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Lamb Loin Chops with Pistachio-Mint Pesto
Recipes
Lamb Loin Chops with Pistachio-Mint Pesto
4 servings
15 minutes total

Ingredients

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 0.75 oz fresh mint
  • ¼ cup shelled pistachios
  • 8 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 8 (1 ¼-inch-thick) lamb loin chops (about 2 lb)
  • 1 tablespoon mesquite seasoning

Steps

    1. Place Parmesan, lemon juice, and garlic in bowl of food processor; pulse to combine. Add mint and pistachios and pulse until finely chopped. Add 7 tablespoons oil and puree until smooth.
    2. Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Coat lamb chops with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and mesquite seasoning (wash hands). Place chops in pan; cook 3–4 minutes on each side until 125°F (for medium rare; warm red center), 130°F (for medium; warm pink center), or up to 170°F (for well done). Transfer to cutting board and let stand 5–10 minutes before serving; temperature will rise 5–10°F during this time. Serve chops with pesto.
    Note: The doneness temperatures for medium rare and medium stated above are traditional temperatures used for cooking lamb, but are not recommended by the USDA. To maintain food safety, the USDA recommends an internal temperature of 145°F, as measured using a food thermometer, with a 3-minute rest time before carving.


Other Preparation Methods

      • Bake: Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat 8 (1 ¼-inch-thick) lamb loin chops (about 2 lb) with 1 tablespoon oil; season with 1 teaspoon each Italian seasoning and kosher salt. Arrange on foil-lined baking sheet (wash hands); bake 5–6 minutes on each side until 145°F.
      • Broil: Preheat broiler on HIGH. Coat 8 (1 ¼-inch-thick) lamb loin chops (about 2 lb) with 1 tablespoon oil; season with 1 teaspoon each garam masala and kosher salt. Arrange on foil-lined baking sheet (wash hands); broil 4 minutes on each side or until 145°F. Serve with mango chutney.

    Amount per ¼ recipe serving: Calories 710, Total Fat 62g, Sat Fat 18g, Trans Fat 0g, Chol 130mg, Sodium 530mg, Total Carb 5g, Fiber 1g, Total Sugar 1g, (Incl. 0g Added Sugars), Protein 35g, Vitamin D 0%, Calc 10%, Iron 15%, Potassium 10%