Icelandic Lamb Loins Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• On a large cutting surface, lay out lamb, cut side up so that it folds open. Sprinkle the inside with salt and Essence. Place a rosemary stalk inside. Tie lamb up with another rosemary stalk so that it is rolled and secure. Season the outside of the lamb with more salt, and the coriander and cumin.
• In large saute pan over high heat, add olive oil and heat until hot, but not smoking. Add lamb and sear, on all sides until golden brown, about 5 minutes, being careful not to let the rosemary burn. Transfer to oven and continue cooking for another 20 minutes, or until medium rare. Remove from oven and set aside for 10 minutes while preparing couscous.
• Slice into 1-inch pieces. Serve atop couscous.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William Morrow, 1993.
• In a large bowl, combine the couscous and salt. Pour the boiling water over the mixture, cover, and let stand until the water is absorbed and the couscous is puffed, about 6 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork. Add the pistachios, mint, and oil. Adjust seasoning, to taste. Serve hot.

Steps:

• One hour before you are ready to cook the lamb, remove it from the refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, in a 3-quart nonreactive shallow saucepan, bring the wine to a boil. With a long match, ignite the wine and boil for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the flame subsides and the alcohol evaporates. Add the carrot, onion, celery and garlic; cook at a low boil for about 10 minutes, or until reduced by half. Add the demi-glace and simmer about 15 minutes, or until reduced by half. Remove the pan from the heat; add the rosemary to steep and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil. When the oil begins to shimmer, add about half the loins and brown about 1 minute on each side. (Do not overcrowd the meat.) Season with salt and pepper and set aside. Repeat with the remaining loins.
• Return all the loins to the skillet and transfer it to the oven. Roast the loins for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the meat is firm to the touch and an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part registers 120 degrees. Transfer the loins to a platter, cover loosely with foil and let stand 5 minutes. (The temperature will reach 125 to 130 degrees for medium rare.)
• Wipe out the skillet. Brown the tenderloins in batches with the remaining tablespoon of oil for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side for medium rare.
• Add any juices from the meat to the reserved sauce. Strain it into a bowl through a fine sieve, pressing the vegetables with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Wipe out the saucepan, add the strained sauce and return to a simmer. Whisk in the butter until melted. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper. (Makes about 1 cup.)
• Slice the loins on the bias and the tenderloins into thirds. Divide among 6 plates, nap with sauce and serve with Roasted Tomatoes and Summer Peas (see recipes).