Recipe: Mini Rack of Lamb with Nutty Beluga Lentils and Sautéed Garlic Spinach

Yesterday we reviewed Cooking for Two, by Jessica Strand. This very pretty little book has a small, well-edited selection of meals for two. There was one recipe in particular that we really liked, especially given our meat-centric focus this month. It’s a juicy, succulent little rack of lamb with a whole delicious mess of lentils and greens. So here it is, for your dining pleasure.

Mini Rack of Lamb with Nutty Beluga Lentils and Sautéed Garlic Spinach

The three main elements in this recipe make an unbeatable combination. The soft, sweet taste of the lamb coupled with full green flavor of the spinach and the nutty, full-bodied taste of the lentils makes every bite a gastronomic pleasure. These lentils are one of my favorites. Here I’ve interpreted a recipe from the masterful chef Judy Rodgers of San Francisco’s Zuni Café.

3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 medium carrot, finely chopped
1/2 stalk celery, tough fibers removed and finely chopped
1 cup Beluga lentils (or French green lentils)
1 bay leaf
1 cup red wine
2 cups chicken stock
Sea salt and pepper
1-pound (4-rib) Frenched rack of lamb, trimmed of all but a thin layer of fat
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
3 large cloves garlic, sliced
4 cups washed and torn spinach

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium sauté pan, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil for one minute over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery, and sauté the vegetables until they are softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the lentils and bay leaf and sauté for 3 minutes more, coating all the lentils. Increase the heat and add the red wine. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered, stirring, until the mixture becomes dry. Meanwhile, in a saucepan bring the chicken stock to a simmer, then turn off the heat and cover to keep warm. Add the warm chicken stock to the lentils (like cooking a risotto) 1/2 a cup at a time, letting the lentils absorb the liquid with each addition. Repeat, stirring the mixture constantly. After 28 to 30 minutes the lentils should be slightly chewy and tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

While the lentils are cooking, rinse and pat the lamb dry and rub it with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season the meat with salt and pepper, then press the rosemary into the flesh.

Place the lamb in a small roasting pan in the middle of the oven, and roast for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the thermometer placed in the thickest part of the meat registers 140 degrees F.

While both the lentils and the meat are cooking, prepare the spinach. In a medium sauté pan heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil for 1 minute over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until just translucent but not brown. Add the spinach and sauté for 2 minutes, and then cover and cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until completely wilted. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Slice the rack in half. On two large dinner plates, place a bed of lentils and a side of spinach, then place the lamb on top of the lentils and serve.

• Buy the book: Cooking for Two: Perfect Meals for Pairs, $14 at Amazon

Related: Cooking For Two by Jessica Strand

(Image: Caren Alpert. Image and text reprinted with permission of Chronicle Books)