Mint Chimichurri Lamb Chops

Name: Mint Chimichurri Lamb Chops
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1/2 cup mint leaves; 1/2 cup parsley leaves; 2 large cloves garlic; 1/4 cup tarragon leaves; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 lemon (zested and juiced); 1/2 cup olive oil; 8 lamb chops (about 1 1/2-2" thick); 1-2 large zucchini (sliced in 1/2" thick slices on a bias); 1-2 large squash (sliced in 1/2" thick slices on a bias); 1-2 large sweet peppers (stem, seeds and ribs removed, cut into quarters); 1/4 cup mint leaves (finely minced); 1/4 cup parsley leaves (finely minced); 2 tablespoons tarragon leaves (finely minced); 1 medium shallot (finely minced); 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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Looking for delicious grilled lamb recipes for Spring? Mint, tarragon and parsley are the basis for the grilled lamb marinade and a tangy, bright mint chimichurri finishes the grilled lamb loin chops. This is an easy, healthy and satisfying low-carb, paleo meal. Mint Chimichurri Lamb Chops are great for weekend grilling and entertaining.

Lamb is arguably one of the foods most associated with Spring… I mean, yes, there’s asparagus and baby lettuces, not to mention the first crop of strawberries, but to me, lamb is like Spring with an exclamation point at the end. My favorite preparation will always be a whole leg of lamb, but since there’s only two of us, those occasions are few and far between. So the next best thing are lamb chops with a bright, fresh herbal sauce. Mint Chimichurri Lamb Chops are here… Fire up the grill.

I love lamb. In my family we would always fix a leg of lamb at Christmas and Easter, thus it became synonymous with “special occasion” food to feed a crowd. They would roast it with lots of garlic and fresh herbs and serve it with au jus or gravy made from the drippings.

Being empty nesters, a whole leg of lamb would overwhelm Scott and I, so I scale it back to a couple of lamb chops. And actually, I think I like this better because it’s not a whole roast — and everyone gets a bone to nibble on! (By nibble, I mean two hands and a disturbingly aggressive intent to glean every last morsel from the bone.)

The recipe for the marinade is perfect for 2 lamb chops or 12, so use as many as you need… but because the marinade is primarily fresh herbs, it has a short shelf life — a day or so.

Coat the lamb with the marinade and let it rest to absorb the flavors.

I thought grilled vegetables would be a nice accompaniment for the lamb. I used fresh squash, zucchini and sweet peppers, but sliced eggplant, red onions or thick slices of par-cooked sweet potato would be great with these grilled lamb loin chops. The marinade adds a fresh flavor while the tantalizing char and slight smokiness from the grill will take the veg to another level of flavor. In other words, Yum! 😛

The penultimate for this grilled lamb recipe is the mint chimichurri. It’s chunky and vibrant, the ideal condiment for dunking a seared piece of lamb. The mint chimichurri is a chunky blend of mint, tarragon and parsley with finely minced shallots, red pepper flakes, red wine vinegar and olive oil. Don’t forget the salt and pepper. A quick whisk and the the chimichurri is done.

Full Disclosure: Scott is my grill-master, but he gives me the 4-1-1 on temperatures and timing. We have a Weber Genesis gas grill and it’s a workhorse, but if you don’t have one, these chops can be made in a grill pan.

The vegetables will take between 10-12 minutes on a hot grill (425°-450°). Depending on how thick your chops are, figure 10-15 minutes for medium rare.

With the exception of the marinating time, this is a pretty quick meal to make. Quicker if you have a grill-master and can split the tasks like we do. While Scott handles the meat and veg, I assemble the mint chimichurri. We didn’t even have time to finish a glass of wine while we were prepping the meal — that’s fast!

Grilled lamb loin chops and tender grilled vegetables are always a treat, but when they’re paired with that herbaceous grilled lamb marinade and the spiky mint chimichurri, these simple ingredients really shine. Pair with a fruity Shiraz or chilled sparkling rosé for a light, delicious Spring or Summer meal.

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