Sunday, January 9, 2011

Grilled Lamb Chops with Pomegranate Glaze



Featured in Food News Journal, Best of the Blogs - January 10, 2011

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...For better or for worse we are a nation of meat eaters. On average, a typical American consumes 61 pounds of beef, 59 pounds of chicken and 46 pounds of pork each year. Strangely enough, that love of meat does not extend to lamb, and that typical American will eat less than a pound of it a year. Buried in the data is the fact that fully one-third of Americans have never tasted lamb. Those numbers astound me. I live in a region where sheep are raised and lamb is readily available. It is also fairly priced. Bob and I have lamb at least four times a month and enjoy it immensely. I suspect we skew the numbers that statisticians report. I know for a fact that my family consumes at least 50 pounds of lamb in the course of a year, and the Armenian family at the bottom of our hill consumes even more of it than we do. We have our own little "cluster" on this hillside and that means because we eat so much of it, 200 of you probably aren't eating any at all. More's the pity. Because we have lamb so often, I make it a point to look for new recipes and ways to cook it. Among the holdovers I had from the holiday, were four double cut lamb chops and some generic pomegranate juice and seeds. I searched for a recipe that used those three ingredients, and Google found one developed by the California Sheep Commission. It was exactly what I was looking for. While the recipe is quite easy to do, the lamb requires at least 8 hours to marinate, so, you'll have to plan accordingly. This is a lovely recipe. You will have to watch the chops closely as they brown very quickly and can burn. I hope you'll give it a try. Here's how the chops are made.

Grilled Lamb Chops with Pomegranate Glaze...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of California Sheep Commission

Ingredients:

1 cup pomegranate juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon coarsely cracked black pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves + mint leaves for garnish
4 double-thick lamb loin chops
2 teaspoons olive oil
Garnish: 1 teaspoon pomegranate seeds

Directions:
1) Combine pomegranate juice, garlic, peppercorns and chopped mint in non-reactive bowl; mix well. Add chops and turn several times to coat all sides. Refrigerate 8 to 12 hours, turning occasionally.
2) Remove chops from marinade; drain and set aside. Pour marinade into small saucepan. Heat to boiling and simmer 20 minutes or until reduced to 1/3 cup.
3) Brush chops with reduced marinade and oil. Salt.
4) Broil or grill chops about 3 inches from heat, brushing once or twice with marinade. Cook about 5 to 6 minutes per side for medium rare, 7 to 8 minutes for medium and 9 to 10 minutes for well done. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Lamb Mini-Meatball Pita - Girlichef
Braised Lamb Shank - The Average Foodie
Rack of Lamb and Swedish New Year's Traditions - Delishhh
Grilled Lamb Chops - What's Cookin' Chicago?
Homemade Grilled Lamb Sausage - Hand's On Gourmet
Lamb and Carrot Tagine - Dinners and Dreams
Caprese Lamb Stacks - Simply Delicious
Turkish Lamb Burgers - Home Recipes

49 comments :

Bob said...

That looks wicked good, although those numbers make me twitch. I love lamb. I simply don't understand people who don't like it. Course, that means there's more for me... heh.

Sanyukta Gour(Bayes) said...

looks yum,delicious n truly mouthwatering,,,amazing pics...

Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...

The glaze sounds delicious and it looks so pretty! Thanks!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Four times a month?? I cannot remember where you live, if I ever knew? Well, I do like lamb. But I have never tasted it in a restaraunt. I have only tasted it maybe four times, back in the 70's when I found some in the grocery store and made lamb stew. It was very good. I have never had a chop, I don't think. The problem is, we just can't find it here in the grocery stores! It is hard to come by. I think if I look hard enough, I could maybe find it in the spring. Healthwise, I wonder if it's better for you than beef? Possibly...

Elin Chia said...

Mary..this looks delicious with the pomegranate glaze...I want a piece..can? :)

cocoa and coconut said...

Wow 8 hours is a fairly long time for marinade! But I think it looks worth it. The pomegranate seeds on top look terrific.

Katerina said...

Lamb chops is a staple in Greek. Most of people love them. Glaze them with pomegranate is something very unique and I'd love to try it.

My Little Space said...

I've been craving for lamb meat a very long time. But not willing to cook this just for myself! What a pity that my hubby & the kids not having this. Yours is so seducing! Have a great day!
Blessings, Kristy

Rita said...

Lamb chops are one of my favourite things. Love the original of preparing them with pomegranate juice; they look superb.

Lea Ann said...

Well now doesn't this look like a wonderful dish. I'm envious of your photo, I did a beautiful lamb dish before Christmas and the photos were horrid.

Diane said...

I love lamb, this just makes my mouth water. Diane

Noor said...

I use pomegranates a lot in my food. It taste great on beef, chicken and lamb. This recipes looks amazing and I have one a lot like it as well. Yummy I cook many lamb chops we just love them. Thanks for another great recipe.

Also we just opened a foodie forum for all of us foodies would love to see you around.
http://s15.invisionfree.com/Ya_Salam_Kitchen/index.php

From the Kitchen said...

Andrew and I stand to be counted in the lamb consumer column. In fact, we shared a small rack of lamb at dinner yesterday. Your pomegranate glaze looks and sounds delicious. We'll certainly try it as our pomegranates are quite nice at present (grocery store of course).

Best,
Bonnie

Katrina V. said...

We love lamb, too. I've never tried doing chops though, I'll have to add this to my "To Cook" list -- looks great! I love the look of the glaze.

Big Dude said...

