Easy Elegant Holiday Entertaining With Lamb - Lamb Recipes

Nothing says special celebration like elegant, delicious American Lamb. Whether it's a holiday feast or an intimate family dinner, American Lamb is elegant yet easy to prepare. From the traditional leg roast to the quintessential rack, there's a lamb dish for every holiday occasion. American Lamb's unique, rich flavor can make any meal seem special and will make your family and friends feel especially appreciated.

Rack of Lamb - a Show-Stopping Favorite
An impressive presentation that is surprisingly easy to prepare at home, the rack offers versatility for holiday entertaining. The rack of lamb is an icon of fine dining menus across the country. Serving a rack of lamb during the holidays makes it easy to have an effortless, restaurant quality meal at home. 

Rack Lingo
Lollipops - the rack is cut into individual chops and trimmed of all fat for an appetizer that is simple to make, impressive to present, and easy to eat right off the bones.
Frenched - A few inches of meat removed from the end of the bones, creating an attractive presentation.
Tips
For a holiday party, cook two rack roasts at a time; they will fit side by side in most roasting pans and two rack roasts will feed 8 people. Serve the two racks interlaced with fresh herbs twisted around the bones for a show stopping presentation.

Pecan Crusted Rack of Lamb With Rosemary Balsamic Sauce
Serves 8
2  frenched racks of lamb
2  tablespoons olive oil
1  teaspoon salt
3  tablespoons coarse grain mustard
2  cloves minced garlic
3/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
3/4  cup toasted and chopped pecans
4 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary, divided
4 ounces semi-soft goat cheese, crumbled
1 cup balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 425°F. Rub lamb with oil and salt. Place in a roasting pan, fat side down. Roast 8 minutes. Turn and continue roasting 8 minutes. Remove from oven, leaving oven on.
Combine mustard, bread crumbs, garlic, pecans, 2 tablespoons rosemary, and goat cheese. Spread over lamb. Return to oven and cook 15 minutes, until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and cover with foil to keep warm.
In saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar and remaining 2 tablespoons rosemary and let simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until reduced to half.
Slice lamb into individual chops and drizzle sauce over chops. Serve with roasted butternut squash.

American Lamb Lollipops With Minted Tomato Sauce

Serves 8

1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1  tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2  tablespoons olive oil
2  tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
3  garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2  teaspoons kosher salt
2   frenched racks of lamb

Combine mustard, balsamic vinegar, oil, rosemary, garlic and salt. Place lamb in a roasting or sheet pan with the ribs curving down, and coat the tops with mustard mixture. Allow to stand for 1 hour at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Roast lamb for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cover with aluminum foil. Allow to sit for 15 minutes, then cut into individual ribs and serve with sauce.
Minted Tomato Sauce
1 clove garlic, crushed with a little salt
1/4  cup water
2  tablespoons olive oil
1/2  teaspoon dried oregano
1 to 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 to 3 tomatoes, crushed
1  tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped mint

Combine all ingredients in food processor and blend for 1 minute.

Roasted Leg of American Lamb With Feta Vinaigrette
Serves 8 to 10

1  6 to 7-pound boneless leg of lamb
1  pint plain Greek yogurt
1  tablespoon curry powder
4  cloves minced garlic
1  teaspoon kosher salt

Mix all marinade ingredients together and rub over lamb. Marinate overnight in fridge.
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Place lamb on roasting rack in a roasting pan. Roast lamb for approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches desired doneness. Once lamb is removed from oven, let it rest for 15 minutes. Slice to desired thickness and top with feta vinaigrette. Serve with roasted fingerling potatoes and green beans.

Feta Vinaigrette
1/2  cup juice from 2 lemons
2  ounces red wine vinegar
1/2  bunch parsley chopped
4  ounces extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2  pound feta cheese (coarsely crumbled)

In a bowl mix together all ingredients except cheese. Add cheese at the end.

American Lamb Roasts for Holiday Entertaining
Perfect for relaxed entertaining, American Lamb roasts make a great holiday meal for sharing with family and friends. Nothing could be easier than roasting lamb. While lamb roasts need to cook slow and low, they take very little preparation time, allowing you to spend time with your guests while the lamb cooks to perfection!
Leg of lamb is a popular and traditional roast and is readily available at most grocery stores during the holidays. Shoulder roast and boneless loin roasts are also great options but may need to be special ordered by your grocery store or butcher.
Tips
Let the lamb roast rest for 10 to 15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches the ideal temperature. A cooling period will allow the meat's juices to settle and make carving easier.
Serve lamb roasts family style with carved, sliced meat arranged on a large platter with fresh herbs and roasted vegetables.
For more recipes and cooking information visit americanlamb.com.




Courtesy of Family Features and the American Lamb Board