Serves4
- Active time:30 min
- Start to finish:1 1/4 hr
Richard Bertinet, The Bertinet Kitchen, Bath, England
October 2009
-
1/2
cup
hazelnuts or blanched almonds
-
2
(8-rib) frenched racks of lamb (each rack 11/2 lb), trimmed of all fat
-
2
teaspoon
olive oil
-
1
cup
coarse fresh breadcrumbs (from 1 to 2 slices day-old bread)
-
1/2
cup
chopped flat-leaf parsley
-
2
tablespoons
chopped sage
-
2
tablespoons
chopped thyme
-
1/4
cup
heavy cream
-
2
tablespoons
Dijon mustard
-
1
large egg
-
Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.
-
If using hazelnuts, toast on a small baking pan in oven until skins are loose and nuts are golden and fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Wrap nuts in a kitchen towel and let steam 10 minutes, then rub through towel to loosen skins. Open towel carefully on a work surface and roll nuts away from skins, discarding skins.
-
Meanwhile, heat a dry 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until hot, at least 2 minutes. Pat lamb dry and rub meat all over with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper, then rub all over with oil. Brown lamb on all sides in hot skillet, about 10 minutes total. Transfer lamb to a 13- by 9-inch roasting pan and reserve.
-
Pulse nuts in a food processor with bread crumbs and herbs until finely ground.
-
Whisk together cream, mustard, and egg, then add to food processor with nut mixture and purée until it forms a paste. Coat meaty parts of lamb thickly with herb mixture, pressing to help it adhere.
-
Roast lamb until an instant-read thermometer inserted diagonally into center of meat registers 120°F, about 20 minutes. Let stand, covered, 10 minutes (internal temperature will rise to 125 to 130°F for medium-rare).
-
Cut each rack in half to serve.