Lamb Chops with Rosemary and Indian Spices

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

Filed Under Indian Fusion, Lamb or Goat, Mains 

My birthday is less than two weeks away, and I am so looking forward to it. I love everything about the day, I just don’t understand those people who hate their birthdays! What is not to love - the gifts, the fuss, the food, the gifts, the cake, did I mention gifts? :) Gifts are the best part of the day, yeah I am a little vain, in case you didn’t know that about me already.

Siv tries so hard every year, and with him it is either a big hit or a miss. He has given me some amazing gifts, and some years I have made him return the gifts too, especially the years he bought me expensive jewelry. I am more of a junk jewelry fan, I’d rather buy clothes and shoes and bags for that money. He thinks I need to start wearing classy jewelry -his words, not mine - so some years he tries to inject some class into me, but I always make him return those, except for a Sig pendant like the one Carry Bradshaw wears in the Sex and the City and a very cute diamond ring that I wear everyday now. Finally he has stopped trying to class me up… :)

I have always wanted to print some of my recipes into a cookbook, not for sale or anything, but just for me to keep in my cookbook collection. Since I keep talking about it almost every day, Siv wanted to surprise me with getting a cookbook printed out of my recipes. Luckily I caught him before he went too far with it.  It is a very sweet gesture, but he sure would have screwed it up.  I am too picky- read control freak - when it comes to certain things, and I have a clear vision of what I want this cookbook to look like, how to categorize it etc, and he wouldn’t have got it right for sure! And after all the work he would have put into it, I would’ve had to pretend to like it, which I am really really bad at, and he would have ended up hurt. :) I saved both of us the trouble by finding this out in time. I can’t wait to see what he is getting me though. Every year he gets me stuff related to what I am into at the moment, and these days blogging is all I talk about, so it might be something related to blogging, I can think of so many things I need… Hint hint.. :)

Anyways, speaking of cookbooks, my Modern Indian Cooking book had a nice recipe for Lamb Chops with a Rosemary and Lime marinade with plenty of Indian spices. This recipe is inspired by that, but I made plenty of substitutions and changes. Initial plan was to have the lamb and some steamed baby bok choy, but half way through the process I wasn’t sure whether this was going to be enough, so I made some quick potato wedges as well. During this confusion, I overcooked the lamb, it ended up a bit too well done for our taste. The bok choy got overcooked too, look at the sad little veggies on the side. Anyway the lamb and the bok choy tasted great, regardless of the appearance, so I thought I’ll share the recipe, the way I did it.

Lamb Chops

Ingredients

Method

Grind all the spices in the To Grind section in a coffee grinder/spice grinder to a smooth powder. (Substitute any whole spice with the powdered version, I used all fresh spices this time. )

In a small non-stick pan over medium heat, roast the ground spices for about two minutes, stirring constantly.

In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, salt,the spice powder, lime juice, ginger, garlic and rosemary to make a paste. Add the lamb chops to the pan and mix well to coat the lamb with the marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Remove the lamb chops and reserve the marinade in the bowl. Heat the oil in a large pan, and sear the lamb chops about 5 minutes on each side, turning once. Add about a cup of water to the bowl with the left-over marinade, mix well and pour this over the lamb chops. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for about 15 more minutes till the lamb chops are tender. Check the doneness with a fork, and cook for a few more minutes if you want it well done.

The lamb tasted really great, and made a nice and complete meal with the potatoes and the veggies.


Comments

41 Responses to “Lamb Chops with Rosemary and Indian Spices”

  1. Nags on January 23rd, 2008 11:28 pm

    Ur husband is so sweet :) Let us know what you got as soon as ur bday is over :D

    i have never cooked lamb. this one seems simple enough..

    :) Yeah, he is very sweet… and now there is way too much pressure on him too… No beef, no pork, no lamb… Nags you don’t know what you are missing :)

  2. Nags on January 23rd, 2008 11:31 pm

    Hey, did I mention the pic looks lovely?? Did you take it during the day??

    Thanks :) Yep, one of those rare daytime pictures…

  3. anonymous on January 23rd, 2008 11:49 pm

    can we exchange hubbies… I would like mine to give me the fine jewelry and impart some class to me. :razz:

    Noooooo this one is mine…. Check back with me in another ten years though, we could work something out then… :)

  4. Padmaja on January 24th, 2008 1:18 am

    Lamb chops looks so delicious n spicy!! Rocky would love them and so would Noel and hey hey!! Birthday in 2 weeks?? even Noel’s in 3 weeks!!!
    Can’t wait to read all about ur celebrations??

