Lamb Chops In Phyllo Pastry Recipes

Steps:

• The chops used must be cut from the rack. It is best that the butcher prepare them to order: The chine bone of a rack of lamb should be cut off and removed and the chops cut between the ribs, leaving the ribs intact and the meaty portion of each chop at least 1 inch thick. Have any fat or other coating trimmed from the perimeter of the meaty portion. Ask that each rib be scraped clean to make them ''French style.'' Sprinkle the chops with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Heat the oil in a small skillet and add the rosemary, shallots and peppercorns. Smash the peeled roasted garlic cloves (they will be soft after roasting) to a fine pulp. Add this pulp to the skillet. Cook briefly, stirring, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Stack two rectangles of phyllo pastry, one atop the other. Brush the top rectangle with butter.
• The meat will be attached to the bottom of the rib. Insert a small paring knife in the center of the meaty portion at the base to make a hole for stuffing. Using the fingers, stuff each hole with an equal portion of the garlic filling. Press the meaty portion so that it will set flat with the rib standing upright.
• Place the chop, rib upright, on one corner of the buttered rectangle of dough. Bring up the pastry all around to completely enclose the meat, folding and tucking it under as necessary. Leave the rib exposed.
• Stack two more rectangles of pastry and brush the top rectangle with butter. Place the pastry-wrapped chop on the rectangles and neatly wrap these pastry pieces around the chop. Continue filling chops and wrapping them in the four layers of dough. Brush the outside of each pastry-wrapped chop with a little more butter.
• Place the chops, ribs up, on a baking sheet and bake 20 minutes or until pastry is browned.
• Spoon about 1/4 cup of well-heated yellow pepper sauce onto each of four plates. Spoon about 3 tablepoons of well-heated red-pepper puree in the center. Arrange one chop, rib upright, in the center of the red sauce. Garnish, if desired, with small cutouts of fresh green or red pepper.

Steps:

• Heat the oil with 1/4 cup of the butter in a skillet. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and fry for a couple of minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook a little longer. Add the parsley, mint, chives, thyme, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and bread crumbs and fry until the crumbs begin to brown. Remove from the pan and set aside. Remove the bone from the chops, place into the skillet, and sear both sides.
• Work with 3 (8 by 8-inch) sheets of phyllo pastry at a time (if they are bigger there is too much overlap), and cover the rest with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out. Melt the remaining 1/4 cup butter. Brush each sheet with melted butter before covering with the next sheet. When you have buttered 3 sheets, place a lamb chop in the middle, add a quarter of the mushroom stuffing, and fold the phyllo pastry over to make a parcel. Repeat with the remaining lamb chops and phyllo pastry. (When you are making the parcel make sure the ones you have done remain covered with a damp cloth.)
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the parcels on a baking sheet and cook them in the oven for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F and cook for a further 30 minutes or until pastry is golden brown.;

Steps:

• Heat half the oil in a casserole pot over a medium-high heat and fry the lamb for 5-7 mins, or until deep brown all over. Cover with the stock, then add the cinnamon stick and bay leaf, and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 11/2 hrs, or until the lamb is tender and falling apart.
• Heat the remaining oil and the butter in a frying pan, then fry the onions with a large pinch of salt for 15-20 mins, or until golden and sticky. Add the garlic and spices, and cook for 3 mins more. Remove the lamb from its stewing liquid (reserving the liquid), transfer to a chopping board and shred using two forks. Stir the shredded meat into the onion mixture, along with 50ml of the reserved liquid.
• Put the spinach in a pan with 1 tbsp water, and cook for 3-4 mins, or until wilted. Wrap in a clean tea towel and squeeze out the excess liquid, or put in a fine sieve and press it out using the back of a wooden spoon. Roughly chop the spinach, then stir into the lamb and onion mixture along with the feta, mint, pine nuts and egg. Season.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, and brush a 22cm round springform cake tin with some of the melted butter. Layer four sheets of filo pastry across the tin, then brush with more melted butter. Spoon in the filling, and fold the overhanging pastry over the top. Scrunch up the remaining pastry sheets, put on top of the pie, and brush with the remaining melted butter. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake for 45-50 mins, or until golden and crisp. Will keep in the fridge for up to up to two days.