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Pan-Roasted Rack Of Lamb

Pan-Roasted Rack Of Lamb

Cuisine:World

Course:Dinner

10m prep 25m cook 40m ready

2 to 3 servings Searing the rack of lamb before roasting browns it and helps melt any untrimmed fat. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 1 rack of lamb (7 or 8 ribs), trimmed, leaving a thin layer of fat on the surface
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1
    • ⅓ cup minced onions or shallots
    • ½ cup chicken stock or broth or water
    • ⅓ cup dried tart cherries
    • ¼ cup dry red or white wine
    • One 2-inch-long strip lemon zest, removed with a vegetable peeler
    • 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
    • (½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar)
    • ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
    • Salt and black pepper to taste
    • (A few drops of lemon juice)
    • (1 tablespoon butter)
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the skillet and set it over medium heat. Add and cook, stirring, until just starting to soften and brown: ⅓ cup minced onions or shallots
    2. Meanwhile, combine and set aside: ½ cup chicken stock or broth or water; ⅓ cup dried tart cherries
    3. Add to the onions: ¼ cup dry red or white wine
    4. Bring to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon to loosen and dissolve any browned bits, and cook for 1 minute. Add the stock and dried cherries along with: One 2-inch-long strip lemon zest, removed with a vegetable peeler; 1 teaspoon light brown sugar; (½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar); ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
    5. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring often, until reduced by half and thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove the zest. Stir in any accumulated juices from the meat. Season with: Salt and black pepper to taste; (A few drops of lemon juice)
    6. If desired, for a velvety texture, swirl in bit by bit: (1 tablespoon butter)
    7. Arrange the meat on plates and spoon over the sauce.

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Pat dry: 1 rack of lamb (7 or 8 ribs), trimmed, leaving a thin layer of fat on the surface

  2. Step 2.

    Season with: 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper

  3. Step 3.

    Heat a large heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add and quickly swirl around: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  4. Step 4.

    Add the lamb meat side down and brown well, about 2 minutes. Turn it and brown the other side, 2 minutes more. Pour off any fat in the skillet, then set the lamb bone side down in the skillet and transfer to the oven. Roast until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat registers 125° to 130°F for rare or medium-rare, 15 to 20 minutes (the temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees out of the oven). Remove from the oven, cover loosely with foil, and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Cut between the bones and serve 2 or 3 chops per person. If desired, serve with: (Wine and Sour Cherry Pan Sauce, Herb Pan Sauce, Charmoula, Chimichurri, or Salsa Verde)

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