Mains

Lamb Chops with POM Wonderful Sauce

Move over mint sauce! These POM Wonderful pomegranates hold their own as the perfect accompaniment to this tender lamb.

Serves 4.
Prep Time: 20 minutes.
Cooking Time: 22-23 minutes.

Ingredients

• Juice from 2-3 large POM Wonderful pomegranates
• 1/2 cup finely chopped Dutch carrots
• 1/2 cup finely chopped brown onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced, or 1 1/2 tsp pre-minced garlic
• 1 tbsp olive or vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup beef or vegetable stock
• 175g tomato paste
• 1 tsp crushed dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp crushed dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 lamb loin or rib chops, cut 3/4 inch thick
• Hot cooked pasta (optional)
• 1/4 cup arils from 1 large Wonderful pomegranate to garnish (optional)

Cooking Instructions

• Prepare garnish: Score 1 fresh pomegranate and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranate underwater to free the arils. The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the arils from the fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for other uses.)
• Prepare fresh pomegranate juice: For 1 cup of juice, cut 2 large pomegranates in half and juice them with a citrus reamer or a juicer. Pour mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or sieve. Set the juice aside.
• Heat oil in medium pan. Sauté carrots, onions and garlic in hot oil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in pomegranate juice, stock, tomato paste, thyme and rosemary. Bring mixture to the boil then reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Remove from heat; cover and keep warm.
• Preheat griller.
• Season chops with salt and pepper; arrange chops on griller tray and grill 10cm from heat for 7-8 minutes for medium-rare, turning once.
• Arrange chops over a platter or hot cooked pasta, if desired. Spoon some of the sauce over chops; garnish with reserved arils.