Calabrian lamb cutlets

Description

No one does lamb chops better than the Italians and this recipe, which comes to me by way of the great Anna del Conte, is a case in point. I'd keep side dishes plain - maybe some steamed new potatoes and green beans.

Ingredients

12 lamb rib chops
4 tbsp olive oil, plus 2 tbsp extra for frying
3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon chilli flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 small lemon, zest and juice only
1 tsp sea salt/kosher salt or ½ tsp table salt
15 black olives, stones removed, sliced
2 tbsp water
1 long red chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped, to serve (optional)

Method

1. Place the lamb chops between two sheets of cling film on a work surface and gently flatten by tapping them with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Remove the chops from the cling film and place into a large dish in a single layer.
2. Pour over the four tablespoons of oil and sprinkle over the garlic, chilli flakes, oregano, lemon zest and juice, salt and olives. Turn the chops in the marinade so that both sides are coated.
3. Cover and leave the lamb to marinate for 20 minutes at room temperature before cooking.
4. Heat the remaining two tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Scrape any excess marinade off the chops and reserve in the dish, then fry the chops for 2-3 minutes on each side, until lightly golden-brown.
5. Turn the heat down to medium and pour the reserved marinade into the pan over the chops. Add about two tablespoons of water so that they cook in a little liquid. Cook for about five minutes for rare cutlets, or a little longer if you like your lamb well cooked (this will also depend on the thickness of the chops).
6. To serve, place three lamb chops onto each of four serving plates. Pour over the juices from the pan and sprinkle with the chopped red chilli, should you feel like enhancing the dried chilli with the pep of fresh.