    Hey Noel is an aquarian? No wonder he is sooo smart :) Wish him happy birthday in advance…

  5. sia on January 24th, 2008 1:36 am

    ur burrrrrrrrday is just 2 weeks away? how cool… i too love my burrrrrrdays… he he… thats a best day in a year where we are nicely pampered and i don’t even have to cook. i eagerly wait for all my gifts, phone calls and special bf, lunch and dinner cooked by K :party:

    :D burrrrrrday, I love that… I am going to call my burrrrrrrrday that from now on… :D who doesn’t like the pampering, huh?

  6. rachel on January 24th, 2008 2:46 am

    Everything’s lovely about the b’day except for the age that it signifies every day!!! :roll:

    “Class you up”..It’s the otherway around out here at my place! ok let me not discuss husbands here on a food blog :grin: ..
    The chops look well done…lovely meal and lovely presentation!

    Yeah, I am ignoring the age part rachel… :) I am going to pretend I am stuck in 30 till I am 50, that is the plan for now…

  7. rachel on January 24th, 2008 2:51 am

    ERRATA :oops:
    Everything’s lovely about the b’day except for the age that it signifies every year!!!

  8. sunita on January 24th, 2008 3:05 am

    I to love birthdays…but Dinesh doesn’t ever get too excited about it :shock: btw, tell Siv, he doesn’t need to ‘class’ you up…you’re already that :smile: …and the lamb chops look lovely.

    :) I won’t let Siv not get excited, or even forget my birthday… I keep reminding him about my birthday as soon as his birthday is over ;) Try that trick with Dinesh too :)

  9. Kaykat on January 24th, 2008 3:16 am

    You sound pretty spiffy, no classin’ up needed :)

    Aww … that bok choy does look a little sad, but those potatoes look fabulous!

    :oops: :) thanks Kay Kat…

  10. Poonam on January 24th, 2008 5:07 am

    Hi Sig, Long time…Enjoyed your new website….Picture looks really good and bright!
    -Poonam

    Thanks for dropping by Poonam, good to see you here! :)

  11. Asha on January 24th, 2008 5:22 am

    He tried to get your cookbook printed for you!! That is so adorable, you are a lucky girl. I know about being picky!:D
    But his thoughts that counts,so sweet. Enjoy. Happy Birthday in advance!:)
    Lamb and Rosemary is a classic combo, looks like a winner.

    :) It was sooo sweet, yep I am way too lucky I know :) …. Good to see you asha, and thanks for opening up the comments too ;)

  12. Rajitha on January 24th, 2008 5:29 am

    the tatoes looks awesome :drool: …actually i keep telling jeeves to stop wearing those horrible t-shirts and jeans everywhere we go and class up ..gotten nowhere with it :mrgreen: …and i am so with you on returning gifts i do not like..if i do not like something..i let him know..

    :D hey, the jeans and t-shirt is a classi(c) look… one can’t go wrong with that :D And yeah, I always return the stuff I don’t like, we have to be honest with our husbands right? :D

  13. richa on January 24th, 2008 5:44 am

    control freak….lol
    gifts are (ahem!) nice :wink:

    :) I know, I am ashamed to admit it, but I am one :D …

  14. Miri on January 24th, 2008 7:07 am

    I love birthdays too!!! Gifts, friends, love and telephone calls - whats not to like?!!! :party: :party:

    Have a great one and hope this year’s gift is a Hit! :)

    The potato wedges look perfectly done…figures that the last minute addition will be the one which turns out great while the one you slaved over is neglected! :sad:

    :) Hey that is great… you are a birthday lover too… :D And yeah, I hope the gift is a hit, he has way too much pressure on him now… :)

  15. Happy Cook on January 24th, 2008 7:19 am

    I really am curious to know what he is going to get you this year :-)
    There is nothing wrong about junk jwellery. I love them and both my sisters always tell me stop buying them and use that money to buy something else….
    Chops look good.

    :) Hey hey hey, too much pressure on poor siv…. And yeah, junk jewelry rocks… :) I am so clumsy I lose all my stuff, so I can’t afford the expensive once anyway :)

  16. shilpa on January 24th, 2008 8:11 am

    Hey Sig, if you bring out the cookbook, can I get a copy please please… pretty please??? I would love to see it and treasure it…

    I agree with Sunita. You are already that “class”.

