Seared Lamb Chops With Anchovies, Capers and Sage Recipe (2024)

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Kevin Osinski

Very good, as almost everyone agrees. Go light on salting the chops in step 1, although I didn't find the end result overly salty. The biggest change I would make is in the final step. Adding the garlic to the hot oil will burn it in seconds. Instead, empty the pan, including the oil, then pour in a good splash of white wine along with the garlic. You'll deglaze all those yummy drippings and cook the garlic more gently. When the wine reduces to a syrup, pour it over the chops.

Ian Martella

I wish I could upload audio of my boyfriend and I moaning for 20 minutes straight while we ate this. I'd file this recipe under "Holy Experiences," right next to Brittany Howard and psilocybin.

Come for the lamb—stay for the fried capers.

Melissa Clark

You don't need to rinse. Just wipe them dry. Sometimes lamb chops have tiny shards of bone where they have been split, but a good wiping with a paper towel should take care of them.

melodichc@hotmail.com

first ingredient: rinsed lamb chops. i wanted to know why i should do this, and a quick internet search suggested i shouldn't do so. why should i? if i can gain something by doing so, i will, but the first ten articles suggested i STOP rinsing my proteins. does anybody know otherwise?

Cathleen Rountree

Nice idea, but way too salty. The anchovies and capers stuck to the pan and needed a deglazing liquid, which a squirt of lemon juice took care of. I seasoned the chops with scant sprinkle of salt and used only 2 anchovy fillets, but still too salty. Fried sage leaves were a brilliant addition. Great flavor from the anchovies. Here in Calif., we have the first green garlic of a too short season. Worked well in this dish.

AnneG

I made this last night with the pork sirloin I had on hand. Because it was pork, I cooked it a little longer. Instead of the olive oil, I used the oil that the anchovies were canned in. It was extraordinarily good, not at all too salty. I was glad that I still had a little fresh sage in my garden. It added an interesting texture.

KGodley

My husband just cooked this and it was a hit! It has a deep roast lamb flavour with only ten minutes cooking time. He altered it slightly by using 4 chops, 1.5 tbs capers, 1.5 anchovies and salting just one side of each chop. Wasn't too salty. He deglazed the pan with some white wine and lemon juice. I will be requesting this one again!

Genny

Love this every time I make it. Thicker loin chops take more time than indicated for medium rare. I deglazed with a bit of wine and lemon after chops were cooked and sage was crisped. Didn't use salt as I doubled up on the anchovies and capers. Serve with potatoes au gratin.

Pat from Yorktown NY

This has become our go-to lamb chop recipe. The one change I made was to add vermouth to the pan at the point where the recipe calls for removing the lamb, which I left in the pan. I also lowered the heat. Then I added the garlic, letting it cook in the bubbling wine. The lamb was perfectly cooked, the garlic didn’t burn, and there was a bit of sauce in the end. Mmmmmm.......

beulah

Sensational recipe. However, capers burn very easily. Had to toss the 1st batch. Watched 2nd batch like a hawk and was too scared to sear them with the lamb. Instead, sautéed until anchovies melted, strained the mixture and set aside, then returned oil to the pan & used it for the lamb. Added anchovies / capers towards the end and deglazed with white wine as suggested by other reviewers. Skipped sage leaves - didn’t feel like paying $4 for them. Extremely happy w recipie & guests were blown away

pat

made with boned leg of lamb in large pieces, marinated then seared in an iron skillet and finished 8-10 minutes @475. Had lots of capers to use up so left out anchovies. --good either way. Deglazed the skillet w lemon juice. Served w pomegranate and orange and fennel salad.

Tara

Made these last night. They were fabulous! Any recipe with anchovies catches my eye! I didn't rinse these beauties, the butcher cut them fresh for me and I agree on not rinsing a protein like this. My only change was to deglaze the pan with a whole lemon. I'm not sure how they thought you would have much sauce without a deglazing liquid. The lemon was perfect!

Rob-in-Philly

Forget the rinse, next they will say use a conditioner! Do pat dry though...it seals the sear whereas if they are wet they will steam first and toughen the outside.

Hashslinger

Juice of 1 lemon into the pan to deglaze imparted the perfect acidic note to an otherwise unctuous dish.

