Home >Recipes >Pan Roast Lamb Chops with Fennel Spice Rub

Serves: 2

• 1 lb single rib lamb chops, “frenched to the eye bone”
• 2 tsp fennel spice rub
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup low salt chicken broth
• 1 tbsp Italian parsley, chopped fine
• gray salt and fresh cracked black pepper

• Fennel Spice Rub:
• 1/4 cup fennel seeds
• 1 tbsp coriander seeds
• 1 tbsp peppercorns
• 1-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) pure California chili powder
• 2 tbsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Preheat oven to 400°F. Season the lamb with the fennel spice, salt and black pepper. Heat two tbsp of the oil to smoking in a large sauté pan. Carefully lay the chops in the hot oil and cook until golden brown, then turn over and continue to cook for a minute or so. Transfer to a baking tray and reserve. Pour off any residual fat in the pan. Deglaze the pan with the wine and reduce until one quarter of the volume remains.

Add the stock and continue to simmer until half the volume remains and the pan sauce is slightly thickened. Swirl in the butter. Season the pan sauce to taste with gray salt and pepper. Reheat the lamb chops in the oven and in the meantime add the parsley to the sauce. Arrange the lamb chops on a large dish or serving platter. Spoon the sauce over the lamb chops. Serve immediately.

For the Fennel Spice Rub:

Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool. Put in a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.