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Lamb with marjoram and parmesan crust

These five ingredients are the food equivalent of the answer I’d give if asked ‘who would you most love to have dinner with?’.  The white polenta soaks up the deliciousness beautifully.

Roasted rack of lamb, marjoram and parmesan crust, melted tomato and olive sauce, white polenta
Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 3 x 6 point (600 g/1 lb 5 oz) rack of lamb, French-trimmed
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
  • Marjoram and parmesan crust
  • 10 slices of good-quality white bread, crusts removed (about 500 g/1 lb 2 oz)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh marjoram leaves, chopped
  • 50 g (1¾ oz/½ cup) finely grated parmesan
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 200 g (7 oz) butter, softened
  • 25 ml (1 fl oz) thickened (whipping) cream
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper
  • White polenta
  • 1 litre (34 fl oz/4 cups) Chicken stock (see page 34)
  • 250 g (9 oz/1⅔ cups) white polenta
  • 100 g (3½ oz) finely grated parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • salt

Method
To make the crust, put the bread, marjoram and parmesan in a food processor and pulse to blend. Add the egg yolk, butter, cream and mustard and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Roll the mixture out between two sheets of baking paper to a thickness of 4 mm. Put on a tray and refrigerate to set.
Preheat the oven to 190°C.
Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Heat a large heavy-based frying pan or a large non-stick frying pan over high heat and sear the lamb racks in the oil until lightly browned. Wrap the bones in foil so they don’t burn in the oven. Set aside.
Cut the crust into slices to fit nicely on the lamb racks. Press on well and trim any overhang.
To make the polenta, bring the stock to the boil in a large saucepan and sprinkle in the polenta, whisking as you go. Cook over medium heat for 6–8 minutes until thick and creamy. Cover the surface with plastic wrap until serving.
Put the lamb racks onto a baking tray lined with foil. Put in the oven and cook for 8 minutes. Remove and allow to rest for 5 minutes before carving.
While the lamb is cooking prepare the sauce. Heat the sliced garlic in a medium saucepan in the olive oil over low heat. When it warms through, increase the heat to medium and add the marjoram and tomatoes. Swirl the pan occasionally until the tomatoes start to soften. Add the lamb stock and olives and cook until a sauce-like consistency. Add the butter and swirl to emulsify.
Return the polenta to the heat and whisk in the parmesan and the 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil. Season with a little salt.
To serve
Using a very sharp knife, carve each rack into two and place on serving plates. Spoon the sauce around and serve with the polenta on the side.

 

Recipe courtesy of Cooked.com.au. 

This recipe first appeared in Philippa Sibley’s New Classics ($49.95) courtesy of Hardie Grant.

 Philippa-Sibley

 

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