Wouldn’t you like to make a dish that rivals what you find in a restaurant? And almost effortlessly. Now you can. I made this rack of lamb for a block party recently, and minutes after I served the dish, I was swarmed by neighbors asking me for the recipe. I couldn’t help giggling while I shared the details, because everyone was expecting some elaborate or time-consuming set of directions when all I had to say is, “cut, grill, season.” Here is how to make this divine dish.
Rack of Lamb* see notes below on buying tips and cost of the meal
Herbs de Provence and or fresh rosemary
1. Slice between the lamb chops to cut the rack of lamb into individual lamb chops.
2. Grill them to your desired temperature. Well-done meat has less flavor than less cooked meat, but lamb is one meat that is as delicious rare as it is well done. It is difficult to ruin it from overcooking.
3. Place the lamb chops on a plate and sprinkle fresh sea salt and fresh ground pepper* on top. Although the lamb chops are mouthwatering with only salt and pepper, herbs de Provence take them to the next level. You can use herbs de Provence on almost anything, so it's worth having in your kitchen. You can also add fresh rosemary or one of my secret ingredients—Arnaud's Sel de Guerande with lemon zest and wild fennel.
4. Serve. Lamb is excellent warm or cold, making this dish great for parties.
5. Pick up the lamb chops and nibble until you clean the bone. The most flavorful meat is on the bone.
The success of a dish starts with the quality of the ingredients. You can find a rack of lamb at your local butcher’s shop. I often buy lamb chops for this recipe at Costco. The brand is Rastelli's, and the price is very reasonable. Rastelli's is:
Notes
Lamb chops are delicious with only salt and pepper, but the quality of salt and pepper makes all the difference. Try French sea salt, and always use fresh ground pepper. High-quality salt and pepper are both flavorful and offer health benefits.
Cost: The price of the lamb may seem expensive but when you calculate the price of the entire meal it can be the same price as a fast-food meal—under $14 per person.The cost of the lamb is around $8 per person, assuming two chops per person. Add a side dish of fries, a Caesar salad, a slice or two of bread (French baguette or Italian country loaf) and cheese (camembert, brie or petite basque), followed by a piece of fruit.
