Name: Lemon and fennel lamb ribs with pea and mint salad
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 130 min
Total time: 160 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped; 2 tsp fennel seeds; 2 tsp dried mint; 1 tsp dried chilli flakes; Finely grated rind of 2 lemons, juice of 1; 75 ml olive oil; 1.5 kg lamb rib racks (about 2); Pea and mint salad; 120 gm snowpeas, trimmed, cut into julienne; 150 gm sugar snap peas, trimmed; 180 gm podded peas (about 350gm unpodded); 1 cup (loosely packed) mint; 50 gm crème fraîche; Juice of 1 lemon, or to taste; ½ garlic clove, finely chopped; 70 ml olive oil; 2 baby fennel bulbs, thinly shaved on a mandolin and placed in acidulated iced water; 1 cup (loosely packed) pea tendrils (optional)

Lemon and fennel lamb ribs with pea and mint salad

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for lemon and fennel lamb ribs with pea and mint salad.

Serves 4

Prep

30M

Cook

2H 10M

Total

2H 40M

You’ll need to begin this recipe a day ahead.

Ingredients

3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

2 tsp fennel seeds

2 tsp dried mint

1 tsp dried chilli flakes

Finely grated rind of 2 lemons, juice of 1

75 ml olive oil

1.5 kg lamb rib racks (about 2)

Pea and mint salad

120 gm snowpeas, trimmed, cut into julienne

150 gm sugar snap peas, trimmed

180 gm podded peas (about 350gm unpodded)

1 cup (loosely packed) mint

50 gm crème fraîche

Juice of 1 lemon, or to taste

½ garlic clove, finely chopped

70 ml olive oil

2 baby fennel bulbs, thinly shaved on a mandolin and placed in acidulated iced water

1 cup (loosely packed) pea tendrils (optional)

Method

Main

1.Pound garlic, fennel seeds, mint, chilli, lemon rind and 1 tsp sea salt in a mortar and pestle until coarsely ground. Stir in oil and juice, and season to taste with freshly ground black pepper. Place ribs in a non-reactive container, pour marinade over, rub in to coat well, cover and refrigerate overnight to marinate.

2.Preheat oven to 150C. Place ribs on a wire rack in a large roasting pan and roast until very tender (1½-2 hours), then keep warm.

3.For pea and mint salad, blanch peas separately until bright green (1 minute for snowpeas; 1-2 minutes for sugar snap peas; 2-3 minutes for peas) and refresh. Combine in a bowl with mint and refrigerate until required. Whisk crème fraîche, lemon juice, garlic and oil in a bowl, season to taste and set aside. Just before serving, drain fennel, add to peas, add tendrils and half the dressing and toss to combine.

4.Heat a char-grill pan over high heat. Grill lamb, turning occasionally, until charred (3-4 minutes), cut into ribs and serve with pea and mint salad and remaining dressing for drizzling.