Lamb Chops with Mint Risotto |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 1 |
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Notes: If risotto is ready before the lamb, it can be kept warm for a few minutes. Ingredients:
2 teaspoons butter or margarine |
1/4 cup chopped shallots |
1 1/2 cups medium-grain white rice such as arborio or pearl |
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel |
about 4 1/2 cups fat-skimmed chicken broth |
4 fat-trimmed double-bone lamb rib chops (about 1 3/4 in. thick, 1 1/2 lb. total) |
1 teaspoon minced garlic |
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar |
1 teaspoon sugar |
1 cup slivered fresh mint leaves |
3 tablespoons lemon juice |
Directions:
1. In a 3- to 4-quart pan over high heat, combine butter and shallots and stir until shallots are limp, about 1 minute. Add rice and stir until some of the grains are opaque, about 2 minutes longer.
2. Add lemon peel and 4 cups broth to pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until rice is tender to bite, about 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a 10- to 12-inch ovenproof frying pan over high heat, rub fatty side of chops in pan to lightly oil, then lay chops in pan and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes.
4. Put pan with chops in a 400° oven. Bake until meat is medium-rare (pink) in center of thickest part (cut to test), about 15 minutes, or medium (only slightly pink), about 20 minutes. Skim and discard fat from pan.
5. Return pan with chops to high heat. Add garlic, vinegar, and sugar. Shake pan and stir to release browned bits, then stir in 1/4 cup mint and remove from heat.
6. If rice is cooked before lamb is ready, turn heat to very low and stir in about 1/4 cup broth. Stir lemon juice and most of the remaining mint into rice, and if you want a creamier texture, a little more broth. Serve rice with lamb and pan juices, sprinkled with the final bits of mint.
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