Lamb chops and Strawberry Salad with Honey-Mint vinaigrette.

I love lamb, my favorite , lamb chops. I like about them that they are so small that I can have like ten by myself. They can be serve as little and cute appetizers , one by one, or as a beautiful and rich entree with vegetables or a salad.

Some times when I buy lamb , the smell of the uncooked meat s already very strong, in those occasions I like to marinate it all night with balsamic vinegar or wine and spices; but this time, the meat was so fresh, that I wanted to  exalt the flavor as much as possible. So it was only marinated for a couple of hours in a mixture of olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, dry oregano, and dry rosemary.

The Salad, one of my favorites is a lettuce mix with strawberries, candied pecans, and  goat cheese with a mint and honey vinaigrette.

 Ingredients ( for a small dinner for two) :

6  - 7  lamb chops about half an inch thick.
1 tbsp. olive oil.
1 tsp. dry oregano
1 tsp. dry rosemary
salt and pepper
Spring mix lettuce.
strawberries
candied pecans
goat cheese
2 tbsp. chopped mint
1 tsp. mustard
1 tsp. honey
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 tbsp. olive oil.


Instructions:

For the chops, preheat the oven to 400F.
Heat an oven proof  Skillet in medium high (if you dont have an oven proof skillet, preheat in the ovean a cookie sheet with foil.

Season the chops with salt and pepper. When the skillet is really hot, put a little oil in there and accommodate the chops. don't lete them touch each other. We want them brown on each side. Don't move them!!.Let them caramelize.

After browning on both sides, throw them in the oven for 4-5 min. They should look something like this.

For the salad, mix, the mustard, mint, honey, vinegar, and olive oil to make a vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper.

In a bowl mix the lettuce, strawberries, candied pecans and goat cheese. Add the vinaigrette and done!!

The meat is supposed to be pink on the inside, the flavor was great rich and tender . The strawberry salad is a nice complement with its sweetness and acidity to the richness of the meat ........they are very good!!!