    :) sure, if I ever get around to it, I will send you a copy… I have downloaded the software, it is a lot of work :)

  17. Mishmash! on January 24th, 2008 8:43 am

    :)
    That was really a sweet gesture from Siv :) Hope you get your cookbook done once, the way you want it to be :) It would be really nice to look at all that pics and admire the work you have done right….:) Make more copies, it would be a great personalized gift too :P Btw, Lamb chops looks really well done…just like I prefer :)

    Yeah, you get in Shn… It is exactly why I want the book, to stare at the fruits of my labour as much as I want :)

  18. sagari on January 24th, 2008 8:46 am

    I dont eat lamb but those chops look DELECIOUS :smile:

    :) Thanks Sagari!

  19. Laavanya on January 24th, 2008 10:11 am

    That’s very sweet of Siv… a cookbook sounds fabulous but maybe it needn’t be a surprise and you could both work on it together…? :)
    Those potatoes look delicious.

    :) Working together, that is not going to happen…. I will be doing all the work :D But the gesture was very sweet….

  20. Namratha on January 24th, 2008 10:54 am

    Ohh Sig, we are so alike in the birthday matter, I think the same way too and every birthday is a huge challenge for hubby dear :smile: He is a little anti-birthday so you can imagine how mad I was when I first knew it!! Now he is coming around at least for my sake…I’m a vegetarian but the lamb chops look gr8!Very well plated :smile:

    :D anti-birthday hubby huh? I am glad the excitement has rubbed off on him now :D And moreover I don’t feel guilty for making him sweat for my birthday… I buy stuff for him throughout the year, whenever I go shopping, so he better do this right once a year ;)

  21. Clara Roy on January 24th, 2008 2:01 pm

    Looks like U take advantage of your hubby. Luckily for you, hes not a malyalee and most of the tamilians are henpecked.

    Henpecked? Hmm… just because he loves his wife and thinks she is special enough to deserve a thoughtful gift for her birthday, he is henpecked?

    I am guessing you are married to a “malyalee” who forgets your birthday, and somehow you think that is very manly of him…

    Please don’t use my blog as a place to generalize against an entire community, just because you have some preconceived notions about the husband-wife relationship…

    If you really are a woman, I feel very sorry for you!

  22. Reena on January 24th, 2008 2:35 pm

    Cruel lady! Torturing hubby dear like this :mad:

    Like a Malayali Ammumma let me tell you something ‘Noor varsham tapas irunnalum ingane oru husband ne kittilla kuttye’ Ha!Ha!Ha!

    :(Flower): Wish you a fabulous Birthday in advance. :(Martini):

    Sari ammumme…. :) nooru varsham tapas irunnitta ivane kittiyathu :D

  23. Rajitha on January 24th, 2008 3:07 pm

    hey sig! i could understand what reena wrote in malayalam!! i think those 1 day malayalam talking lessons with my appa is finally paying off..(doing a happy dance :)

    :D hmm… 1 day class huh? I should have Siv take a lesson from you then… :) its been 12 years and he still can’t put a whole sentence together in Malayalam :D

  24. Sudha on January 24th, 2008 4:32 pm

    WOW Sig, I was so excited to learn that you are a fellow aquarian too :cool: No wonder we have the same outlook on birthdays!!!! I make sure that my better half remembers my birthday :grin: If he forgets, he will face the consequences!!! :mad:

    I am a vegetarian but the lamb looks lovely!!!

    Hey you are a fellow aquarian… then I am sure you are smart, beautiful and cool ! :D Wishing you a happy birthday in advance, hope you get some great loot… :)

  25. Ramya on January 24th, 2008 8:59 pm

    oh, thats so damn sweet of Siv!!!! I’m sure he has something planned for you even this time.. :)

    :) I am sure he has, if he knows what is best for him…

  26. Revathi on January 24th, 2008 10:46 pm

    woowww. Wishing you a blast of time on your burrrrdaayy !!! I love your .. dont know what to call that - the intensity of your frankness, your just-be-urself- attitude…

    I am sure Siv is lucky as well to get a wife like you. It looks all plain black and white with you..

    Btw lamb looks greattttt !!!

    :) Thanks Revathi… Of course he is lucky to have a wife like me ;)

  27. indosungod on January 25th, 2008 5:27 am

    Sig, oh those lamb chops look lovely, I have not got around to cooking with lamb, have to find good lamb first :( Sig, Siv is a sweetheart and he pampers you and you don’t fail to pamper him either so it is a match made in heaven :)

    oh yeah, I pamper him the whole year, he does this only for my birthday :D …. Whole Foods always stock good fresh lamb here…

  28. mandira on January 25th, 2008 7:08 am

    Sig, you have such a loving husband… :) Happy Birthday in advance, I am really bad when it comes to remembering dates.
    I love lamb chops and yours look fantastic! I’ll have to try it soon.

