Lamb Chops with Kumquat Walnut Crust

Lamb chops are great on their own, but this walnut and kumquat flavored crust takes them to another level. I love the crust so much, I could eat it on its own. The fragrant zest of the kumquats pairs very well with the roasted and ground walnuts.

To ensure that the meat is juicy and very tender, I marinated the lamb in a Cabernet Sauvignon marinade mixed with my usual meat tenderizer ingredient (green papaya) before adding the crust. This recipe takes some time, but your efforts will be rewarded.

Our kumquat tree has produced a bumper crop this season, and I'm taking full advantage of the fruits of our labor. Stay tuned for more recipes that feature this wonderful and unique citrus.

French Roasted Rack of Lamb with Lemon Persillade Crust

Have I told you how much of a carnivore I was back when I lived in Paris? There wouldn't be a meal without meat or fish on my plate. One of my favorite dishes, and one that was a staple at my home as a child, was le carré d'agneau persillé, or persillade-crusted rack of lamb. We would have lamb at least twice a month and this was the preparation of choice.

What makes this dish so special is the slightly salted, green crust of persillade. The persillade crust is very versatile and can be used for eggplants, tomatoes or even roast cod. I love the flavor so much that after finishing off the lamb, I mop up whatever is left on my plate with a piece of baguette. A traditional persillade is made with flat-leaf parsley, but I fortify my version with cilantro. I think it gives the crust a little more punch. 

It's very easy to make. Try it; you'll love it!

Lamb Medallion Dijonnaise

We served lamb medallions dijonnaise as an appetizer during our wedding reception 4 years ago in July. I thought recreating the dish would be a nice way to relive the memories, especially since I didn't get to eat much on our wedding day. We had a little family gathering this weekend so I made the medallions of lamb and placed them on sweet onion crostini. I garnished them with Dijon mustard and some chives from the garden.

If you're not a big fan of lamb, you can use spice as I did in this dish to mask the strong flavor of the meat. I crusted the sirloin with black pepper, cumin and sumac powders. I also added some cumin and coriander to the sweet onion relish to give it a slightly Indian vibe.