Spiced Lamb Skewers With Pomegranate Tzatziki Recipes

Steps:

• Whisk the pomegranate juice and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Add the sugar, honey and mustard and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until thickened to the consistency of barbecue sauce, 6 to 8 minutes. Season to taste. Let cool for 30 minutes. The glaze can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
• Place the lamb chops in a large zipper-top bag. Pour half of the glaze into the bag and let the lamb marinate at room temperature for 1 hour. Reserve the remaining glaze to coat the lamb chops on the grill.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat and liberally oil the grates.
• Take the chops out of the bag and place them on a paper towel-lined tray or plate to wipe off any excess marinade to ensure a nice crust. Season the chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Place the chops on the grill until charred in spots, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip, baste liberally with the glaze and grill for another 3 or 4 minutes or until the internal temperature hits 135 degrees F on a meat thermometer.
• Baste the chops with the glaze again, then remove them from the grill. Coat one side in the chopped pistachios for an added crunch. Serve with a nice schmear of the feta tzatziki and garnish with some fresh mint.
• Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater and place in a fine-mesh strainer or piece of cheesecloth fitted over a bowl. Salt the cucumber and let sit for 10 minutes. Then squeeze out any excess moisture. Put the strained cucumber into a bowl. Add the yogurt, feta, lemon juice, mint, honey and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Mix all the marinade ingredients together until well blended.
• Toss in the lamb, marinade for as long as possible then thread onto 12 skewers.
• Cover well and chill until ready to cook.
• Grill for 7-10 mins turning frequently until cooked but a little pink in the centre.

Steps:

• Prepare a very hot fire (500°F) in a fireplace or a medium-hot fire (425°F) in a wood-fired oven.
• Lay the lamb flat on the work surface with the exterior of the leg on the work surface. With the point of a knife, make several incisions in the lamb and insert a slice of garlic into each incision. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, stir together the parsley, chives, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, minced garlic, and 3 tablespoons of the olive oil.
• Spread the herb mixture evenly over the exposed side of the lamb. Roll and wrap the lamb around the spit and secure with kitchen twine or small metal turkey skewers. Brush the outside of the lamb with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Place the spit 6 to 8 inches from the fire and spit-roast the lamb, using an electric or battery-powered unit to rotate the spit consistently, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the lamb registers 135°F for medium-rare, about 1 hour. Alternatively, put the lamb in a roasting pan and roast in the oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the lamb registers 135°F. Let the meat stand for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with Tzatziki.
• Combine the yogurt and salt in a bowl and stir to blend. Turn into a cheesecloth-lined sieve placed over a bowl and let drain for several hours to remove excess moisture in the yogurt.
• Meanwhile, shred the cucumber to make 1 cup. Spread the shredded cucumber on paper towels and sprinkle lightly with salt. Let drain for 30 minutes. Using paper towels, squeeze out the excess moisture.
• Combine the yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, mint, dill, and olive oil in a bowl. Mix well. Add the lemon juice to taste. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Use now, or within 1 day.