Grilled Lamb Chops Crusted With Ras El Hanout Seasoning Drenched In Garlicky Charmoula Recipe 475

Steps:

• Make the Ras el Hanout. Rub the lamb with olive oil and generously coat with Ras el Hanout and salt. (If not using the ras el hanout, season generously with salt, pepper, and a little cumin.) Preheat your grill, then grill about 2 minutes per side for medium rare. Let the meat rest a few minutes before serving. CHARMOULA: Combine all of the Charmoula ingredients in a food processor or magic bullet and pulse until a pesto-like consistency. Don't overblend - it shouldn't be completely liquified. Serve the lamb chops with a generous helping of Charmoula and some fresh lemon zest. Perfect with grilled asparagus and cauliflower puree on the side. RAS EL HANOUT: Heat a small skillet over moderate heat. When hot, add white peppercorns, aniseed, cumin seed, coriander, cloves, and allspice berries. Stir constantly until fragrant and oils are released (only a few minutes). Remove from heat and allow to cool in a separate bowl. Husk the cardamom pods, reserving the fragrant seeds. I love the flavor of cardamom, so I use more than what Paula Wolfert recommends above. Remove seeds and veins from dried chipotles and break apart. Break up nutmeg in a mortar and pestle. Once peppercorns, aniseed, cumin seed, coriander, cloves, and allspice berries have cooled, combine with remaining ingredients in a spice grinder and grind all together until fine. A coffee grinder works well, but then you will not want to grind coffee in it anymore. Even Alton Brown believes in having a separate grinder dedicated to the grinding of spices. Sift through a strainer to remove fibers from galangale, turmeric, ginger and any pieces that just do not grind. Store in a glass jar under refrigeration.

Steps:

• In a food processor fitted with a metal blade add the garlic, rosemary, thyme, cayenne, and salt. Pulse until combined. Pour in olive oil and pulse into a paste. Rub the paste on both sides of the lamb chops and let them marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Remove from refrigerator and allow the chops to come to room temperature; it will take about 20 minutes.
• Heat a grill pan over high heat until almost smoking, add the chops and sear for about 2 minutes. Flip the chops over and cook for another 3 minutes for medium-rare and 3 1/2 minutes for medium.

Steps:

• Mix together the vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and olive oil in a large resealable bag until the salt has dissolved. Add lamb, toss until coated, and marinate in refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• Remove lamb from the marinade and leave any onions on that stick to the meat. Discard any remaining marinade. Wrap the exposed ends of the bones with aluminum foil to keep them from burning. Grill to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium. The chops may also be broiled in the oven about 5 minutes per side for medium.

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or cast-iron grill pan over high heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the fire so that one side of the grill has more coals than the other - a "hot" side. If using a grill pan, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Rub the lamb chops with the garlic and season aggressively with salt and pepper. If grilling, place on the hot side for 2 minutes per side. Move the chops to the cooler side of the grill to cook through, an additional 6 to 7 minutes. If using a grill pan, grill one side for 2 minutes to sear, then turn over the chops and place the pan in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the grill or oven and allow to sit 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Put the lamb chops in a large bowl. Add the ras el hanout, garlic, oil, most of the lemon juice and some seasoning. Toss everything together and set aside for at least 15 mins.
• Combine the herbs, onion, pomegranate seeds and lemon zest in a bowl. Season and set aside. Heat a griddle or grill until very hot and cook the lamb chops for 3-4 mins each side, until cooked but still pink and juicy on the inside, then leave to rest for a few mins. Serve the chops with the salad, houmous and pitta, and squeeze over the remaining lemon juice.

Steps:

• Using a pestle and mortar or a mini chopper, mash or chop the garlic with a generous pinch of salt, then add the lemon juice, ras el hanout spice mix and olive oil, then pound or chop to a rough paste. Use a small knife to make small incisions all over the lamb. Sit the lamb in a large, shallow casserole dish or deep roasting tin, then rub the paste all over the lamb and into the cuts. Leave at room temperature for 1 hr, or better still cover and chill overnight.
• When ready to cook, heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Scatter the onion wedges around the lamb, then cover the dish with a lid or tightly with foil and roast for 3 hrs. Remove from the oven and uncover. Stir the onions and baste the lamb in the juices, then turn the oven up to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and continue to roast the lamb, uncovered, for 25-30 mins until browned.
• Lift the lamb and onions onto a board to rest and put the kettle on. Stir the couscous and raisins into the lamb dish so they're coated in the roasting juices. Pour over enough boiling water from the kettle to just cover the couscous, then cover the dish and leave for 5 mins. Uncover and fluff the couscous up with a wooden spoon, then stir through the chickpeas, chopped herbs and preserved lemon or lemon juice, and season to taste. Bring the lamb, onions and the couscous to the table to serve.