Fennel-Crusted Grilled Rack of Lamb
Photo by Iain Bagwell; written by Elaine Johnson
Fennel seeds and rosemary perfume every bite of this tenderest of cuts. You can also roast the lamb in a 450° oven (meat side up) until it reaches an internal temperature of 140°, about 25 minutes. Paired with grilled asparagus and long-simmered white beans, it makes an Easter-worthy dinner.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Crush fennel seeds, rosemary, and garlic with salt in a mortar, or chop as finely as possible. Mix with pepper and oil.
Step 2
2
Slather lamb with marinade. Chill, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
Step 3
3
Take lamb out of refrigerator 1 hour before grilling. Wrap bone ends with foil.
Step 4
4
Heat a grill to medium-high (400°) with one area left clear of coals (for charcoal) or a burner turned off (for gas) to make an indirect heat area. Grill lamb, meat side down, over indirect heat 5 minutes. Turn over and grill 10 minutes. Turn again; grill 10 minutes more. Move lamb to direct heat, meat side down, and grill 3 to 5 minutes, or until it's crisp and browned and registers 140° (for medium-rare).
Step 5
5
Let lamb rest on a platter 15 minutes. Cut between the bones to serve.
Step 6
6
*Leave the barest sheath of fat on the meat--enough to crisp up on the grill but not so much that the dripping fat creates an inferno.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
3 large garlic cloves
1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 racks American lamb (7 to 8 ribs each), bone ends frenched and all but a thin layer of outer fat removed*
Directions
Step 1
1
Crush fennel seeds, rosemary, and garlic with salt in a mortar, or chop as finely as possible. Mix with pepper and oil.
Step 2
2
Slather lamb with marinade. Chill, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
Step 3
3
Take lamb out of refrigerator 1 hour before grilling. Wrap bone ends with foil.
Step 4
4
Heat a grill to medium-high (400°) with one area left clear of coals (for charcoal) or a burner turned off (for gas) to make an indirect heat area. Grill lamb, meat side down, over indirect heat 5 minutes. Turn over and grill 10 minutes. Turn again; grill 10 minutes more. Move lamb to direct heat, meat side down, and grill 3 to 5 minutes, or until it's crisp and browned and registers 140° (for medium-rare).
Step 5
5
Let lamb rest on a platter 15 minutes. Cut between the bones to serve.
Step 6
6
*Leave the barest sheath of fat on the meat--enough to crisp up on the grill but not so much that the dripping fat creates an inferno.
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