Rack of Lamb with Goat Cheese Crust

(Serves 4)

Ingredients

• GOAT CHEESE CRUST:
• ½ C fresh goat cheese (softened)
• ¼ C fresh breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary
• 1 lge egg yolk, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp salt
• generous heaped tbsps of pecorino romano (firm ewe’s milk cheese)
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• LAMB:
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 x 8 chop rack of lamb, trimmed and frenched (have the butcher do this)
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 sprigs of rosemary for garnish

Method

Preheat the oven to 235°C.

For the goat cheese crust, place the cheese, one tablespoon of the breadcrumbs, the garlic, rosemary, egg yolk and salt together in a small bowl and blend.

Combine the remaining breadcrumbs, the pecorino and pepper in another small bowl. Set aside.

Rub the oil over the meat and season with salt and pepper. Place the lamb on a rack in a shallow baking pan and broil each side for five minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 40°C. Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 210°C.

Coat the top of the rack of lamb with the cheese mixture. Pat the breadcrumb mixture over this, pressing slightly so that it sticks.

Return to a lower rack in the oven and cook for 20 minutes or until medium rare. If a more browned crust is desired, place it under the grill for a few minutes. Remove from the oven and let it rest for three minutes.

Serve two chops, garnished with the rosemary, per person.