Do you need a show stopping dish for your next dinner party? Enter - Nut crusted rack of lamb. It feels so elevated but in reality, is quite simple to put together!
How to pick your lamb? Lamb can come from different countries, but most often in Canada, you will find lamb from New Zealand and the United States. Each country produces a unique product that has different properties. New Zealand lamb is smaller in size and has a richer flavour. It is purely grass-fed resulting in a leaner, less fatty product. American lamb is fed a grain and grass diet, resulting in a less gamey flavour and more marbling. Both options are great, but be mindful of your cooking times for each kind! American lamb typically takes longer in the oven, as it is usually larger, in comparison to New Zealand lamb.
How much lamb per person? I think a good rule of thumb is roughly three chops per person. Two racks of lamb, should feed around six people. Lamb is quite a rich meat, so you need less per person than you may think.
What temperature should my lamb be cooked to? This is up to you! I personally think that lamb is best served medium rare. An even pink throughout. For medium rare, your thermometer should read between 125 - 135 degrees fahrenheit. Remember that your lamb will continue to cook while it is resting, so be sure to take your lamb out slightly before it reaches your desired temperature. It will cook roughly an additional five degrees while resting.
What do you serve with lamb? I always love a potato dish with lamb. Roasted fingerling potatoes are elegant and pair nicely with this dish. If you are looking for a more elevated side dish, potato dauphinoise is truly incredible. Extra thin layers of potato are layered with rich cream and gruyere and then baked until bubbly and golden brown - delicious! I always love roasted asparagus with lamb as well. Roasted with salt, pepper, garlic powder and olive oil until just tender and bright green. A squeeze of lemon juice when the asparagus comes out of the oven adds a lovely brightness. Lastly, a braised carrot dish is always a crowd favourite. Carrots slow braised in orange juice and olive oil are sweet and salty and oh so yummy!
The lamb is first seared on all sides until golden brown. This really helps to develop the layers of flavours in this dish. Dijon is spread all over the lamb to help bind the nut mixture. Everything is then baked together until you are left with a perfectly medium rare, tender and flavourful lamb.
Serves: 6 people
Total Time: 60 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
2 racks of lamb
2 tsp olive oil (if necessary)
1/4 cup of dijon
3/4 cup of mixed nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews)
1 sprig of rosemary, stem removed
2 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit
New Zealand lamb: Season the rack of lamb with salt and pepper on all sides. Place a skillet on medium heat and drizzle in your olive oil. Sear the lamb on all sides until you have a nice golden brown crust. Repeat with the second rack of lamb and set aside on a parchment lined baking sheet.
American Lamb: Score your lamb in a diagonal pattern on the fatty side and season with salt and pepper. Place the rack of lamb, fat side down, in a cold and dry skillet and turn on the heat to medium. Let the fat render until you are left with a golden brown crust. Sear the remaining sides. Repeat with the second rack of lamb and set aside on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Using a pastry brush, brush the dijon mustard all over the lamb, ensuring all sides are coated with a thin layer. Depending on the size of your lamb, you may need slightly more or slightly less dijon to coat. Set aside.
In a food processor, add in the garlic and rosemary and pulse until finely chopped. Then, add your nuts into the food processor and pulse until the nuts are finely chopped and the ingredients are combined. Be sure to not over pulse your nuts or you will end up with a paste rather than a crumb!
Spoon the mixture over the lamb in an even layer, ensuring all sides are coated with the nuts. At this point, you can cover the lamb with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 6 hours. Place the lamb on the counter about 30 minutes prior to baking so that it can come to room temperature.
Bake the lamb until it reaches between 125 - 135 degrees fahrenheit for a perfect medium rare. Timing will vary depending on the size of your lamb. Start with 20 minutes and increase the time accordingly.
Once cooked, cover the lamb with tin foil and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Carefully slice the lamb into single or double chops and serve on a platter. Enjoy!
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