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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 4 |
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Tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, and mint are tossed with torn and toasted pitas and topped with grilled butterflied leg of lamb for a delectable Middle Eastern salad. If you can't find a one-and-a-half-pound piece of leg of lamb, substitute lamb steaks and grill or broil them for about five minutes a side. Don't add the pitas until you're ready to serve the salad, or they will get soggy. Ingredients:
3 pitas, torn into 1-inch pieces |
1 1/2 pounds butterflied leg of lamb |
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil |
1 teaspoon salt |
1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper |
5 tablespoons lemon juice (from about 2 lemons) |
3 cloves garlic, minced |
1 pound tomatoes (about 2 large), cut into 1/2-inch dice |
1 cucumber, peeled, halved, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch dice |
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice |
6 scallions including green tops, cut into thin slices |
1 small red onion, chopped |
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint |
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley |
Directions:
1. Heat the oven to 375°. Put the pitas in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool.
2. Light a grill or heat the broiler. Coat the lamb with the 1 tablespoon oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper. Grill over moderate heat for 10 minutes. Turn and cook until done to your taste, about 10 minutes longer, depending on the thickness, for medium rare. Alternatively, broil the meat, 6 inches from the heat if possible, for the same amount of time. Transfer the lamb to a carving board and let rest for 10 minutes. Carve into thin slices against the grain.
3. Meanwhile, in a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add the 1/3 cup oil slowly, whisking. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, scallions, onion, mint, parsley, and pitas. Serve topped with the lamb.
4. Wine Recommendation: The great red wines of the Loire Valley are made almost exclusively from cabernet franc, which imbues them with strawberry aromas, cassis and berry flavors, and a distinct leafy note. It all adds up to a fabulous match for this salad. Go for a young Saumur-Champigny or Chinon.
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