American Lamb Loin Chops with Lemony Mint Salad

Recipe by 

"Homemade"

Prep Time

15 MIN

Cook Time

30 min

Total Time

45 min

Servings

4

Sheet pan American lamb fajitas served on a warm tortilla with sautéed peppers and onions, sliced lamb, avocado, jalapeños, cilantro, and crumbled cheese, with lime wedges on the side.

Ingredients

For the lamb: 

● 4 American lamb loin chops (about 1–1½ inches thick)

● Salt and black pepper

● 1 tsp high heat oil, for pan sear 

For the baste: 

● 2 Tbsp butter

● 2 cloves garlic, finely grated

● 2 tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped

● Zest of 1 lemon 

For the salad:

● 3-4 cups arugula or mixed greens

● ½ cup fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced or torn

● ¼ cup parsley leaves

● ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced

● 1 cup snap peas, halved on the bias

● 1 small cucumber, shaved or thinly sliced 

For the lemon dressing:

● 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

● 1 tsp Dijon mustard

● 1 tsp honey

● 3 Tbsp olive oil

● Salt and black pepper to taste 

Directions

1. Season chops:
Pat American lamb chops dry and season generously on each side with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 30–45 minutes.     

2. Bake chops:
Preheat the oven to 250°F. Place lamb chops on a rimmed sheet tray. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 115–120°F. This will take about 15-20 minutes depending on thickness. It’s ok that they aren’t fully cooked yet! The sear will finish off the cooking.     

3. Make salad:
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine mixed greens or arugula, mint, parsley, red onion, snap peas, and cucumber.    In a separate bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, Dijon, honey, salt, pepper. Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking to emulsify the dressing. Toss the salad lightly with the dressing just before serving.                                 

4. Sear lamb:
Heat a cast iron pan over high heat until very hot. Add oil to the pan and sear chops for 1–2 minutes per side until deeply browned. Turn down the heat to medium and add the butter in the center of the pan and let it melt. Into the melted butter add the garlic, lemon zest, and rosemary. Swirl to infuse the butter and baste the chops a few times to give them more flavor. 

5. Rest and serve:
Let chops rest for 5 minutes. Internal temp should rise to 125–130°F for medium-rare. Plate lamb chops alongside or over the lemony mint salad. Spoon any pan juices over the meat and finish with an extra squeeze of lemon if desired. 

USDA recommends the following time and temperature parameters

Ground Lamb

Internal temperature of 160°F

All Other Cuts

Internal temperature of 145°F, with a 3 minute rest

thermometer timer illustration

How to Cook American Lamb

Visit our Lamb Cooking Time & Temperature page for recipe inspiration and tips on preparing the perfect lamb.
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