Fillets Of Lamb With Tarragon Recipes

Steps:

• Each rack of lamb is coated with a fairly heavy covering of fat. This is easily removed with the fingers and a knife. Pull off all the fat from the meaty part of the racks. Using a sharp knife, cut away the fat from the top of the ribs, cutting close to the bone. Using a cleaver, hack the bones in two, leaving about two inches of bones extending from the meat part. Reserve these bones. Hack off the chine bone. Discard the chine bones. This may all be done by the butcher when you purchase the racks. Sprinkle the racks with salt and pepper to taste.
• Select a heavy skillet large enough to hold the racks and hacked-off bones in one layer. Heat the oil in the skillet and add the racks top side down. Cook, turning occasionally to brown all sides, for about 13 minutes. Transfer the pieces to a serving platter to keep warm.
• Pour off the fat from the skillet and add two tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until wilted. Add the wine and cook down almost completely. Add the tarragon, tomato paste and stir. Add the broth. Cook down quickly to about half a cup. Swirl in the remaining butter. Cut the rack between the ribs and serve with the sauce poured over them.

Steps:

• If any fat remains on the loin of lamb pieces after they are trimmed, carefully cut it away. Place each loin of lamb on a flat surface and cut crosswise into four pieces of equal size. This will yield eight pieces.
• Place each piece upright (grain side up) and pound lightly with a flat mallet. The flattened pieces will measure about half an inch thick. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Trim off stems of the leeks. Cut leeks crosswise into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Cut each piece lengthwise into very thin shreds (julienne). Put leeks in a saucepan and add 2 tablespoons of the butter, salt and pepper.
• Cook leeks over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, about one minute. Add 1/4 cup of the chicken broth and cover. Continue cooking about 10 minutes. Add cream and cook, uncovered, about three minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a heavy skillet and add medallions of lamb. Cook about two minutes over relatively high heat until browned. Turn pieces and continue cooking about four to five minutes to the desired degree of doneness. Transfer pieces to a warm platter.
• Pour off fat from the skillet and wipe skillet with paper towels. Add remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet. When it is hot add shallots and cook briefly, stirring. Add wine, chicken broth and tomato paste. Stir. Add any liquid that may have accumulated from the lamb pieces. Cook the sauce, stirring, until it is reduced to one-half cup. Stir in tarragon.
• Spoon sauce over meat. Serve with leeks in cream sauce on the side.