Slow Roasted Rack of Lamb, Wild Mushroom Fricassee & Chestnut-Sage Gremolata

Lamb

• 2 ea – rack of lamb – trimmed of sinew
• kosher salt
• fresh cracked pepper
• olive oil

Fricassee

• 8oz assorted wild mushrooms
• 1 shallot
• 2 cloves of fresh garlic – peeled
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme
• 2 cups crème fraîche
• 1 cups grated parmesan

Gremolata

• 1 cups roasted and peeled chestnuts
• 1 shallot
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 bunch fresh sage
• 2 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup olive oil
• kosher salt
• fresh cracked pepper

Lamb

• Preheat oven to 400° F
• Heat a well seasoned cast iron skillet over high heat until hot, then add a teaspoon of oil, tilting skillet to coat evenly. Season lamb well with salt & pepper, then brown, turning once, about 6 minutes total.
• Transfer skillet to middle of oven and roast lamb until an instant-read thermometer inserted diagonally into center registers 125° F, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate and cover tightly with foil.

Fricassee

• Clean mushrooms by brushing off any dirt, mince shallot and garlic and toss with the mushrooms and ¼ cup olive oil, add thyme and mix well.
• Roast on a baking sheet in oven for 8 minutes at 400°.
• Remove from oven, and while still hot, add to a bowl, fold in parmesan and creme fraiche.
• Season with salt & pepper.

Gremolata

• Quarter the chestnuts.
• Separate sage leaves from bunch.
• Mince shallot and garlic.
• In a sauté pan over medium high heat, add butter and melt until it starts to brown, add chestnuts, shallots and garlic and cook for two minutes. Remove chestnuts from pan.
• Place pan back on heat, add two table spoons butter and melt until it starts to brown. Add sage leaves and cook for two minutes or unrolled sage leaves are crisp.
• Toss the chestnut mixture, sage leaves and the remaining ingredients in a bowl, season with salt and pepper.

To Serve: Cut the rack of lamb into chops, each with two bones. You can do this by simply cutting between the bones. Spoon the fricassee onto serving platter and place lamb on top. Serve gremolata on the side.