Monday, November 1, 2010

Grilled Lamb Chops with a Walnut Mint Pesto

There is something about a warm fall evening and grilling a seasonal meat that makes me feel very connected to my food. By that I mean, I think about where it comes from. Can my source reassure me that it was fed appropriate safe foods. Does the producer treat their animals well while they are alive. If we feel that connection we will always want to do it justice and respect what went into its production.



Lamb is the meat I feel is most flattered by the barbecue. The powerful slightly gamey taste combines beautifully with the wood or charcoal smoke. I also think lamb shines with aromatics because the taste is so earthy. The herbaceousness adds a brightness that it needs. I usually make a pesto of garlic, parsley, rosemary and mint with a nut, either pine or walnut, and olive oil. Most of our friends that say they don't like Lamb only have to eat it at our house once to recant that statement...



We enjoyed this with a pumpkin and Gorgonzola flan and an amazing finish for our Giants to take the World Series.


Enjoy!!

9 comments:

  1. Thanks Michele:) Glad to hear from you. B

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  2. This looks wonderful, simple and really colourful. I agree with you too - if the animal has been cared for while its alive it's a pleasure to go the extra mile and do something really wonderful in the cooking and presentation stages of a meal for sure.

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  3. Thanks Anna I always enjoy hearing from you:) B

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  4. I have a love affair with lamb as well. It used to be my 'go to' dish for company as I thought everyone felt the same way...that is, until both my sister in law and my best friend told me they didn't like lamb. (They didn't do this at the table thank goodness but during some other conversation probably not thinking that I always file these types of comments away...) This is ok as it gives me permission to prepare lamb for my own pleasures and not have to share! Yours looks beautiful! Beth, I really think your 'cooking aesthetic' is so well matched to my preferences! I would let you cook for me ANYTIME!
    Trevor Sis. Boom.

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  5. Mmm, it looks hearty and delicious! My flan is sitting on the counter, waiting to be sampled. I'm scared of the gorgonzola smell, though.

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  6. oh, my gosh! I should not have looked at this before I ate dinner! This looks so wonderful that my tummy has responded by rumbling with hunger. :) I really love lamb - my whole family does - but we have never grilled it. The pesto looks and sounds wonderful. It must have been a great feast while watching the Giants!

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  7. Thank you guys for coming around:) It WAS fun to eat this and watch the Giants...B

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  8. Lamb is so under the radar for most people. It so needs more love. Having it with this pesto sounds perfect to me.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. Yours looks super delicious and I look forward to coming back for more.

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