMB/SHOULDER CHOPS - AVEC CREAMY ASPARAGUS/RICOTTA/CURRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare MARINADE the night before your dinner party.
• Of the MARINADE and SAUCE ingredients mix ONLY first seven in your Processor, or Blender.
• Reserve last four ingredients for future use.
• Remember to use only the first seven ingredients.
• Remove excess fat from around the outside of shoulder chops.
• Leave the bone in, if there is one.
• Place chops in a covered container large enough to accommodate all, even if you have to"double-row" them.
• Pour MARINADE over shoulder chops, cover and place in refrigerator.
• Allow to marinate 24 hours; be sure the chops are all well covered with the MARINADE.
• Baste chops periodically to ensure good saturation.
• Keep covered during the marinating process.
• Next day, when you are ready for cooking: Remove shoulder chops from MARINADE; pat dry with paper toweling and set aside.
• Reserve the MARINADE for later use in the sauce preparation.
• In a saucepan and 1/2 cup water, over medium heat,cook asparagus spears for 5-7 minutes.
• Because of the quantity, you may have to do this in a couple of batches.
• Remove asparagus spears from water and reserve for use in SAUCE preparation.
• Discard the water.
• Skin the Roma tomatoes by dipping in very hot water for a few minutes; the skin should slide off easily.
• Slice off the tops and discard; cut skinned tomatoes in half, lengthwise.
• Cover and set aside for later use.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp of the olive oil; add the butter. (Watch it does not burn).
• Saute all the onions, stirring frequently; transfer to a small bowl.
• Mix in 1/2 Tbsp grated parmesan or Romano cheese. Cover and set aside for later use.
• In the same skillet, add a little more olive oil for browning.
• Lightly cook tomato halves, flat side only, until just brown.
• Transfer to a plate and sprinkle balance of grated parmesan or Romano cheese on the tomatoes; Cover and set aside for later use.
• Add water to two eggs and beat well with a hand mixer or rotary beater.
• At this point you should take out your shallow oven pan or a shallow pan large enough to accommodate all the chops at one time.
• PREHEAT OVEN TO 325°F.
• In four separate containers, place the milk, flour, well-beaten eggs, bread crumbs, Add more olive oil to the skillet, as needed.
• Prepare the chops in the following order: Soak in milk, dredge in flour, dip in beaten eggs, finally in bread crumbs.
• Brown both sides of chops quickly in skillet; remove to shallow oven pan.
• Give the onions and grated cheese an additional toss to coat well.
• Spoon onions over the breaded chops, dividing equally.
• Top-off with one tomato half, flat side down, on each chop.
• Use up all of the grated cheese bits, as well.
• Bake uncovered, in preheated oven for 35 minutes.
• Turn down oven to 275°F and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes.
• While the meat is baking, prepare the Creamy, Asparagus/Ricotta/Curry Sauce SAUCE PREPARATION: In a saucepan, over medium heat, bring MARINADE/SAUCE mixture to a boil.
• Turn heat down and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes, mixing occasionally.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
• Add cooked asparagus, ricotta cheese and a little of the cooked MARINADE/SAUCE mixture to your food processor.
• Process on "pulse cycle" for a few minutes or until ricotta cheese and asparagus are well blended.
• Continue to gradually add all of the MARINADE/SAUCE mixture, through feed tube, until smooth.
• You now have the basis for the SAUCE.
• Transfer SAUCE to saucepan; bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• Put all of the cornstarch into a medium-sized bowl.
• Make a roux by gradually whisking 35% cream (or whipping cream) into the cornstarch, whisking continuously, until all of the cream has been used, and roux is very smooth.
• Gradually,and gently transfer about 1/4 cup of the SAUCE mixture to the roux.
• Continue whisking as you gradually add additional SAUCE to the roux.
• Remember you are working with very hot ingredients; please be careful; do not burn yourself.
• Pour the mixture back into the saucepan, whisking continuously.
• Turn down heat as low as possible.
• Allow to thicken while whisking.
• Whisk again, just before spooning onto chops.
• Turn off the oven.
• Transfer Lamb Chops from oven pan to dinner plates.
• Spoon the CREAMY ASPARAGUS RICOTTA/CURRY SAUCE over the Lamb Chops, and serve while still hot.

SEARED LAMB SHOULDER CHOPS WITH MUSTARD-DILL PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Season the lamb chops all over with salt and pepper.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Put two of the chops in the skillet and cook, flipping once, until deep golden brown and medium-rare, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a large plate, cover loosely with foil, and keep warm.
• Repeat with the remaining two chops.
• Add the shallots to the skillet and cook, stirring, until softened, about 1 minute.
• Add the broth and wine and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until reduced by half, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium low, stir in the mustard and lemon juice, and cook for 1 minute more.
• Add the butter, a piece or two at a time, swirling the skillet to melt into the sauce.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the dill.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve the lamb with the sauce.

SEARED LAMB CHOPS WITH ANCHOVIES, CAPERS AND SAGE

Steps:

• Rinse the lamb chops and pat them dry. Season them with salt and pepper, and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Over medium-high heat, warm a skillet large enough to hold all the chops in one layer. Add the oil and when it shimmers, add the anchovies and capers. Cook, stirring, until the anchovies break down, about 3 minutes.
• Arrange the lamb chops in the skillet and fry, without moving them, until brown, about 3 minutes. Turn them over, and toss the sage leaves and pepper flakes into the pan. Cook until lamb reaches the desired doneness, about 2 minutes for medium-rare.
• Arrange the chops on serving plates. Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 1 minute, then spoon the sauce over the lamb. Serve with the lemon wedges.

LAMB CHOPS WITH DATES, FETA AND TAHINI

Steps:

• In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, combine 1/3 cup oil, the cumin, 2 garlic cloves, the Aleppo pepper and half the lemon juice. Add lamb, turn to coat, cover baking dish and chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• In a blender, combine remaining garlic clove, 3 tablespoons oil, the tahini, the yogurt, salt and pepper to taste, and 3 tablespoons water. Blend until it has the consistency of thick heavy cream, adding more water or adjusting seasoning if necessary. Set aside.
• Heat a grill, grill pan or cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot. Remove lamb from marinade, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes on each side for rare. If you'd like, prop each lamb chop on its fatty side to briefly sear it, around 30 seconds. Transfer to a cutting board to rest.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk to combine the remaining scant 3 tablespoons oil, the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with dates, feta, mint and dill. Place on serving platter, top with lamb, and drizzle with tahini dressing. Garnish with extra herbs and sumac, and serve with remaining tahini sauce on the side. Serve immediately.

WARM SALAD OF ASPARAGUS SPEARS AND SEARED LAMB CHOPS WITH FRESH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Season the chops with salt, pepper, garlic and oregano. Heat a heavy skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil. Sear each side of the chops for 3-4 minutes for medium rare. Remove chops from pan. Set aside. Cover loosely to keep warm. Pour off any fat left in skillet while keeping lamb juices in the pan. Add stock and scrape up any brown bits from the pan. Boil until the liquid reduces to 1-2 tablespoons. Remove the pan from the heat and add the vinegar. Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add chopped mint. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Cut asparagus into 3 inch spears. Steam until tender. Arrange warm asparagus and lamb on serving plate. Pour warm vinaigrette all over. Top with feta, onions and olives. Serve immediately. Nutrients per serving: Calories 314, fat 22 gms, calories from fat 194, saturated fat 9 gms, cholesterol 62 gms, sodium 300 mg, dietary fiber 8 gms, protein 25 gms