Lamb Chops With Pomegranate Sauce Saffron Pilaf Recipes

POMEGRANATE LAMB

Steps:

• Rub the lamb chops with the salt, pepper and rosemary leaves evenly. Combine all of the remaining ingredients in non-reactive dish. Add the chops and turn over in the mixture a few times. Cover and refrigerate up to four hours ahead of time.;
• Pomegranate Au jus: Heat a medium sized saucepan on medium heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon of butter and the olive oil. When the butter melts add the shallots and garlic. Allow to cook until lightly cooked, (about 3 minutes), stirring frequently so that the garlic doesn't burn. Now add the pomegranate juice and vinegar. Reduce by half. Add the stock and reduce, skimming as necessary until the sauce will coat the back of a spoon, (about 15 minutes). Remove from the heat and strain the sauce through a fine meshed strainer. Reserve in a small saucepan while you cook the chops.
• Heat a grill or grill pan to fairly high heat.
• Remove the lamb from the marinade and reason them with a touch of salt and pepper. Grill about four minutes on each side.
• Reheat the pomegranate Au jus. When is it just under a boil, whisk in the remaining butter. Divide the sauce between the four plates and center the chops on the sauce. Serve.

LAMB CHOPS WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE & SAFFRON PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler and arrange the rack 8 inches from the broiler.
• Heat a pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the butter and melt, then add the orzo and stir. Toast the pasta to golden brown, 3 minutes, then add the rice and stir to combine. Add the saffron threads to the pan and stir in the stock. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover the pot. Cook the rice for 15 to 18 minutes, until tender.
• Meanwhile, roll the pomegranate on the counter while applying pressure for a minute. Hold the pomegranate over a small pot and cut into it with a small sharp knife; the juice will come rushing out. Squeeze the pomegranate until 3/4 to 1 cup of juice is produced. Add the wine and Worcestershire to the juice, then add the peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and reduce the liquid by half, 6 minutes or so. Pour a little sauce into a small bowl, stir in the cornstarch, and then pour the mixture back into the sauce. Cook to thicken, about 1 minute; remove the whole cloves and bay leaf before serving.
• Arrange the chops on a broiler pan and season with salt and pepper. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes, or only 1 minute on each side for pink centers.
• When the chops go in, heat the EVOO in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir for 2 minutes, then wilt in the spinach and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Serve the chops topped with pomegranate sauce, and with saffron pilaf and wilted spinach alongside.

SAMEH WADI'S LAMB SHANKS WITH POMEGRANATE AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Season lamb shanks with salt.
• In a large ovenproof pot with a lid, heat a thin film of oil. Working in batches to avoid crowding, and adjusting the heat to prevent scorching, brown the lamb shanks thoroughly over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes per side. Set aside on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Add onion, garlic and ginger to the hot pan, sprinkle with salt and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to become translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the ras el hanout, saffron, ginger and pepper; cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously, until the spices smell fragrant. Add 1 cup stock and bring to a boil. Cook until syrupy, about 3 minutes, using a wooden spatula to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Return the lamb and any drippings from the baking sheet to the pot. Add the remaining stock and the pomegranate juice. Bring to a boil, then cover and bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until the lamb is very tender. Remove from the oven and place on top of the stove.
• Transfer the lamb shanks to a baking sheet and cover with foil. Let the cooking liquid cool for 15 minutes, then skim off and discard the fat that has risen to the surface. Simmer the liquid until reduced to a sauce, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt, then add the vinegar and pomegranate molasses a few teaspoons at a time, until the sauce is balanced to your liking between sweet and sour. Return the shanks to the sauce and bring to a simmer, spooning the sauce over the shanks until the meat is hot and richly glazed.
• To serve, place the lamb shanks on a platter or individual plates, and sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds, cilantro, pistachios and salt.

LAMB BRAISED IN POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Generously season lamb chops with salt and black pepper.
• Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Place lamb chops in Dutch oven and cook until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer lamb to a plate and reduce heat to medium.
• Stir onion and a pinch of salt into the Dutch oven; cook until onions are slightly golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Pour pomegranate juice into the Dutch oven and scrape any browned bits off of the bottom of the pot. Pour in balsamic vinegar, increase heat to high, and bring to a boil.
• Stir rosemary, mint leaves, and red pepper flakes into pomegranate juice mixture. Continue to boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Return lamb and any accumulated juices to Dutch oven, spoon pomegranate mixture over lamb, and cover.
• Cook in the preheated oven until meat is fork tender, about 2 hours. Transfer lamb to a plate and set Dutch oven on the stovetop over high heat. Bring pomegranate mixture to a boil; cook, skimming any fat that accumulates, until liquid is reduced by 1/3, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in honey and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Return lamb to the Dutch oven; stir to combine. Garnish with pomegranate seeds, sliced mint leaves, and pumpkin seeds.