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Zucchini, pea and mint salad with spiced lamb ribs

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Serves 8
Cooking Time Prep time 45 mins, cook 3 hrs (plus marinating, cooling)
2 racks   lamb belly ribs (about 950gm each), skin and some fat removed
140 gm (½ cup)   thick plain yoghurt
Juice   of 1 lime
2 tbsp   ras el hanout (see note)
1 tbsp   extra-virgin olive oil
To serve:   lime halves
Harissa
80 ml (1/3 cup)   olive oil
1   small onion, finely chopped
2   garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tbsp   tomato paste
2 tbsp each   coriander seeds and cumin seeds
1 tbsp   caraway seeds
250 gm   long red chillies, coarsely chopped
1 tbsp   smoked paprika
Zucchini, pea and mint salad
2 tbsp   olive oil
1 tbsp   lemon juice
1   garlic clove, crushed
3   zucchini, thinly sliced lengthways on a mandolin
200 gm   podded peas (about 500gm unpodded)
2 cups   (loosely packed) mint


1 Place lamb ribs in a non-reactive container. Combine yoghurt, lime, ras el hanout and oil in a bowl, season to taste, spoon over ribs, rub into lamb, cover and refrigerate for flavours to develop (overnight).
2 Preheat oven to 150C. Place ribs on oven trays lined with baking paper, top with a sheet of baking paper then a sheet of foil and roast until very tender (2½-3 hours). Cut into single-rib portions.
3 Meanwhile, for harissa, heat half the oil in a saucepan over medium heat, add onion and garlic, stir occasionally until tender (10-15 minutes), add tomato paste and stir until paste darkens (2-3 minutes). Meanwhile, dry-roast coriander and cumin seeds (30 seconds-1 minute), transfer to a mortar and pestle, pound until finely ground and set aside. Dry-roast caraway seeds (30 seconds) and set aside. Add chilli, coriander, cumin and caraway seeds to onion mixture, stir to combine, reduce heat to low, simmer until chillies are tender (20-25 minutes), adding a little water if necessary to prevent scorching, then cool to room temperature. Transfer to a food processor, add paprika and remaining oil, process until smooth and season to taste. Harissa will keep refrigerated in a sterile jar for 2 months. Makes 1½ cups.
4 For zucchini, pea and mint salad, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and 1 tbsp harissa in a large bowl and season to taste. Add zucchini, toss to coat and set aside for flavours to develop (15 minutes). Meanwhile, blanch peas until bright green (1-2 minutes), drain, refresh and drain well. Add to zucchini mixture with mint and toss to combine. Serve with ribs, lime halves and extra harissa.

Note Ras el hanout is a Moroccan spice blend containing up to 50 spices; it’s available from Herbie’s Spices and select delicatessens.

This recipe is from the October 2012 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller.

RECIPE Tom Walton, The Bucket List, Bondi, NSW PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem STYLING Lucy Weight


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