Stuffed Lamb Chops Recipes

Steps:

• Make the lamb spice mix: In a medium saute pan, toast cumin, mustard, coriander, and fenugreek over medium heat until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a spice grinder along with peppercorns and pulse until roughly chopped; set aside.
• Make the stuffed cabbage: Using a paring knife, remove center core of cabbage. In a large nonreactive stockpot, bring 2 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add cabbage and cook until outer leaves are bright green and tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Lift cabbage from water and remove outer leaves. Return cabbage to boiling water and repeat brief cooking and removal of leaves until all leaves are cooked. Trim thick center vein from bottom of each leaf. Reserve four large outer leaves to line bottom of pan.
• In a medium skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook until golden and tender, about 8 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon reserved spice mix and a pinch each of saffron and salt. Cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer onion mixture to a large bowl and add cooked rice, currants, pine nuts, and parsley. Season filling with salt and mix until well combined.
• Add 1/4 cup filling to one cabbage leaf. Fold sides of cabbage over filling and tightly roll, starting with the stem end. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
• Line a 5-quart Dutch oven with reserved outer leaves. Place potatoes in bottom of pot and top with stuffed cabbage leaves, tucking tomatoes between them. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of saffron.
• In a medium saucepan, melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add chicken stock along with sugar and remaining pinch of saffron. Season with salt.
• Pour tomato paste mixture over stuffed cabbage and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until cabbage is very tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Make the rack of lamb: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Season lamb all over with salt and 4 tablespoons reserved spice mixture (1 tablespoon per side), rubbing to evenly coat meat.
• Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium and sear lamb, meat-side down, until golden and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn lamb and transfer skillet to oven. Roast lamb until a thermometer inserted in center reaches 130 degrees (medium-rare). Let rest 5 minutes before carving lamb into individual chops.
• To serve, place stuffed cabbage, along with potatoes and sauce, on a serving platter, and top with lamb. Garnish with mint.

Steps:

• Make the spinach stuffing by sauteing 1/4 cup onions and garlic in the oil and butter. Add spinach and saute until wilted. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Cool and combine with breadcrumbs and feta cheese.
• Make the sun-dried tomato mixture by soaking the tomatoes to soften, drain and chop finely. Saute remaining 1/4 cup onions over medium-high heat until translucent. Add chopped tomatoes, heat thoroughly. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lay out loin, meat side up, trim away excess fat and sinew. Lay spinach/feta mixture between the 2 loins. Roll over the right flap and tightly pack it around the left loin. Roll the newly formed double loin over the left flap, cut off excess. Tie the roast tightly. Use a steel or wooden spoon to create a hole down the entire length of the lamb loin on each side of the stuffing. Using a pastry bag, pipe the tomato mixture into each hole. Season with salt and pepper. Brown over medium high heat. Roast for approximately 30 minutes. Check doneness with meat thermometer -- 120 degrees.

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, tossing, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a food processor. Toast the sesame seeds in a small skillet over medium heat until golden, tossing, about 5 minutes. Add to the processor along with the coriander, cumin, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt; pulse until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Transfer to a shallow bowl.
• Make the salad: Set a steamer basket over a saucepan filled with 1 inch of water; bring the water to a boil. Add the carrots, cover and steam until fork-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the parsley, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, cayenne, 2 tablespoons of the hazelnut crust mixture, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper to taste in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in 2/3 cup olive oil. Add the steamed carrots and toss; cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Add the feta and dates to the carrot mixture, season with salt and black pepper and toss. Add the mixed greens and frisee but do not toss.
• Pat the lamb chops dry and season with salt and black pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil. Working in 2 batches, position the chops snugly in the skillet with the fatty edge down (the bones will curve); cook until browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the chops and cook on the flat sides until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Dredge each cooked chop in the hazelnut crust.
• Toss the salad and divide among plates. Serve with the lamb chops.

Steps:

• Ask a butcher to remove all bones, except shank, and to clean meat of all sinew and excess fat inside and out. Butterfly leg for stuffing.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lay lamb flat on counter. Using a sharp knife, make several slits, about 2 inches long by 1/4 inch deep, so seasonings can penetrate meat. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Spread garlic evenly on top, then cover with herbs. Roll meat to enclose stuffing and tie with string at 1 inch intervals, keeping the diameter of the roll the same so that the roast cooks evenly. Shank bone will protrude at one end. Generously season outside with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Brown lamb on all sides. Roast on rack in roasting pan 30 to 40 minutes for medium rare, 1 hour for well done. (A meat thermometer inserted in center should read 160 or 165 degrees F or a thinbladed knife inserted to the center for 20 seconds should feel lukewarm on your lips.) Let sit at room temperature about 10 minutes before carving, so juices can run to center. Remove strings and slice meat thinly across the roll. Serve with Roasted Eggplant and Myzithra Cheese Puree. To reheat carved lamb, place slices on a sheet pan, cover with a wet towel, and bake 5 minutes at 375 degrees F. Use leftover meat and puree for pita sandwiches.