Lamb chops encrusted with pistachios w sauce

By dyannucci

Ingredients

• 2 racks of baby lamb chops, halved
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 cup breadcrumbs, preferably country
• bread
• 1 cup unsalted pistachio nuts, crushed
• 2 shallots, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 3 tablespoons dry vermouth
• 6 tablespoons demi-glace
• 1 cup parsley, chopped
• 2 sprigs rosemary, leaves chopped,
• for garnish
• 2 sprigs basil, leaves chopped, for garnish

Details

Servings 4
Adapted from nydailynews.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Trim excess fat from the quarter racks of lamb and season with salt and fresh pepper.
Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet until almost smoky. Place lamb in pan and sear on all sides until golden brown. Remove lamb from pan and cut quartered racks into individual chops. Brush chops with Dijon mustard and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Place pistachios on a plate and press the chops into the nuts, coating each side.
Place chops in a roasting pan and roast lamb to desired doneness (about 10 minutes for rare to medium rare; 5 minutes longer for well-done).
While the lamb is in the oven, prepare the sauce: Heat a small saute pan and add the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil, the shallots, garlic and vermouth. Let the alcohol evaporate and add the demi-glace, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and heat for about 2 minutes.
Remove lamb from oven, divide chops evenly among four dinner plates and sprinkle with rosemary and basil. Drizzle sauce around lamb and serve.
Notes to the cook
* The nuts. For variety, GianLuca Rizza suggests trying walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds. Whatever nuts you choose, they should be crushed. If they are ground fine, you will not get the flavor of the nuts, he explains.
* The demi-glace. This intensely flavored, thick, brown glaze is used as a base for many sauces. You'll find it in the refrigerated or frozen-food cases of such gourmet groceries as Balducci's, Grace's Marketplace and Bazzini.