Christiana

Absolutely agree with the others about deglazing the pan with fresh lemon juice. I also used one of the cups that separate the juices from the oil so I could discard most of the oil before putting "sauce" over the meat on the plate. Next time I will also reduce the amount of oil. I used bone-in lamb chops and added just 2 minutes to cooking time. This is quite rich so a simple salad and fresh veggie is all that is needed for sides.

Kathy

I love lamb and I should of cut the rack I had into eight pieces, instead of four. I really wanted to keep the temperature right. so I cooked a pair of chops instead individual ones. Because I did this, some of the components in the pan over cooked. The fried capers are tasty!

Cutie Pie

Followed recipe up to anchovies. I add capers after I turned the chop because I always burn then in a bad way. When the chop was done I set aside to rest. Pulled the pan aside to cool a few moments. Added capers, garlic and sage put back on heat. Added white wine per the advice of a commenter and let that reduce by half. Added a few cubes of feta. Served on rice pilaf with sauce on top. Added a squeeze of lemon. Arugula salad with pomegranate seeds, walnuts, feta and aged balsamic. Fantastic!

Jeanette

Outstanding. As others have said, make this now. Used the suggestion to deglaze pan with white wine and lemon juice and sauteed garlic with that.

jdt

I used rosemary instead of sage as that's what I had, as well as more of the capers/anchovies/garlic. I cooked them separately and then added to the lamb pan near the end of cooking as others did. Curious to see how it would go with sage, will try it next time but very nice with classic pairing of rosemary.

Gloria

I add a tiny bit of red wine to deglaze and them pour it over the chops.

Jen

Wow, delicious. Followed reader recommendations and deglazed the pan with white wine at the end to increase sauce volume, didn't add salt in the beginning to the lamb. So quick and easy with complex flavors. My go to for lamb chops.

Mary

I’m a novice meat cooker. I would cook the sauce ingredients in a separate pan. All I ended up with were burnt capers and sage leaves. Meat still tasted good but there wasn’t any usable sauce.

bridget

I found this recipe when looking for something with a springy feel to use my garden sage with. It was excellent! I agree that it tastes like it took hours but comes together so fast. I wish I read the comments before trying because I would have deglazed the pan with lemon or white wine after removing the lamb, but it was still great.

tal

I made this recipe with a couple of changes. First, I sous vide’d the lamb chops at 131 F for 2 1/2 hours then rested the chops for 20 minutes. I then pan seared the chops in a very hot pan for 1 minute on each side and also 30 seconds on each edge. Finally, I made the sauce in the pan which I deglazed with white wine. IMO, the lamb chops turned out very well, tender and delicious.

Jacquie Earle

Cooked on 3-ring wok which was clearly too hot as capers burned up. Need lower temp and watch the anchovies and capers like a hawk so they do not frizzle.

Sbods

I used loin chops cause they're cheaper and usually thicker. Seared them on a cast iron on high heat to get a nice crust with a red inside. A lot of the stuff was stuck to the pan after that high heat. I had a bottle of red open so I deglazed with just enough to get all the scrapings off and sauteed the garlic in that resulting paste/sauce/mixture. Turned out amazing. Will do it the same way next time. Can probably use any liquid for deglaze if you only use a bit. Maillard in full effect

Regina Braker

This is a keeper, even though I forgot to get the garlic in there, at the stage where folks recommended adding wine to the sauce, which I did. Our dinner included some garlic with fresh sage on the roasted carrots,and we had Mark Bittman's Potatoes au Gratin, so there was plenty going on in this Sunday dinner. Next time all ingredients will make it into the mix. I'm already thinking about ways to use it for other cuts of the lamb in our freezer.

Harvey

Outstanding! Made it with 10 2 inch chops, doubled the sauce. Added lemon juice to the sauce at the end and spooned it over the chops on the serving plate. I cooked the chops 5 min per side. Nothing burned. Med/high heat is the key. I'm a classic lamb with rosemary guy but not any more. This takes lamb to the pinnacle. Cook it!

Sarah

So unbelievably easy and SO good. The only thing I did differently was to add some butter and lemon after removing the chops from the pan to deglaze and also make a bit of sauce. I served it with a super lemony arugula and tarragon salad. Highly recommend! Will absolutely make again.

Jason M.

This was excellent as written. I was careful not to overheat the pan to avoid burning. It’s not difficult if one just pays attention.

