Pan Grilled Lamb Shoulder Chops
CATEGORIES
INGREDIENTS
  • Cooking Time: 15
  • Servings: 2
  • Preparation Time: 4-12 hours
  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Four 8- to 12-ounce lamb shoulder chops
DIRECTIONS
  1. To make the marinade: whisk the lemon juice, mustard, rosemary, garlic, and 1 teaspoon of the salt together in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil and season with pepper.
  2. Transfer the marinade to a large sealable plastic bag. Put the lamb chops in the bag, seal, and shake vigorously to evenly coat the meat. Marinate at room temperature for 1 hour or in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 12.
  3. Remove the chops from the marinade and transfer them to a plate. Discard the marinade. Using a spoon, lightly scrape the remaining marinade off the chops and pat them dry.
  4. Preheat a large cast-iron grill pan over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-high. Season the chops with salt. Place 2 chops on the grill pan, and cook until the chops have distinctive grill marks, about 3 minutes. To make crosshatched grill marks, re-position the chops, moving them about 45 degrees on the ridged pan, and continue to cook about 3 minutes more. (The chops will have only cooked on one side at this point.) Set the chops aside and repeat with the remaining 2 chops. Return the first set of chops to the pan to cook them on the other side. Reduce the heat to medium low, and cook the chops until medium-rare, about 2 minutes. Repeat with the other chops. Let the chops rest for about 5 minutes and serve.
RECIPE BACKSTORY
Lamb shoulder chops are a cheap cut of meat that is usually available in the butcher counter refrigerated shelf at Harris Teeter in packs of 3-4. Marinating them with a mixture that includes lemon juice breaks down their tough texture to reveal tender, fatty lamb that is just sublime. I would not change a thing about this recipe, and we make it several times a month.