Organic whole rack of honeyed lamb with a cider and herb gravy
An impressive cut fit for a Christmas feast. There are a few cuts of meat that deserve centre stage at a Christmas dinner and organic whole rack of lamb is most definitely one of them. Visually stunning, it's also richly flavoured and as tender as can be, with a buttery soft texture. Cut from the 'best end' of the neck, each seven-rib rack is delicately marbled and benefits from a good layer of superficial fat that ensures succulence. This recipe marries the rich flavouring of lamb meat with sweet honey, dry cider and a subtle herby finish.
Organic whole rack of honeyed lamb with a cider and herb gravy
An impressive cut fit for a Christmas feast. There are a few cuts of meat that deserve centre stage at a Christmas dinner and organic whole rack of lamb is most definitely one of them. Visually stunning, it's also richly flavoured and as tender as can be, with a buttery soft texture. Cut from the 'best end' of the neck, each seven-rib rack is delicately marbled and benefits from a good layer of superficial fat that ensures succulence. This recipe marries the rich flavouring of lamb meat with sweet honey, dry cider and a subtle herby finish.
- Serves: 4
- Prepare: 30 Minutes
- Cook: 3 Hours
- Difficulty: medium
WHO ARE THE ORGANIC BUTCHERY?
Starting life as an organic farm in the heart of the West Country, The Organic Butchery is proudly founded on a long history of organic principles. We source the best quality organic grass-fed and wild meats, sustainable fish and organic free-range poultry from trusted local suppliers and like-minded brands to guarantee the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental stewardship. Our mission is to approach butchery with a whole-carcass perspective, to make the most of every animal that crosses our blocks, which means we offer you cuts that you will never see on the supermarket shelves.
WHAT IS ORGANIC LAMB?
All of our organic lamb comes from free-range animals born and reared in our lush, sustainable West Country pastures. Many lambs are grown quickly, fed on grain to ‘finish’ them at speed, we believe that it’s better for animals to grow at the rate nature intended and lead active lives.
Ingredients
- 2 x organic whole rack of lamb
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- salt and black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil and an additional 2 tsp of olive oil
- 125g honey
- 450ml dry cider
- 2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp grated lemon zest
- 25g plain flour
Method
1. Rub the lamb racks with the olive oil, crushed garlic and season with salt and black pepper. Set aside the lamb racks and allow to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes
2. Meanwhile combine the honey, cider, lemon juice and zest in a large heat-proof bowl and place in a warm place, such as the oven top. This will loosen the honey into the cider and lemon mix
3. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Over a medium-high heat, heat a cast-iron skillet pan until hot, add the remaining olive oil. Place one rack of organic lamb, fat side down into the pan and sear until golden brown, this should take about 4 minutes. Flip the rack over and brown the other side, as well as quickly searing the ends too. Transfer the browned lamb to a plate and repeat the browning process with the second rack of lamb
4. On a large baking tray lined with enough foil to make shallow sides, arrange the racks of lamb, bones facing up and interlinked. Pour the honey and cider mix over the lamb racks and sprinkle over the chopped fresh thyme. Transfer the baking tray to the preheated oven
5. Roast the lamb for 8 minutes for very pink, 17-20 minutes for medium and 25 minutes for well done. Remove the lamb racks from the oven, transfer the lamb to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10 minutes
6. For the gravy, pour off the juices that have collected in the foil into a small saucepan, leave to stand for 5 minutes then skim off any fat from the surface. In a mixing bowl blend the flour with 4 Tbsp of the meat juices, then stir back into the saucepan, bring to the boil, making sure to stir continuously, until the gravy has thickened and has a smooth consistency, season with salt and pepper
7. Slice between the lamb bones, into individual chops and serve with goose fat roast potatoes and fresh greens
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WHO ARE THE ORGANIC BUTCHERY?
Starting life as an organic farm in the heart of the West Country, The Organic Butchery is proudly founded on a long history of organic principles. We source the best quality organic grass-fed and wild meats, sustainable fish and organic free-range poultry from trusted local suppliers and like-minded brands to guarantee the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental stewardship. Our mission is to approach butchery with a whole-carcass perspective, to make the most of every animal that crosses our blocks, which means we offer you cuts that you will never see on the supermarket shelves.
WHAT IS ORGANIC LAMB?
All of our organic lamb comes from free-range animals born and reared in our lush, sustainable West Country pastures. Many lambs are grown quickly, fed on grain to ‘finish’ them at speed, we believe that it’s better for animals to grow at the rate nature intended and lead active lives.
Frequently asked questions
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A portion of grass fed lamb has a slightly higher calorie content than grass fed beef, but has more health promoting omega 3 fatty acids. Lamb also has less marbling of fat than beef and when you trim the fat around the edges after cooking, lamb is a lean cut of meat.
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Our lambs are sourced from local farms and thrive on a diet of grass as well as clover and herbs.
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Organic lamb has to be certified by an approved organic body to a number of set organic standards. These include the space that an organic lamb animal has to graze, the way that it’s food is grown, without the use of pesticides and or unapproved fertilisers. The standards for organic lamb also cover use of medicines and other points that improve the welfare and conditions throughout the life of the animal and on through slaughter and butchery.