Roasted Lamb Chops With Harissa

Serves: 2

Felicia King

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

51

Spice

47

Sweetness

47

Sourness

40

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.9

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Tomato Paste

Directions:

1

For the lamb: Remove 2 ribs from each rack to make it a 6-rib rack: Do this by starting from either end and removing the second and seventh bone

2

This creates 6 chops that are thicker than a normal lamb chop -- YUM!! Cut each rack into 6 equal chops, place on a baking sheet, and transfer to the fridge

3

For the harissa: Preheat a grill

4

Place the bell peppers on the grill and cook them on all sides until the skin is black and charred

5

Transfer the peppers to a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let them hang out until cool

6

HINT, HINT: This can totally be done ahead! YAY! Scrape the black charred skin off the peppers and remove the stem and seeds

7

Coarsely chop the peppers and transfer them to the bowl of a food processor

8

Add the cumin, coriander, fennel, caraway, chiles, garlic, vinegar, and tomato paste to the food processor and season with salt

9

Puree until smooth

10

Add 1/4 cup of the olive oil to the mixture and pulse, pulse, pulse

11

Add the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and pulse again until thoroughly combined

12

Taste and season with salt

13

Taste again and re-season if needed

14

Store in an airtight container until ready to use

15

To make the lamb: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F

16

Remove the lamb from the fridge, season generously with salt, and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes before cooking

17

Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring the pan to medium-high heat

18

Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, add the lamb chops and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium rare (if you like your meat a little more well done, lower the heat and cook them a minute or 2 longer)

19

If the pan begins to smoke, lower the heat

20

The chops will be beautifully browned on each side

21

Stand up the chops to brown the fat edge along each chop

22

YUM!!! Brown food tastes good! Place the cooked chops on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven to keep them hot while the others cook

23

Top each lamb chop with a spoonful of harissa and serve