Showing posts with label shallots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shallots. Show all posts

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Grilled Lamb Chops with Tomato, Mint, and Garlic Sauce

I don't know how you feel about grilling on an outdoor barbecue grill whether it may be a simple charcoal grill or, a fabulous spacious gas grill that just with one click of the starter button, it lights instantly...just stay away from the fire and not let your hair catch on fire...lol!

Grilling is not just for men...your hubbies are not always the 'grill masters'! When you watch those cooking shows you can see how many women are quite competent in the grilling contest against the men and win! Well, this is not a grilling or cooking contest post, I'm getting way too off from the subject!
If you're a 'meat lover' and like grilled meats, these succulent 'bone in' lamb chops are perfect and easy grilling, once they have been properly marinated for at least 30 minutes in a simple drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper...ready to grill!

I do recommend the delicious Tomato, Mint, and Garlic Sauce to go along with it. Easter is around the corner this Sunday and if weather permits just get out to enjoy the beautiful Spring weather, and light up your grill. There are other enjoyable side dishes to grill along with the lamb, and have yourself a fun and blessed day!

Grilled Lamb Chops with Tomato, Mint and 
Garlic Sauce

recipe ispired by; William-Sonoma

  • 8 thick-cut bone-in lamb loin chops, each 1 1/2
     inches thick, 2 to 2 1/2 lb. total weight
  • Extra-virgin olive oil for coating, plus 1 Tbs.
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper,
     to taste
  • 2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 Tbs. chopped fresh basil

For the sauce:

  • 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and coarsely
     chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 6 to 8 fresh basil leaves, cut into narrow strips
  • 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves, cut into narrow strips
  • 1/4 cup dry red wine

  •  In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the olive oil. Add the shallot and sauté until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the tomatoes and cook, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes soften and release their liquid, 3 to 4 minutes. 
  • Add the wine and vinegar ,season with salt and pepper. Cook until flavors have incorporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the basil and mint, and set aside until the lamb chops are roasted.

Chops cut from the loin are the most costly of the various types of lamb chops, but they are also the tastiest and most tender. This recipe calls for double loin chops, which are simply cut twice as thick as a typical loin chop. While the chops are resting, a quick pan sauce of tomatoes, garlic, basil and mint that will be drizzled over them at once it is served. Roasted potatoes on the side, couscous or Basmati rice would round out the plate.

Light up your outdoor gill on high and let it heat up for about 10 minutes. Place the lamb chops on the hot and high grill and sear for 2 minutes. Turn the chops and sear for 1 minute on the other side. Immediately turn the grill temperature down to medium and grill the lamb until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat, away from the bone, registers 125° to 130°F for medium-rare, 5 to 6 minutes. 

Remove the pan from the grill, and transfer the chops to a warmed platter and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let rest for a few minutes and add the  accumulated juices to the sauce.


Divide the chops among warmed plates. Divide the sauce evenly among them, spooning it over the top. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Linking to:
Full Plate Thursday #373





Monday, October 14, 2013

Saigon-Style Scallops...from Weight Watchers

I'm back again on making some great dishes with Weight Watchers recipes. As you know...when I started my blog a little over 3yrs ago, I successfully shed 35 lbs. on the Weight Watchers plan in about 4 months...but have gained it back in the next year, so I went back on the Weight Watcher plan on-line last year. I did not reach my goal this last time, and was only able to lose 20 lbs...and now again, I'm giving it another try before joining WW again; for the third time.
I had at least 3 amazing hard cover WW cookbooks with notebook binders...removable pages, plus another recent one that I received from a friend as a gift last year. I got rid of the 3 books...they were 'thrift finds' any way, and I re-donated them; but I did keep the one called  Weight Watchers One Pot Cookbook which as awesome one-pot dishes that does not even seem like a typical WW recipes, they are mostly comfort meals which is perfect for this time of year...comfy/cozy meals. The scallops I made were made in a wok but can also be made in a large skillet!
If you like scallops, which can be so versatile; also, shrimp could be a wonderful replacement for this dish. I made very little alteration to this this...not overly concerned about the 'point system' at this time, but if you serve it over a bed of salad greens, you will stay within the ---5--- points that it has.
 

SAIGON-STYLE SCALLOPS

slight adaptation from; Weight Watchers

1TBS CANOLA OIL
1SHALLOT MINCED
1TBS MINCED PEELED FRESH GINGER
2GARLIC CLOVES MINCED
2TBS PACKED BROWN SUGAR
1TBS ASIAN FISH SAUCE
2TSP GRANULATED SUGAR
¼TSP RED PEPPER FLAKES
3TBS WATER
1POUND SEA SCALLOPS
3SCALLIONS, THINLY SLICED
6CUPS LIGHTLY PACKED BABY GREENS

Directions

HEAT OIL IN MEDIUM DUTCH OVEN OVER MEDIUM HIGH HEAT. ADD SHALLOT, GINGER, AND GARLIC, COOK, STIRRING CONSTANTLY UNTIL FRAGRANT, ABOUT 1 MINUTE.

ADD BROWN SUGAR, FISH SAUCE, GRANULATED SUGAR, AND PEPPER FLAKES, SIMMER 1 MINUTE. CONTINUE TO COOK UNTIL MIXTURE BEGINS TO THICKEN; STIR IN WATER AND COOK, STIRRING FREQUENTLY, UNTIL SAUCE IS THICKENED, ABOUT 2 MINUTES.

ADD SCALLOPS AND COOK, STIRRING FREQUENTLY UNTIL JUST OPAQUE IN CENTER, ABOUT 3 MINUTES. WITH SLOTTED SPOON, TRANSFER SCALLOPS TO MEDIUM BOWL. ADD SCALLIONS TO SAUCE AND BRING TO BOIL. BOIL UNTIL SLIGHTLY THICKENED, ABOUT 3 MINUTES, POUR OVER SCALLOPS. DIVIDE SALAD GREENS EVENLY AMONG 4 PLATES, TOP EVENLY WITH SCALLOPS AND SAUCE .
 
These are the ingredients I used. In addition to the fish sauce, I added 2 Tbsp. Teriyaki sauce and a few drops of Tabasco sauce, and mixed the ingredients in a little bowl and added them in the process called for the sauces, and spices.











Make sure you have your shallots, garlic, fresh ginger, and scallion minced up in advance, and have it ready. The cooking time is very little. You can also add a sliced chilli pepper or two for color, and flavor.









For the scallops if they are wet...dry them with paper towel, do not let them be soaking in its liquid, or any liquid; otherwise you will have a difficult time searing them. I seared the scallops first, before adding the other ingredients. (Removed them from the pan)...added them back in when I poured the sauce ingredients over them and cooked them for an additional minute or two!





I used a wok to make this easy and packed with Asian flavors dish, but you can use a large skillet if you don't have a wok.









You can serve this amazing scallop dish over Jasmine rice, or a bed of delicate Mesculin greens...either way, you will love it...if you love scallops. Shrimp and cut into cubes of boneless breast of chicken is also a good replacement. The sauce alone is so divine! xo










A little update about Mushi...she is resting comfortably; has her own little pillows, and blanket...and she has come out of her hiding from my 'printer desk', closet, and you name it; whatever little hiding spot she could find. Had a little talk with her, and she has been snoozing on my lap while I'm on the computer, or watching TV.