I think I talk about how I dislike going out to eat on Valentine’s Day every year. I don’t like how every menu suddenly becomes a prix-fixed meal. Boo to no choices. If the boyfriend and I do decide to go out for a Valentine’s Day meal, we tend to go on the 13th or 15th, just to avoid the prix-fixed. We’re freaks, we know. One of our favorite things to do on Valentine’s Day is cook together. We love getting in the kitchen together with a bottle of wine (which for us really means me with a bottle of bubbles and him with his craft beers), splitting up tasks, and listening to weird podcast stories while we make a mess in the kitchen. It’s perfection, really.
This year we’re keeping things exciting, delicious and super simple. We’re making these garlic-anchovy roasted lamb chops with…wait for it….a castelvetrano and sage browned butter sauce!! We love how easy it is to cook up lamb chops and the tremendous amount of flavor you get from them. I’m also a sucker for anchovies, and I especially love using them in sauces, vinaigrettes, rubs, etc. because you get a great briny flavor from them when they’re used that way, that doesn’t scream “fishy”. The olive and sage browned butter sauce is to add a layer of decadence to the dish without filling your belly up too much, like a buttery mash of sorts would do. We love to serve this with a simple watercress or arugula salad because we like how the bitter greens cut through the richness of this lamb dish, creating quite a nice balance.
Enjoy!
xx, Jenny
Here are some other lamb recipes you might like:
Garlic and Anchovy Roasted Lamb Chops with a Castelvetrano + Sage Browned Butter Sauce
INGREDIENTS
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 anchovy fillets, minced
- 1 teaspoon anchovy oil
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 6 American Lamb Chops, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter
- 10 castelvetrano olives, pitted and chopped
- 8 fresh sage leaves
- salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 375˚F.
- Place garlic, anchovies, anchovy oil, and black pepper in a small bowl and whisk together.
- Lightly season lamb chops with salt and pepper.
- Brush garlic-anchovy mixture over each chop, on both sides.
- Pour olive oil into a large sauté pan and place over medium-high heat.
- Sear each chop in the pan for 2 to 3 minutes, on each side, and transfer to a roasting pan.
- Roast lamb chops for about 13 to 15 minutes for medium-rare, and 15 to 18 minutes for medium doneness. Remove from the oven and allow chops to rest for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Using the same pan you used to sear the chops, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Allow butter to cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until butter has melted and begins to foam and brown. Add olives and sage leaves and gently fry for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove mixture from the heat. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer chops onto a serving dish/platter and pour butter sauce over chops. Serve immediately.
Did you make this recipe? We want to see!
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Would this work for pork chops? If so, what would you recommend for adjusted cooking time, if any? Thanks!
my wife and I raise lambs, thanks for this, we are always looking for new recipes to enjoy… Thank you
These look great and I’m making them tonight for dinner (I can’t wait for Valentine’s Day, these look too yummy). However I just wanted to point out that the ingredients list has lamb chops twice. The first line says 6 American Lamb chops, and the sixth line down days 6 lamb chops, room temperature.
Thanks for letting us know! Hope you enjoy!
We’re not fans of going out to a fancy dinner on Valentine’s Day either. Every year we make pizza at home! It’s so fun to make your own dough and get creative with the toppings. This lamb recipe looks incredible…love the addition of sage!
I love the flavor of browned butter and sage. I fell in love it the first time I had it with tortelli di zucca. Most places don’t brown the butter enough or fry the sage enough though. All the more reasons to make something like this at home! Thanks for sharing!
I love the sound of your V-day. That’s how I plan to do it someday.I have never made lamb chops but this recipe looks so amazing that I’m dying to try them now!