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Seared Lamb Chops With Anchovies, Capers and Sage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to sear lamb chops before putting them in the oven? ›

Lamb Chops are always best served to a target doneness of Medium Rare to Medium. We recommend first searing lamb chops on a hot cast iron for 1 minute per side then finish in a pre-heated oven set to 350 °F.

How do you keep lamb chops from getting tough? ›

Temperature is by far the most critical aspect of cooking lamb chops. Undercooking even tender lamb chops can render them unpleasantly chewy, while overcooking will lead to tough, dried-out meat. Rib chops should be cooked to about 130°F, while loin chops are better at 135°F or even 140°F.

Is it better to grill or pan fry lamb chops? ›

Grilling lamb chops can impart a smoky flavor and create a desirable charred exterior, making it a healthier option as fat drips away from the meat. Frying, especially pan-frying, offers more control over cooking, enriches flavor with fats, and is convenient for indoor cooking.

How are lamb chops supposed to be cooked? ›

Cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side or until deeply browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 145°F. You may need to cook the chops in two batches to avoid crowding the pan.

Should you rinse lamb chops before cooking? ›

There is no need to rinse raw lamb before cooking because this creates a cross-contamination hazard. Any bacteria which might be present would be destroyed by cooking.

What seasonings go well with lamb? ›

Fresh rosemary, fresh garlic, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt are simple but amazing flavors that pair amazingly with the lamb! Each of these ingredients adds its unique warmth and depth to enhance the flavor of the dish.

What makes lamb so tender? ›

Slow cooking in liquid transforms tougher cuts of lamb into fork-tender meat. Neck, shoulder and belly, either diced or as whole joints, are the best cuts for slow cooking and need to be cooked for at least 2 hrs at 150C to soften the meat.

How do you keep lamb chops from tasting gamey? ›

The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution.

Should lamb chops sit out before cooking? ›

Before you begin the cooking process, be sure to remove your lamb from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This helps to ensure that the lamb cooks evenly and that you get an accurate temperature reading.

What is the best meat for lamb chops? ›

Lamb Loin (also Lamb Saddle)

The center of the animal, this contains the most tender cuts of lamb meat and is usually presented cut into loin chops or whole as a loin roast.

How do you know when lamb is fully cooked? ›

Cook all raw lamb steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145° F (62.8° C) as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.

What to eat with lamb chops? ›

10 Best Side Dishes for Lamb Chops
  • 01 of 10. Wheat Berry Salad with Peas, Radishes, and Dill. ...
  • 02 of 10. Lemon Pea Salad. ...
  • 03 of 10. Couscous Gourmet. ...
  • 04 of 10. Spinach Pomegranate Salad. ...
  • 05 of 10. Quick and Easy Sauteed Spinach. ...
  • 06 of 10. Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios. ...
  • 07 of 10. ...
  • 08 of 10.
Dec 16, 2020

Can you eat lamb chops a little pink? ›

A rare, or pink, lamb chop that has been seared well on the outside should be fine because any bacteria on the outer surface will have been killed by the heat. But minced or diced lamb or mutton should never be served pink. It needs to be thoroughly cooked and browned. The same goes for burgers.

Should lamb be seared before roasting? ›

For the perfect roast lamb, we recommend seasoning the surface of the meat, and then searing it, especially fat side down in a pan before roasting. Why bother with searing? Contrary to some stories, searing is less about locking in moisture, and all about improving the flavour!

Do you have to sear meat before baking? ›

In technical terms, this is called a Maillard reaction and it's a flavor profile we omnivores happen to find quite delicious. Without searing, meat dishes can taste flat and boring. Admittedly, searing isn't strictly necessary for the cooking process.

Do you have to brown lamb before cooking? ›

If you have an extra 10 minutes, it's often worth browning the meat before slow cooking it. Browning or searing the meat in a hot pan caramelises its surface, which can give the final dish a richer, deeper flavour and colour. The high temperatures also help to render the fat on the surface of your lamb.

Do you bake lamb chops covered or uncovered? ›

Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  2. Cut away excess fat from lamb chops (some fat does add flavor). Coat each chop lightly in olive oil. ...
  3. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. ...
  4. Remove from the oven and cover tightly with foil; let rest for 8 to 10 minutes.

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