Lamb Cutlets with Romesco Sauce

Name: Lamb with Romesco Sauce
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: 2 red capsicums; 3 cloves garlic; 1 red onion, peeled and cut into eighths; 1 long red chilli; 2 Roma tomatoes; ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for rubbing; 100g blanched almonds; 50g skinned hazelnuts; 16 spring onions; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; 2 teaspoons sweet smoked Spanish paprika; 1 teaspoon salt flakes; 12 lamb cutlets; Crusty bread, for serving

Romesco is a Spanish sauce from the region of Catalonia, where a variation called salvitxada is served as a dip for calçots, local spring onions traditionally charred over open fires. Thick green onions or baby leeks make a good alternative to the calcots. Romesco is traditionally served with seafood (see my Blue Mackerel with Romesco Sauce recipe). I also love it with lamb. I often use cutlets (which are easy finger food for a cocktail party too), but it’s just as good with slow-roasted lamb shoulder or leg of lamb. Since we’re talking Spain, Sherry is the perfect accompaniment, especially Barbadillo Oloroso which complements the sweet complexity of the romesco and the sweetness of the onions.

Serves 4

Ingredients

12 lamb cutlets
16 thick green onions (scallions) or baby leeks
Extra virgin olive oil, for rubbing
Salt flakes, to taste
Romesco Sauce, for serving
Crusty bread, for serving

Method

Preheat oven to 240ºC (465°F).
Remove cutlets from the fridge 30 minutes or so before cooking to bring them to room temperature.
Meanwhile, trim most of the green off the onions, leaving about 14cm above the bulb. Trim off the root, discard any wilted outer leaves, rinse, pat dry, rub well with oil and place in a baking dish in the oven for 30 minutes or so, until well coloured and tender, turning the overhead grill on for the last few minutes if necessary to make them slightly charred. This can be done while roasting vegetables for Romesco Sauce.
Heat a char-grill pan or frying pan over medium–high heat.
Rub cutlets with oil and sprinkle with salt.
Cook for 3 minutes or so each side, until cooked to your liking.
Serve with charred onions, Romesco Sauce and plenty of bread.