Description
Lamb chops are the luxury cut that takes almost no work — a hot grill, a few minutes per side, and you have something that feels like a restaurant meal. The chimichurri here is a Mediterranean-leaning version heavy on parsley, mint, and lemon rather than the traditional Argentine oregano-forward style. The bright, sharp sauce against the rich, charred lamb is the kind of contrast that makes a plate electric.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 8 lamb loin chops (about 1 1/4 inches thick)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
Instructions
- Make the chimichurri: combine parsley, mint, 1/3 cup olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, 2 cloves garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir well and let sit at least 15 minutes for flavors to meld.
- Remove the lamb chops from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Rub with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper, and 4 cloves minced garlic.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to high heat. Grill the chops 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare (130°F internal), or 5 minutes per side for medium (140°F).
- Let the chops rest 5 minutes off the heat. The internal temperature will rise another 5 degrees.
- Arrange the chops on a platter and spoon chimichurri generously over the top. Serve with extra sauce on the side.
Notes
- Pull the chops from the fridge 30 minutes ahead — room temperature meat sears better and cooks more evenly.
- Medium-rare is the ideal doneness for lamb chops. Cooked beyond medium, the fat in the chop firms up and becomes waxy rather than rich.
- Make the chimichurri at least 15 minutes ahead so the vinegar and oil can soften the herbs and the flavors marry.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 590
- Fat: 40
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 115