Colorado Lamb And Couscous Crostini Recipes

LUCKY NEW YEAR CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Separate the mini waffles into individual pieces and place on a sheet tray. Brush both sides with the melted butter. Toast in the oven, flipping halfway through, until crispy on the outside but still slightly soft on the inside, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Combine the mascarpone, honey, salt and orange zest in a medium bowl and mix until well blended. Spread the mixture on each toasted mini waffle with a butter knife or offset spatula. Garnish each with a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds, fresh mint and a drizzle of honey.

ROASTED RACK OF LAMB BASTED WITH BERMUDA HONEY SUN-DRIED TOMATO BRIOCHE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Season the lamb rack with salt and pepper. Sear in olive oil on all sides in a hot pan. Brush and baste the lamb with the honey. In a small bowl, combine the brioche crumbs and the sun-dried tomatoes. Gently press the brioche crumb mixture on the lamb, to coat.
• Roast the lamb rack for approximately 10 minutes, or until medium rare. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
• Deglaze the pan with red wine and reduce until almost dry. Add the lamb or beef stock and reduce by 25 percent. Season, to taste, and strain to finish the lamb jus. For the Hoppin John: Have the stock lightly simmering on the stove. Saute the onion in butter in a deep heavy pot over medium high heat. Saute until the onion is translucent. Add the chourico and continue to saute.
• Add the rice all at once and stir well to coat it thoroughly with the onion and butter mixture. Add the tomato juice and stirring all the while let it evaporate. Begin adding the stock, a ladle at a time, stirring gently all along. Add additional stock when the previous ladle has been absorbed. Keep adding stock until all the rice is cooked but still al dente, approximately 16 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove pot from the heat, add more butter and the Parmesan stirring well until both are absorbed.

BONELESS COLORADO LAMB PORTERHOUSE

Steps:

• In a large saute pan over high heat place oil, add mushrooms and sear well. Add the shallots and continue to cook until mushrooms are tender and any liquid has evaporated. Place mixture in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Refrigerate until completely cool.
• In a stainless mixing bowl place ground lamb, mushrooms, and herbs. Mix until well combined and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide mixture in 1/2 and place between cellophane. Shape with fingers and spread to the same length and width of the lamb loin.
• Roll the tenderloin in the mushroom powder (this will provide a visual break between the loin and the tenderloin in the completed dish as well as enhance the flavor.)
• Position each loin halfway on top of each of the ground lamb mix and place the tenderloin on top of the loin. Lift the cellophane and contour the meat around the tenderloin and press against the loin. Wrap with a single layer of caul fat and tie with butcher's twine at 1-inch intervals.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a large ovenproof saute pan over high heat add vegetable oil, season meat and sear in pan until all sides are nicely browned. Place pan in the oven and continue to cook approximately 15 minutes until the desired temperature is reached.
• Remove meat from pan and allow to rest 10 minutes before slicing (twine can be removed.)
• Deglaze the pan with lamb stock, reduce to a sauce consistency and adjust seasoning.
• Serve on warm serving plates with potatoes, spinach and thick slices of the lamb. Spoon sauce over the top and serve.
• In a large pot of boiling, salted water, quickly blanch the spinach and refresh in ice water. Allow spinach to completely cool, then, using a clean dish towel wring out all of the excess water and finely chop.
• In a large sauce pot over medium heat place the cream. Bring the cream to a simmer and allow to reduce by 2/3, add nutmeg and season, to taste. Hold warm. Just before serving, add the spinach and mix well.
• Slice potatoes 1/4-inch thick and using a cookie cutter, punch out disks of the potato and place in cold water (reserve the trim for another use).
• In a large saute pan over high heat, place duck fat and then add the potatoes (which have been drained and patted dry.) Cook potatoes until they have a tender interior and a golden exterior.
• Season and hold warm.

SKEWERED LAMB WITH RIOJA RED WINE VINAIGRETTE AND ENDIVE SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE, SERRANO HAM AND PEARS

Steps:

• Make the vinaigrette: In a medium nonreactive saucepan over high heat, reduce the wine to 1/4 cup. Place it in a blender with the vinegar, mustard and honey and blend until combined. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste. May be refrigerated up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Make the lamb: Soak 8 bamboo skewers 6 inches long in water for 2 hours or overnight. In a large bowl, combine the garlic, olive oil, rosemary and lamb and marinate the lamb 4 to 6 hours in the refrigerator. Prepare a grill or broiler. Thread the lamb cubes and roasted onions on the skewers and season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill until rare to medium-rare, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Place the skewers on a serving platter and drizzle the Rioja vinaigrette over them. Can serve with instant couscous made with chicken stock.
• Blue Cheese Dressing: Whisk together the creme fraiche, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and oil and season with salt and pepper. Fold in blue cheese and romano.
• Salad: Heat the oil in a small saute pan over high heat until smoking. Add the ham and cook until crisp. Place the endive and frisee in a large bowl, toss with some of the dressing and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Divide the greens among four plates and top with some of the ham. Place 3 pear slices around the plate and sprinkle with some of the almonds.

