Icelandic Lamb Loins
- 3 pounds boned Icelandic lamb loins (about 3 ounces each) and tenderloins (1 to 2 ounces each); see note
- 1 bottle pinot noir or other full-bodied red wine
- 1 medium carrot, trimmed, peeled and chopped coarsely
- 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped coarsely
- 1 celery rib, trimmed and chopped coarsely
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- 1 6 1/2-ounce container D'Artagnan Rich Duck and Veal Stock
- Demi-Glace (see note)
- 2 large sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons peanut or corn oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 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).
lamb loins, red wine, carrot, onion, celery, garlic, stock, rosemary, peanut, salt, unsalted butter
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/8931 (may not work)