15-Minute Lamb Chop Feast
It is hard to imagine that you could create such a lovely dinner in just a few minutes, but that’s exactly what you get with this 15-Minute Lamb Chop Feast!
This elegant dinner incorporates everything you’d want in a dinner party-worthy meal, but it’s quick, easy as pie (okay, pie isn’t that easy), and thoroughly delicious. Lamb chops, lightly seasoned are the star of this meal. The sides, sautéed asparagus and fresh pea shoot & mint salad, are the perfect accompaniment.
In a way, this recipe is a throwback to when my kids were little. You’ve heard me say that Costco has some of the best lamb, and when the kids were young, I would pick up a couple of racks of lamb from Costco, slice them into chops, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and grill them for a couple of minutes each side. I’d then pile them up in a bowl, with the bones up so that the kids could grab them and chow down. This was a favorite meal of theirs and mine! So easy, so quick and so delish!
This is slightly updated in that I’m searing them in a skillet, but the barbecue works just as well! I didn’t happen to have access to a barbecue when I photographed these (What??!! Okay, I wasn’t at my house or else you know I would have had a bbq!) so instead I seared them in a cast iron skillet. I also didn’t have a large skillet, just an 8-inch one, so I simply seared them in batches. It worked just fine!
Begin by heating the barbecue or skillet to medium heat. Toss the asparagus with some olive oil and salt. Brush the lamb chops with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper. Now, start with the lamb and sear it on both sides, only about 2 minutes per side. Set them on a platter and sear the asparagus for a few minutes and transfer them to the platter with the lamb.
Then, toss the pea shoots and mint with lemon zest, salt and olive oil. And, that’s it!
Drizzle the lamb chops with some lemon juice, arrange the pea shoot salad next to the lamb and asparagus and serve!
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15-Minute Lamb Chop Feast
Makes: 4 servings
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 12 baby lamb chops (2½-3 pounds total)
- 1 & 1/2 pounds asparagus, ends trimmed
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cups pea shoots or baby spinach
- Leaves from 10 sprigs mint
- Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
- Pat lamb chops dry and set aside. Heat a grill to medium or set a large, heavy pan over medium heat.
Instructions
Toss asparagus with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and season lightly with salt. Brush lamb chops lightly with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper.
Grill or sear lamb chops until they are browned on the outside and medium-rare within, about 2 minutes per side. Next grill or sear asparagus until stalks brown in spots, about 3 minutes total. Transfer meat and asparagus to a platter. Season meat with a sprinkling of salt and a drizzle of olive oil.
In a medium bowl, toss together pea shoots and mint. Toss in lemon zest, lightly season with salt and toss in remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Drizzle lemon juice over lamb chops, asparagus and greens. Arrange dressed greens over or alongside chops and asparagus, and serve immediately.
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