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Lebanese Lamb Chops with Lemony Lettuce

4.6

(14)

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Lebanese Lamb Chops with Lemony LettuceRomulo Yanes

No, its not the title of a lost Dr. Seuss opus, but a perfectly grown-up dish in which the richness of grilled spice-rubbed lamb chops is cut by lemon (both zest and flesh). Chances are you'll want to eat it anywhere.

Cooks' notes:

•You can make your own baharat by grinding 1 teaspoon each of whole cloves, cumin seeds, Maras or Aleppo pepper, and a 3-inch cinnamon stick (broken in half) in an electric coffee/spice grinder until finely ground.
•Chops can be cooked in an oiled hot 2-burner grill pan over medium-high heat, turning once, about 6 minutes.
•Lemon mixture keeps at room temperature 2 hours. Toss with lettuce and mint just before serving.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    35 min

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

2 large lemons
1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon baharat (Eastern Mediterranean spice mixture; see cooks' note, below)
8 (3/4-inch-thick) rib lamb chops (2 pounds)
2 heads Bibb lettuce (about 3/4 pound each), torn into large pieces
1 1/2 cups mint leaves

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Grate 2 teaspoons zest from 1 lemon. Trim ends of both lemons, then stand lemons on a cut side and cut peel, including white pith, from lemons with a sharp paring knife (discard peel). Cut segments free from membranes, then cut segments crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces. Toss lemon segments gently with sugar in a bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons oil. Let stand at room temperature 10 minutes for flavors to develop.

    Step 2

    Mince and mash garlic to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt, then stir together with baharat, grated zest, remaining tablespoon oil, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Rub all over lamb chops.

    Step 3

    Toss lettuce and mint with lemon mixture.

    Step 4

    Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium-high heat for gas); see Grilling Procedure .

    Step 5

    Grill chops, turning once, about 6 minutes total for medium-rare. Transfer to a plate and let rest, loosely covered, 5 minutes. Serve chops with salad.

  2. Serve with:

    Step 6

    orzo

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