Best Pan Seared Rack Of Lamb With Fig Chipotle Barbeque Sauce Recipes

SEARED RACK OF LAMB WITH PISTACHIO TAPENADE

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the pistachios, olives, capers, garlic, and herbs and puree. While the machine is running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture becomes a paste. Add the zest and pulse 1 more time, drizzling in more oil if necessary. Reserve until ready to use.
• Have a butcher remove the 2nd and 7th rib bones from the 8 rib rack to make it a 6 rib rack. This will create 6 even chops that are thicker than a normal lamb chop. Cut into 6 even chops and season them generously with salt and allow them to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Coat a large saute pan generously with olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the lamb chops and cook for about 2 minutes on each side to brown. If the pan begins to smoke, lower the heat. The chops should be beautifully caramelized on both sides. Remove the chops to a sheet pan and schmear generously with the pistachio tapenade. Place in the oven and cook another 4 to 5 minutes for medium rare. Remove the chops from the oven and let them rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

RACK OF LAMB WITH CRANBERRY-TANGERINE SAUCE, BRAISED RED CHARD, CREAMY POLENTA WITH SAGE AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Preheat grill pan to high and oven to 400 degrees F.
• Drizzle racks with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill lamb over high heat for 2 or 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to a baking sheet or broiler pan and place in hot oven. Cook 12 to 15 minutes, to 130 degrees F on meat thermometer for rare, 155 for well. Let meat rest 5 to 10 minutes before serving for juices to redistribute.
• For the chard, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and the onion and saute for 2 minutes. Then add the greens in bunches until they wilt down enough to fit in the pan. Add the vegetable stock and raisins. Season greens with salt, pepper and freshly grated nutmeg. Reduce heat to medium low and cook 10 to 15 minutes until greens are tender and no longer bitter.
• Place cranberry juice concentrate and the tangerine zest and juice in a small saucepan and simmer together over low heat for 10 minutes. Strain and return to pan. Meanwhile, combine the cranberries and chicken stock in a bowl. Cover and microwave on high for 1 minute. Let stand 10 minutes to reconstitute the cranberries.
• For the polenta, heat a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add oil and pancetta. Brown pancetta a minute or 2 and remove from pan to a paper towel lined plate. Return pan to heat and bring 3 cups chicken stock to a boil. Add the polenta and stir constantly until mixture masses, 2 or 3 minutes. Remove polenta from heat and stir in sage, butter, pancetta bits, and season with salt and pepper. Reserve the chives for garnish.
• Heat cranberries and stock to a bubble and remove from stove.
• To serve, allow 1/2 rack of lamb per person. Separate chops into 1 or 2 rib sections and glaze with cranberry-tangerine sauce. Serve with sage and pancetta polenta garnished with chives and braised red chard.

SEARED RACK OF LAMB WITH PISTACHIO TAPENADE

Steps:

• To make the pistachio tapenade: In a food processor combine the pistachios, olives, capers, garlic, herbs and puree. While the machine is running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture becomes a paste. Add the zest and pulse 1 more time, drizzling in more oil if necessary. Reserve until ready to use.
• Remove 2 rib bones from the 8 rib rack to make it a 6-rib rack. Counting from either end remove the 2nd and 7th bone. This will create 6 even chops that are thicker than a normal lamb chop. Cut 6 even chops and season them generously with salt and allow them to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Coat a large saute pan generously with olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the lamb chops and cook for about 2 minutes on each side to brown. If the pan begins to smoke, lower the heat. The chops should be beautifully caramelized on both sides. Remove the chops to a sheet pan and schmear generously with the pistachio tapenade. Place in preheated oven and cook another 4 to 5 minutes for medium rare. Remove chops from oven and let rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

GRILLED RACK OF LAMB WITH A PORT WINE FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Marinade -- Mix all the ingredients and rub over the lamb well. Put in 1 or 2 large baggies and seal and just let marinade over night. 24 hours plus is fine for this.
• Fig Sauce -- Take 1/2 of the fresh figs and cut them up in quarters. In a small sauce pan on medium heat add the olive oil and then add the shallots, garlic, rosemary and figs. Cook five minutes until the figs are soft. Add the port wine and chicken broth. Simmer until reduced by about half on low/medium heat. About 10 minutes, the sauce with thicken on it's own.
• Lamb -- I like to grill the lamb until nice and brown with good crusting on each side, about 5 minutes per side and then flip. Then I move to indirect heat to finish cooking. They don't take long. Another 5 minutes on the indirect heat and they should be done. Make sure you have a meat thermometer which is very important when cooking this. I like to remove my lamb at about 120 degrees and cover with foil. It will come up to 125 which is medium rare. You can remove it a bit earlier if you like it more rare. 125 seems to work perfect for me each time. Remove and cover with foil to let set 10-15 minutes before carving.
• Sauce -- Add the fresh figs to the reduced sauce to heat up, the butter and a dash of the balsamic vinegar.
• Serve and Enjoy -- I like to serve 2-3 chops per plate and I love to serve this over a mix of mashed parsnips and potatoes or even some roasted spuds. Then drizzle the fig sauce over the lamb and some on the potatoes.
• Fresh sauteed kale is wonderful with this or some roasted brussels sprouts with a walnut butter. (Walnut butter -- just fine grind walnuts and mix with butter, melt and serve over green beans roasted brussels sprouts, and grilled cabbage or cauliflower). Very easy and very flavorful.