COLORADO LAMB CHOPS WITH AN HERB MARINADE, SOFT POLENTA WITH WILD MUSHROOMS, AND A HIBISCUS GLAZE

Steps:

• For the marinade: In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the marinade. Cut each 1/2 rack into 9 chops, yielding 18 chops (3 chops per person). Rub chops with the marinade. Let marinate for 1 hour at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours.
• Heat a saute pan and pour oil into the pan when it is hot. Saute the lamb chops. For the Hibiscus Glaze: In a non-reactive saucepan combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 1/2 hour. Strain. Return liquid to a simmer and reduce until syrupy consistency. For the Soft Polenta: Bring water and salt to a boil. Whisk in the polenta. Heat to a very low simmer and cook for 1/2 hour, stirring occasionally. Add the cheeses, butter, and nutmeg and season as needed with salt and pepper. Take the polenta off the heat, wrap well with plastic wrap, and store it in a warm place. The polenta will hold its heat for quite a while. For the Sauteed Mushrooms: Clean the mushrooms as needed. Some can be brushed off, while others may have to be quickly rinsed in water and well drained. Never soak mushrooms, as they will absorb too much water and become soggy when cooked. Cook each variety of mushroom individually because they all cook at different rates.
• Heat a saute pan 2 for minutes over a medium flame. When it is hot, add 1/3 of the vegetable oil. Add the mushrooms and saute until they begin to brown. Add 1/3 of the shallots and 1/3 of the butter. Keep the mushrooms moving in the pan until they are just tender. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Repeat process for the other mushroom varieties.

MERGUEZ AND LAMB COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place lamb in a deep kettle (preferably one with a steamer attachment on top). Add onions, rutabaga and fennel. Season with salt, and add 4 quarts cold water (it should cover the ingredients), black pepper and ginger.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place couscous in a large bowl, and cover with cold water. Mix thoroughly with your hands to break up lumps. Transfer couscous to a steamer attachment with fine holes (if you do not have one, try a colander), and drain the couscous into a separate bowl. Then, transfer couscous to the original large mixing bowl, and let sit 15 minutes.
• Break up the couscous again with your hands, and return it to the steamer or colander. Place the steamer over the simmering lamb and vegetables. Cover and let steam for about 15 minutes.
• Return couscous to a large bowl and, when it is cool, grease your hands with the olive oil and mix the grains thoroughly, breaking up any lumps. Do this several times, adding more oil.
• Return couscous to steamer, and place over simmering meat and vegetable liquid, covered.
• When meat has cooked for 45 minutes, add carrots, raisins, chickpeas and merguez. Taste broth for seasoning. Add more pepper if necessary (withhold salt until the end). Simmer for another 20 minutes. (At this point the stew may be set aside to cool, scraped of any surface fat, and reheated before serving. Place couscous in a large bowl and cover with a damp towel.)
• When ready for final cooking, place stew over a medium-low flame. Place a couscous-filled steamer on top, covered. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Taste for seasonings before serving.
• Place a mound of couscous on a warm plate. Cover with meat, vegetables and broth. Serve with hot sauce, like Tabasco, on the side.

COUSCOUS WITH VEGETABLES AND LAMB

Steps:

• Place the lamb, onion, ginger and turmeric in the bottom of a couscoussier or a large pot that can be fitted with a steamer. Add the butter or oil, season with salt and pepper and cook over medium heat about 5 minutes, stirring from time to time.
• Add 12 cups water, the tomatoes, saffron, cinnamon sticks and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, for an hour.
• While the lamb mixture is cooking, place the couscous in a bowl. Gradually stir in 4 cups water, then drain. Spread the moistened couscous in a large flat pan or dish with sides. Allow the moist couscous to sit 10 to 15 minutes, then break up any lumps with a fork or your fingers.
• Remove the lid from the couscoussier or pot and place the perforated section or the steamer on top. Take a length of cheesecloth or other cloth, moisten it and fit it tightly around the seam between the two parts of the pot, to prevent steam from escaping. Spoon half the couscous into the top section and when the steam starts rising through it, add the remaining couscous. Steam, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
• Remove the top of the couscoussier and replace the cover on the bottom pot. Dump the steamed couscous back into the flat pan. Allow it to cool a few minutes, then gradually sprinkle it with a cup of cold water and season it with about 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste. Using your fingers, gently work the couscous to break up any lumps. Spread it evenly and allow it dry for up to an hour.
• Add the turnips, carrots and raisins to the pot. Tie the parsley and coriander together, and add them. Simmer, covered, for 45 minutes.
• After about 2 hours' cooking, the lamb should be tender. Cut the zucchini in half crosswise and cut each piece in half lengthwise. Add the zucchini to the pot, and follow with the pumpkin. Drain the chick peas, and add them. Check the seasonings in the pot. If necessary, add a little more water, enough to keep the ingredients covered with liquid.
• Replace the steamer top on the pot and wrap it again with the cloth. Rake the couscous once more, then return half of it to the steamer. When the steam begins to rise, add the remaining couscous. Steam, uncovered, 15 minutes. The couscous should be light, fluffy and tender.
• To serve, spoon half the couscous onto a large round platter. Make a well in the center. With a slotted spoon remove the pieces of lamb from the pot and pile them in the center. Top them with some of the vegetables. Mound the rest of the couscous over these ingredients. Then, place the remaining vegetables around the couscous and on top of it. Discard the parsley and coriander.
• Reheat the broth briefly, and spoon it into 1 or 2 bowls. Serve the couscous with the broth on the side and, if desired, hot pepper sauce.