This looks delicious Mary and we have a pomegranate in the fridge needing to be used.

kitchen flavours said...

Love the use of pomegranate in this delicious and yummy looking lamb chops! We do not often eat lamb and even if we do, it will be at the restaurants, never at home. Would love to try cooking lamb someday. Thank you for sharing. Have a lovely week.

PeggyR said...

Oh we love lamb and those look really good.

Cathy said...

We are one of those families that love lamb and usually have it on the menu several times a month. Your mint and pomegranate glaze sounds delicious, Mary. I've bookmakred this for our next lamb dinner.

Kim said...

WOW! Lamb and pomegranate, what an unexpedted and nice combination.

Pondside said...

I love lamb, but only eat it in restaurants, as I am the only one in the family that enjoys it. The Gulf Islands are known for lamb, so it isn't hard to find wonderful lamb dishes on local menus.

Jeannie said...

My family loves lamb too and of recent the boys have been experimenting their cooking skills with lamb...I am happy with it:D Must show this post to them.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I eat lamb once every 2 months but then I eat red meat about as often. But I do love a good leg of lamb or chop!

Sonia Monagheddu said...

Divino! Bravissima ^_*

Annie's Dish said...

Mary, thanks for stopping by my blog! I hear uou on the lamb thing. I think the only time I eat lamb is in a gyro but I don't know if you can actually call that lamb. I will have to look for it the next time I am at the store because your recipe looks delicious!

June said...

Oh my, this looks wonderful and you know we love lamb and have a freezer full to prove it. I can't wait to try this with some of our own pomegranates too. YUM! Thanks Mary. Life is good.

Priya Suresh said...

Lovely glaze, lamb chops tempts me a lot..

Jen_from_NJ said...

We eat lamb only a handful of times per year but I really enjoy it! It is not readily available in our area but I will be searching it out. Your lamb chops look fantastic with the pomegranate glaze - so juicy!

Banana Wonder said...

That's so cool you guys eat the local lamb. It must be delicious. I would love to get my hands on some sheep! Where do you get yours? I love the preparation with pomegranate. Yum!

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Delicious recipe! We definitely eat beef more but I make lamb every so ofter. I only like the American raised kind. For some reason the new Zealand and Australian lamb has a more gamey taste to me.

Flavia Galasso said...

I am a meat eater, lamb eater, fish eater...cheese eater... pasta eater...cakes eater....I am a EATER....and I like this pomegranate glaze....have a very happy Sunday, blessings, Flavia

Inma said...

Thanks for visit my blog!! I love yours and you have a new follower in me!!!

giorno26 ¸¸.•*¨*•. said...

Hi Mary
l'aspetto di questa carne è veramente invitante !
Peccato non poterlo assaggiare subito !!!!
Buona serata :)
Myriam

teresa said...

my husband and i were just talking about lamb and that we really need to eat more! when we do, i'm making it like this, it looks fantastic!

Unknown said...

I adore lamb. When I lived in the States, my family rarely eat any lambs. Once or twice a year maybe. In the UK, lamb is very popular and I love cooking it.
The lamb chops you made looks delicious and the pom glaze... yum.
Enjoy your Sunday Mary. Michael

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Mary, one of my favorite dishes is lamb, and my MIL used to fix it with a wonderful mint jelly. This pomegrante glaze, though, sounds SO delicious.

Hope you are well and enjoying all that is best of the new year...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Carrie said...

How on earth do you make your dishes look so beautiful? Everything always looks amazing. Kudos to you. :)

La Bella Cooks said...

I really need to try more lamb dishes. This one would be a good place to start.

pam said...

We purchased a half a lamb this year, and I have enjoyed it so much!

Kath said...

Those are beautiful lamb chops, Mary, especially with the pomegranate seed garnish. Great photo! The best lamb I've ever had is the lamb that is lovingly raised by some close friends in California. It's the best, and always a treat when we visit. Have a wonderful week!

Glennis said...

Oh, man.

Rhonda said...

I just seed two pomegranites yesterday, laborous but worth. Wish I had some lmb chops to go with it after seeing your recipe.

Kerstin said...

What interesting stats - I probably consume about the same amount of lamb and beef. These chops look so flavorful - love the pomegranate twist!

Unknown said...

I can't get Chris to eat lamb, but that glaze could go on chicken or fish...will definitely have to try that!! YUM!

Self Sagacity said...

This I have to try, I've never made lamb chops...it looks so pretty with the pomegranate seeds

James said...

This looks so fabulous. I have never been one to experiment much with lamb, but this simply looks too good to pass up. The glaze is to die for!

Claudia said...

My husband and I love lamb (it's the Italian in me) but few Minnesotans seem to eat it. When I am in line at the farmers market with lamb shanks (delicious in winter) and lamb chops, people always ask me how I will cook it - and of course, I love to talk lamb and spout out a few recipes. This is out of my recipe knowledge and so I love it - the sweet-tart glaze - just a celebration. But I don't do my part in beef comsumption and am way up there with the chickens.

Jeffrey and Juli said...

We like lamb, and live in Iowa, where you'd think it would be easy to find- not so. The demand is so low here that even when you can find it, stew lamb and ground lamb are priced at about $6 per pound.

The Sheep Industry Association needs to do a much better job of promoting their product, ala "Pork- the Other White Meat" and "Beef- it's what's for dinner".

That Girl said...

Oh man. Is there anything pomegranate doesn't go with?

Delishhh said...

I just noticed the linking at the bottom. Thanks so much! You have a great blog

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Printfriendly