Pecan Crusted Lamb Chops

After my posts about fresh ham and stuffed pumpkin, I joked that maybe my blog is becoming a Fine Cooking tribute blog. And that glorious pumpkin cake from my last post? That was from Fine Cooking too. Well, guess what? I made these lamb chops from Fine Cooking last week and I just have to tell you about them! But first, wait a minute while I actually go fill out that subscription card right now.

Okay. That’s better. Just saved myself a few bucks. Anyway! Lamb chops. I don’t know exactly what type of lamb chops these are except they are from the CSA and they just said “Lamb Chops” on the package, not rib chops or shoulder chops.

And some of them are different sizes than others. What I do know for sure is that they have been fantastic on the grill but it is too darn cold and dark around these parts lately for me for grilling. So, when I saw this recipe for Pistachio Crusted Lamb Chops in the Nov/Dec issue and saw that they were made under the broiler, I was sold. Except I didn’t have any pistachios. I did, however, have pecans. Pecan Crusted Lamb Chops it is!

The way the recipe comes together was also intriguing to me. First, the spices are rubbed into the chops and each side is pre-broiled for a couple minutes. The crusting happens after the first broil. You remove the chops from the oven, brush one side of each with the honey & lemon juice mixtures, and then press on the nuts.

Broil that side, take them back out of the oven, and do the same to the other side, and bingo-bango, they are done!

Since I wasn’t quite sure of the cut of these chops and if they might be a little thicker than the rib chops the recipe called for, I kept mine under the broiler a little longer than the recipe called for. Then I removed them from the oven, turned the broiler off and put the oven on low, covered the chops with foil, inserted a probe thermometer and heated until medium-rare and delicious!

I served them alongside rice pilaf and a little madzoon. Madzoon is the Armenian word for yogurt, but for some reason in my husband’s family it really means plain yogurt with cucumbers, and all together it made the perfect, easy Mediterranean meal. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have to go peruse the pages of Fine Cooking for the next awesome thing I should make!