    Thanks Mandira… :) Don’t worry I will remind everyone when my birthday comes around ;)

  29. Rina on January 25th, 2008 7:23 am

    Enjoy girl!!! :cool: Love the lamb chops receipe :razz:

    Thanks Rina! :)

  30. Amy Thomas on January 25th, 2008 8:50 am

    Happy Birthday - Wishing you a wonderful day and many presents.
    I enjoy reading your quick dinners that you put together- my biggest problem,is sometimes when I get ready to cook- I realise that the chicken/lamb has not been defrosted.Any tips on how to thaw meat quickly without losing on flavor?
    Thanks!

    Thanks Amy! I don’t freeze meat that often, but when I do, if I don’t have enough time to thaw it in the refrigerator, I defrost it in the m/w, I don’t keep it for the whole cycle though… sometimes I immerse the meat in water too, to get it to thaw faster…..

  31. Happy Cook on January 25th, 2008 9:46 am

    Sig I loved the answer you gave to Clara Roy :evil: .
    How dare he/she

    :D thanks HC…

  32. Shankari on January 25th, 2008 1:59 pm

    U have fun girl. That is a wonderful relationship that you have with Siv. If you cant tell hubby dear what you want or dont want…who else can you say it to..right Sig?

    Have a blast of a bday!

    Thanks Shankari… exactly, honesty always helps… :)

  33. Cynthia on January 25th, 2008 2:59 pm

    Reading your posts are so infectuous! I couldn’t help smiling all the time at the gifts thing and Siv. Can’t wait for you to reveal what it is you get :)

    :) Thanks Cyn! I can’t wait to see what he gets me… too much pressure on him this time… :)

  34. Srivalli on January 26th, 2008 3:39 am

    Sig that dish looks so yummy..I guess day light makes it all different…

    its fun to read about your bday and gifts…nice to know abt your hubby…excited to know what you are going to get this time…with all those hints..why not make him read this post… :grin:

    Thanks Srivalli… he is always the first one to read my posts… so the hints are not lost :D

  35. Shantanu on January 26th, 2008 3:48 am

    In spite of the ’sad-looking’ veggies, the picture has come out looking very good. The lamb chops look delicious! :-)

    Thanks Shantanu! :)

  36. musical on January 26th, 2008 1:24 pm

    That’s is so cute of Siv! And you girl, catching him all the time, before he plans a surprise :-D I am sure he’ll bring you a cute surprise for your b’day. I am looking forward to your cookbook. For the lovely pictures and very flexible and enjoyable recipes!

    I know I always catch him, but it turns out for the better though…. :) Hope you are having a great weekend musie! :)

  37. nandita on January 27th, 2008 2:57 am

    Do remind Siv that he’s a sweetheart - and hey i can say ditto to the expensive jewelery thingie…I haven’t gone to return back stuff but always prefer variety of junk as against one really costly piece of jewelery….’classing’ you up…that sounded so funny
    HUGGGS

  38. nandita on January 27th, 2008 3:00 am

    After Banu, now Clara?? Why are people after Tamilian men? Looks like people love to hate them hahaa - or is it just jealousy hehehehheeee

    not fair, your TRPs should be going up big time due to some or the other odd commenter LOL

    :D lol, I am sure it is the jealousy…. leave the Tamil men alone :D

  39. Raaga on January 27th, 2008 9:37 pm

    I wish I could send something over… my friend leaves here for Seattle on Sunday night… but with a baby and all… not sure how much she can take along :-) But I’ll make it worth it for you in anycase… gift or not :)

    And I totally love my birthday… as my mom says… Arundhati gets excited about a birthday to come six months in advance and then she remains excited about the birthday that just went by for another 6 months :-)

    oh ot is the thought that counts sweetie :) You are a doll!! Hehe you are just like me, getting excited about the birthday for the whole year… I wish I could convince Siv to celebrate my monthly birthdays as well… :razz:

  40. Aparna on January 28th, 2008 1:02 am

    Happy Birthday, in advance.
    My husband also has this thing about junk jewelry. His term for it is “koraththi”! Translation “Gypsy”. Except that he’s pretty ok with our daughter’s “koraththi” stuff.
    But he’s great with remembering b’days, anniversaries, and presents and surprises so I’m not complaining.:)

    OMG, that is exactly Siv’s term for it too…. He calls my stuff koratthi too… whenever he says something is koratthi style, I take it as a complement now :D

  41. Jyothsna on January 28th, 2008 6:32 am

    Hey Sig, Happy b’day in advance! I will be away then…Cool idea of a cookbook, I’ll piggyback on that and drop the hubby hints until my bday!! :)

    Thanks Jyo… another trip huh, have fun :)

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