COURSE 4
Smoke-Roasted Prairie Grass Farms Rack of Lamb with Mint and Chile Chimichurri, Missouri Long-Grain Rice Pilaf and Caramelized Brussels Sprouts | Preparation – Chimichurri | In a blender, purée mint through honey. With blender running, add olive oil in a slow steady stream until fully incorporated. Season with salt. Can be made a day or two ahead. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Dave Hillebrand at Prairie Grass Farms raises some fantastic lamb in New Florence, Mo. Grilling these tender chops outside over an open flame will offer amazing intensity of flavor. Make sure you build a two-zone fire to sear the chops on one side of the grill while finishing on the other. Pairing these with sweet, caramelized, roasted Brussels sprouts and Martin Rice Co. long-grain rice will ensure this main course elevates you into the Dinner Party Hall of Fame. Serves | 8 |
CHimichurri
1½ cups ½ cup 1 1 1 clove 3 Tbsp 1 Tbsp ½ cup
mint leaves Italian parsley small Serrano pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped small shallot, coarsely chopped garlic, coarsely chopped Sherry wine vinegar honey extra virgin olive oil sea salt, to taste
Lamb
3 3 Tbsp
8-rib racks of Prairie Grass Farms lamb, Frenched (about 1½ lbs each) olive oil sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
| Preparation – Rice | Heat a 4-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Melt butter in pan. Add onion. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add rice and continue to sauté for 3 minutes. Add broth, bay leaf and saffron. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Keep warm. Season with salt and pepper.
Rice
4 Tbsp 1 cup 2 cups 3½ cups 1 ¼ tsp
butter diced onion Martin Rice Co. long-grain rice low-sodium chicken broth bay leaf saffron threads, crushed sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Brussels Sprouts
1½ lbs ¼ cup
Brussels sprouts, halved lengthwise olive oil sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
| Preparation – Lamb | In a kettle-style grill, build a two-zone fire by banking hot coals only on one side of the grill. Place the grate over the fire to preheat. Coat each rack of lamb with 1 Tbsp oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Wrap the bones of lamb in heavy-duty aluminum foil in order to prevent charring while grilling. When the fire is at its peak (white-hot ash begins to form on the coals) place the racks, meat side down, on the grill. Sear for 2 minutes, being careful not to let them burn. Give racks a quarter turn and sear an additional minute or two. Flip racks and place on cooler side of grill. Place a large chunk of hickory wood onto fire and cover (but not completely) with grill top, allowing for ¼-inch gap on the lamb side. Allow to smoke roast for approximately 8 to 10 minutes until lamb gets to an internal temperature of 135°F for medium-rare. Remove lamb from grill, cover loosely with foil and allow lamb to rest for 10 minutes before discarding foil and carving into individual chops. Drizzle with chimichurri when serving.
| Preparation – Brussels Sprouts | Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss sprouts in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place sprouts cut side down on baking sheet. Roast in oven for 10 minutes, or until sprouts show some dark brown on the flat side and a knife inserted into the body meets little resistance.
WINE PAIRING Les Bourgeois Vineyards Norton 2007, Rocheport, Mo. The Missouri state grape and a native American species, Norton is argued to have European lineage from a supposed cross-pollination. Typically, it produces a medium- to full-bodied, medium-tannic wine with fruit characteristics of cherries and sometimes currants and a moderate-to-intense spice profile, yet without the “muskiness” of other native American grapes. Les Bourgeois Vineyards’ 2007 Norton complements the rack of lamb with substantial body to support the robustness of this meat, while contributing its own black pepper, nutmeg and smoky notes.