Balmoral Estate Merino French rack

It is with great pleasure that I cook Balmoral estate Merino in my kitchen. Sam has been a friend for many years and I know the farmer thinks of him as a brother, so when he teamed up with Kelvin and started Balmoral Merino, I was pretty darn excited about what they had set out to produce. Their product is of the highest quality and flavour and they are so proud of the standard as well as the story. Balmoral is one of the most beautiful places in the world and many happy memories of mine are there.My only piece of advice with this dish is DO NOT overcook it!The middle should be pink and juicy, this is how you get the best flavour.


INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 2 Tblsp minced garlic
• 2 Tblsp chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/4 c grated parmesan cheese (optional) 
• 2 tsp salt
• ground black pepper
• 2 Tblsp olive oil
• 1 Balmoral Estate French rack
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius. Move oven rack to the centre of your oven.
In a bowl, combine bread crumbs, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Toss in the olive oil to moisten mixture. Mix together and set aside.
Season the rack all over with salt and pepper. Heat some more olive oil in a large heavy, oven proof pan (cast iron is the best) over high heat. Sear rack of lamb for 1 to 2 minutes on all sides. Set aside for a few minutes. Brush rack of lamb with the mustard. Roll in the bread crumb mixture until evenly coated. You can cover the ends of the bones with foil to prevent charring, but to be honest I always forget and I’m not that worried about it.
Arrange the rack bone side down in the pan that you seared them in, or a shallow roasting dish. Roast the lamb in your preheated oven for 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the degree you want your lamb cooked to. 15mins will give you rare, 20 will be med and 25 will be cooked all the way through. Let it rest for 5 to 7 minutes, loosely covered, before carving between the ribs.

Serve with vegetables and share with friends.

TIPS:

• It would also be rude not to open a good bottle of Central Otago Pinot Noir with this one, a nice 2009 Maude would be my choice.