Lamb Chops Scottadito With Crispy Kale
- Total Time
- About 40 minutes, plus at least 4 hours' marinating
- Rating
- Notes
- Read community notes
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Ingredients
- 12lamb rib chops
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 6anchovy fillets
- ¼cup capers in brine, drained
- 2lemons, zested and cut in half
- 4cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- 24fresh sage leaves, coarsely chopped
- ½cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
- 1large bunch lacinato or Tuscan kale, stems removed and leaves left whole
- Grapeseed or other oil suitable for high heat, for preparing the grill
Preparation
- Step 1
Using a mallet, pound each rib chop to ¼-inch thickness. Season the chops with salt and pepper.
- Step 2
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the anchovy fillets, capers, lemon zest, garlic, sage and ½ cup olive oil, and pulse the mixture to form a marinade. Using a rubber spatula, transfer mixture to a large plastic food storage bag or shallow dish. Add the lamb and coat evenly in marinade. Seal the bag or cover the dish with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- Step 3
Heat oven to 500 degrees and place a rack just above the center. Place the kale leaves in a large mixing bowl and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. With clean hands, toss the leaves, making sure both sides of each piece are lightly coated, adding more oil, about a teaspoon at a time, as necessary. (Alternatively, an oil mister can be used to lightly spray the kale on each side.) Place a large wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and arrange half the leaves on the rack in a single layer, not touching one another, and season with salt and pepper. Roast kale to brown and crispy, about 4 to 5 minutes, then repeat with remaining leaves. Loosely arrange a bed of crispy kale on a serving platter.
- Step 4
Heat an outdoor grill to high and brush or spray with grapeseed oil. Add the lamb and cook over the high heat for about 4 minutes until charred, then flip and cook until chops are crisp at the edges, another 2 to 3 minutes. (The fire will flare as the fat cooks, so stay close to the grill and shuffle the chops as necessary.) After flipping the lamb to cook on the second side, place the lemon halves on the grill and char until caramelized and browned, about 2 to 4 minutes. (Chops can also be broiled in the oven, on high, about 5 minutes on each side. Lemons can be charred in a grill pan on the stove.)
- Step 5
Allow the meat to rest on a plate for a few minutes. Arrange the chops on the bed of kale and douse them with the juice of the charred lemons.
Private Notes
Cooking Notes
If the grill is very hot, I suggest cooking just 11/2 minutes per side, or the lamb, 1/4 inch thick, will be very well done
Everyone has their favorites and grapeseed is just one option. I often see canola oil described as flavorless or “neutral”, but to me it has a distinctly fishy taste.
Why grapeseed oil? It has a similar smoke point as canola oil which also has minimal to no taste. And grapeseed oil costs almost twice as much as canola oil. I see the recipe calls for "or a similar" oil but I still question what is a clear recommendation for an unnecessarily expensive product that adds nothing to the recipe.
It’s about using a natural product versus a gmo.
A total of six or seven minutes for 1/4-inch-thick chops? They'll be pretty well done, no?
No, no, no. Kale, when cooked as suggested, becomes crisp. My grandkids love it. I’m not kidding. Try it
I agree, a minute and a half is plenty for thin chops
Loved! Best lamb chops we've made in a while. Pounding does the trick, as does high heat on the grill. My husband was unclear re: if the meat stays on the bone during the pounding - it does. I only marinated for a couple of hours (still yummy), and I forwent the kale b/c didn't want to deal. Delish regardless.
The lamb was Devine. I wasn't crazy about the crispy kale under it but if I do it again, I would remove the entire stem, too hard to chew.
I made this as directed and my boyfriend threw up. I liked it though. Would make again, just maybe not with him.
Skipped the kale, but followed the directions for broiling and the dinner was tasty. Served with flat pan potatoes and figs from a separate NYT recipe and side order of broccoli to make it easy. Great fall dinner.
I made these almost as instructed, with the exception that I cooked them under a gas broiler. 3 to 4 minutes on each side. I also only had three hours to marinate them. But they were still delishimo! Do be sure to grill the lemon slices. I did this in a cast-iron skillet on the stove top while the chops were broiling. They add a terrific acidity and brightness to the lamb.
I wonder if you could grill the kale. That way you wouldn’t have to heat up the oven in the summer, when you’re likely to be preparing this dish.
Has anyone cooked these? Are the comments made on experience or just commenting on the recipe!
I eat them in Italy and they don’t add: Grapeseed/anchovies/capers/lemon/garlic or sage. They grill them with salt and pepper. Nice and simple, Italians don’t like cover up taste flavors.
Any substitute for Kale? It is bitter, difficult to chew, and downright disgusting!
No, no, no. Kale, when cooked as suggested, becomes crisp. My grandkids love it. I’m not kidding. Try it
Are you using the right kale? She specifically calls for Lacinato aka Tuscian aka dinosaur kale, which isn't as tough as regular curly kale.
I totally agree....
Why grapeseed oil? It has a similar smoke point as canola oil which also has minimal to no taste. And grapeseed oil costs almost twice as much as canola oil. I see the recipe calls for "or a similar" oil but I still question what is a clear recommendation for an unnecessarily expensive product that adds nothing to the recipe.
It’s about using a natural product versus a gmo.
Everyone has their favorites and grapeseed is just one option. I often see canola oil described as flavorless or “neutral”, but to me it has a distinctly fishy taste.
I'd use Coconut oil instead. It's great for high heat cooking, it's good for you and if you're near a Trader Joe's, you can get a jar of it for $5.
A total of six or seven minutes for 1/4-inch-thick chops? They'll be pretty well done, no?
If the grill is very hot, I suggest cooking just 11/2 minutes per side, or the lamb, 1/4 inch thick, will be very well done
I agree, a minute and a half is plenty for thin chops
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