Ingredients
For the brine
- 5 cups hot water
- ½ cup kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pink curing salt
- 5 lb rack of lamb approx. 8 chops
For the lamb spice rub
- ¼ cup coriander seeds
- ¼ cup fennel seeds
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- ½ tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 whole clove
- ½ tablespoon chile flakes
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the chermoula
- 2 bunches cilantro
- Kosher salt to taste
- 2 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
For the yogurt sauce
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 clove garlic grated
- Juice from ½ lemon
- 7-10 mint leaves finely chopped
- 1 cucumber grated and strained
- 1 tablespoon dill finely chopped
- Kosher salt to taste
For the honey glaze
- 3 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Method
Brine the lamb
- Pour hot water into a container large enough to hold the lamb. Add kosher and pink salt, stir to dissolve, then chill with ice and refrigerate.
- Once cooled, add the lamb to the brine and refrigerate overnight (minimum 12 hours).
Spice the lamb
- The next day, grind each spice separately using a spice grinder, then combine into a mix.
- Remove lamb from brine, pat dry, arrange on a baking sheet, and coat generously with the spice mixture on both sides.
- Refrigerate uncovered for another 12 hours.
Make the chermoula
- Pulse cilantro and a pinch of salt in a mini processor.
- Add vinegar, fish sauce, and olive oil. Blend until smooth.
- Season with kosher salt to taste.
Make the honey glaze
- Stir together honey and white wine vinegar until well combined.
Make the yogurt sauce
- Marinate grated garlic in lemon juice for 10–15 minutes.
- Combine with Greek yogurt, chopped mint, dill, and strained cucumber.
- Season with kosher salt to taste.
Roast the lamb
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Place a wire rack over a sheet pan and pour ¾ cup water in the bottom.
- Place lamb on rack, cover with foil, and roast for 2.5 hours.
- Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and cut between bones into 2-chop sections.
Finish under the broiler
- Preheat broiler. Place chops meat-side up on a sheet pan.
- Brush with honey glaze and broil for 3 minutes. Flip, glaze again, and broil another 3 minutes.
Plate
- Spoon yogurt sauce onto each plate.
- Top with 2–3 lamb chops, then spoon chermoula over the top.
