Ingredients

  • 8 lamb rib chops (about 2 lbs.), fat trimmed
  • About 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons fresh minced oregano
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 pound small red or yellow potatoes (often labeled
  • 2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
  • 1 small shallot, peeled and minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 package (3.5 oz.) lamb's lettuce (see Notes)

Method

  • Rinse lamb chops, pat dry, and season with 1 tsp. salt and the pepper. In a bowl, combine garlic, zest, oregano, and 1 tbsp. oil. Rub mixture onto both sides of chops.
  • Put potatoes in a medium pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Generously salt water, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook potatoes until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
  • Meanwhile, whisk together mustard, shallot, lemon juice, and vinegar in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in remaining 3 tbsp. olive oil until dressing is emulsified.
  • Preheat broiler to high. Arrange chops on broiler pan and set it 2 in. from heating element. Broil chops, turning once, until browned and medium-rare inside (cut to test), 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Put lamb's lettuce in a salad bowl and add warm potatoes. Drizzle 3/4 of dressing over salad and toss to coat. Divide salad among plates and top each serving with two chops. Spoon on remaining dressing.
  • Grass-fed lamb: Why buy?
  • Meat raised on grass is showing up more often in grocery stores. It's often expensive, so what makes it worth trying?
  • Healthy animals. Grass is the natural food of cattle, bison, sheep (and lambs); when allowed to munch on pasture, they're eating the way nature intended.
  • Healthy us. Grass-fed (versus standard grain-fed) meat has higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, and is usually lower in fat.
  • Great for the land. Grazing animals fertilize the pastures as they roam.
  • Great taste. The flavor is often cleaner and more complex than that of grain-fed meat.
  • Our favorite is certified organic meat from Idaho's Lava Lake Lamb (lavalakelamb.com or 208/788-9778), whose animals are raised on thousands of acres near Sun Valley. Lava Lake offers everything from chops to petite lamb roasts, just the right size for two to four people.
  • Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.