Confession:  In this day and age of tech-accessible everything, I still love cooking magazines (I’ve spoken previously of this addiction).  Sure, I regularly pull recipes off of Pinterest, out of hard copy cookbooks (that’s for another post, for sure), or from friends & family, but I am a sucker for flipping through a magazine, even if I do it now on my tablet. Seeing the food pop off of the pages, beckoning me to run out and buy ingredients for the delicious recipe described in beautiful detail, is one of those goofy little joys of mine.  I know, I need a hobby.  But this time around, this is one of those recipes.

We love lamb.  When done properly, it is rich, flavorful, and truly is easier than some other proteins out there.  A little salt & pepper, and the natural flavors are enhanced perfectly.  It feels like a splurge whenever we have it, and while sometimes that is the case depending on where you are buying the lamb, it is a splurge well-worth the extra pennies if you can spare them.

When I saw this recipe in a recent Cooking Light (January, 2015), I immediately added the ingredients to my shopping list.  The farro adds a nice, meaty, chewy element to the crispness of the peppery arugula.  And the citrus of the lemon incorporated with all of those other ingredients?  Done.

While this was a midweek dinner for the 2 of us, it could easily be served for a dinner party, or as a fancy appetizer.  Either way, it is delicious, and is being added to our favorites immediately.

Lamb Chops w/ Farro & Lemon Vinaigrette
Lamb Chops with Farro & Arugula
Print Recipe
Like most proteins out there, a little salt, pepper and olive oil can be all you need to make a flavorful (and healthy!) meal. Lamb is loaded with nutrients, and can be sourced locally in many parts of the country. De-lish!
Servings Prep Time
4 people 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Lamb Chops w/ Farro & Lemon Vinaigrette
Lamb Chops with Farro & Arugula
Print Recipe
Like most proteins out there, a little salt, pepper and olive oil can be all you need to make a flavorful (and healthy!) meal. Lamb is loaded with nutrients, and can be sourced locally in many parts of the country. De-lish!
Servings Prep Time
4 people 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Heat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Spray with cooking spray.
  2. Sprinkle both sides of lamb chops with 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper.
    Seasoned Lamb Chops
  3. Add lamb chops to grill or grill pan; cook for 5 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and allow lamb to rest for 5 minutes (the lamb will continue to cook as it rests).
    Grilling lamb chops
  4. Cook farro according to package instructions. Drain and allow to cool slightly.
  5. Combine remaining salt & pepper and remaining 6 ingredients (through thyme) in small bowl. Whisk to combine the vinaigrette.
    Lemon vinaigrette
  6. Layer arugula & farro in shallow bowl. Add half of the dressing and toss to coat.
    Farro & arugula
  7. Divide arugula & farro on plates and serve topped with lamb chops. Drizzle with remaining vinaigrette.
    Lamb over farro & argula
Recipe Notes

A few notes:

1. Farro is a grain, and can be found in the grocery aisle with items like rice, quinoa and other grains.  It's great in salads or as an alternative to rice in many recipes.

2. In this recipe, I used 2 different cuts of lamb chops to determine which one was better for this recipe.  In my (OK, our--my husband had a vote, too) opinion, we liked the lollipop chops better than the alternative cut.  It had better flavor and grilled more evenly.

3. In the winter months when the idea of hanging around outside next to the grill is not on the top of your to-do list, a grill pan works like a charm.  I LOVE my Staub grill pan.  We use it for everything under the sun when the sun is actually hiding.  You can get yours by clicking on the link here or to the right of this post.

Share this Recipe
Powered byWP Ultimate Recipe
Add to Favourites