Parmesan-Crusted Rack of Lamb Recipe (2024)

By Sam Sifton

Parmesan-Crusted Rack of Lamb Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 45 minutes
Rating
5(866)
Notes
Read community notes

Impressive in size, color and flavor, this take on an old Escoffier recipe brings salt-crunchiness to the exterior of sweet, roasted lamb. Served with Macaroni Milanaise, it makes for a show-off, dinner-party meal of little compare. (Tell no one how easy it is to pull off.)

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings.

  • 1rack of lamb, approximately 1¼ pounds, frenched
  • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ cup fresh bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan
  • 1tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley.

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

218 calories; 19 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 8 grams protein; 172 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Parmesan-Crusted Rack of Lamb Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 450. Put a large frying pan over high heat until very hot. Rub lamb with 1 tablespoon of the oil, season aggressively with salt and pepper and then sear the meat in the pan until it is golden brown all over, approximately 4 minutes a side. Place on a rimmed baking sheet, and let rest for 20 or 30 minutes, until cool.

  2. Step

    2

    In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese and parsley. Rub the cooled-off lamb with the remaining olive oil, then pat the seasoned bread crumbs all over the meat in an even layer.

  3. Step

    3

    Put the lamb back on the baking sheet, and roast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 120 degrees, approximately 20 to 30 minutes. (Tent the lamb with foil if the crust threatens to get too dark at the end.) Remove the lamb from the oven, and allow to stand, covered loosely in foil, for 10 minutes or so. (The internal temperature will rise to 125 degrees, or medium-rare, while the lamb sits.) Carve into chops, and serve on a warmed platter.

Ratings

5

out of 5

866

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Antonia

Instead of parsley, I used rosemary. Very good

Es

Delicious. However, didn't need to roast 20 minutes in the oven despite an initial rest of about 2 hours. So use your meat thermometer if you like your lamb rare or medium rare.

Tommie V

How can you do this without garlic. Added a couple of cloves - perfection! Thanks for the great recipe.

Rich K

I used this recipe and it was excellent.I added rosemary to the dry mix and I added two cloves of crushed garlic during pan searing.I pan seared using a cast iron pan on high heat on my Wolf Range but only did it two minutes per side to get a nice brown crust all around.Also, I believe the oven temp could be lowered and just extend the roasting time with a meat temperature probe. I roasted the lamb to 130 degrees and it was medium rare. Awesome results!

Nancy Vaughns

After searing the lamb I brushed it all over with Dijon mustard before covering it in the cheese and bread crumbs. It added a wonderful zing that wasn’t overpowering at all. Overall wonderful dish.

Killer

This was shockingly easy and turned out possibly better than any rack of lamb I've ever had. Definitely going to become a weeknight dinner staple!

Stacy

Add fresh rosemary, thyme & 1 small covered garlic, minced.

Allyson

Really good. I roasted the lamb at 400 for about 25 minutes and it was a perfect medium rare. I seared and roasted the lamb in a cast iron skillet, so there was only one dish to wash. After searing, I tossed the fat and drippings with some fingerling potatoes, and roasted them in the skillet with the lamb. So good.

Lynda B

This recipe gets raves. It pleases everyone in my house from age 9 to 78!

Chef Josh

Try an egg white rub

Harvey

I liked the recipe, though I found the crust a little overly rich. I'll use less olive oil next time and will try out Chef Josh's suggestion of an egg white rub.

shoebender

First time making lamb - WOW. Made as directed, yum. Next time will try the mustard.

Changes made

Cook to max 115

Lynn L

I used my timing chart that goes by the thickness of the meat which I always use for steaks. It worked great!Beautiful crust!

John C

I use a thermo works probe that goes in the oven when I put the rack in . I take it out at 120 as directed and it continues to cook to 130 which is perfect for us but it’s not the 125 the recipes indicates.

Randy S.

This was great. I had some panko breadcrumbs that I used. I added Rosemary and minced spring garlic in addition to the parsley. Maybe add a little mint next time as well. For me I skipped the searing the outside step and cooked it fat side up on the Traeger grill at 450 until internal temp hit 130.

Naomi

I used mayonnaise mixed with minced garlic instead of the oil to keep the breadcrumbs in place. It worked beautifully. The 20 minutes of roasting time was perfect in my oven.

gwen

This was wonderful. I did three racks on one sheet pan and it worked out well. I had Thermopro probes in the meat and took the racks out of the oven at about 128-130 degrees F, a little higher than the recipe stated. Also had to use a foil tent after about five minutes as the crust started to brown pretty quickly. After resting and slicing the lamb it still was perfectly pink throughout. The Parmesan crust was absolutely beautiful. My husband isn’t a big fan of lamb and he loved this.

Debbie G

Our favorite restaurant was booked solid for New Years', so I decided to make this recipe. Wasn't disappointed -- better than any restaurant rack of lamb we could have ordered. And we didn't have to dress up!

Matt

I found cooking to 125 to be too rare. Brought it up to 130 . Also added some rosemary to the breadcrumbs and used mustard before applying. It was delicious

C D

Used rosemary instead of parsley

Peter WIlliams

Agreed with others - heat-tolerant herbs like sage and rosemary in the crust make a big difference. Other renditions use dijon as a base layer (after you've seared it, in lieu of the olive oil here) and it really is amazing. Also - parmesan is the 'glue' that holds the curst together, so a bit more doesn't hurt. I did note that 450 oven burned the crust a bit at about the 18 minute mark (conventional bake). On the second round I'll run the oven at 430 for 20-25 minutes.

Julian

Tried this with a fresh cut of NZ lamb (I'm in New Zealand) but found the meat mostly flavorless and will definitely pre-season next time. In retrospect I did know better, throwing on salt right before searing never works.The racks were on the small side and almost up to temperature after 2x4 minutes in the pan so I couldn't leave them long enough in the oven to brown the coating. I think this recipe only works with larger racks.

Laura

Why preheat the oven in step 1 when the rack does not go into the oven for at least 30 minutes until after searing and coming to room temp?

frank v

Amazing recipe, I happened to have pecorino, no Parmesan, it was great

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Parmesan-Crusted Rack of Lamb Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What pairs well with rack of lamb? ›

What goes well with a rack of lamb? I would suggest a nice red wine, garlic potatoes with rosemary, some light greens, maybe a spiced squash or eggplant dish, and some nice fresh bread.

What sauce is good with lamb? ›

  • 1 / 20. Chimichurri Sauce. The classic herb sauce can be spooned over cooked lamb or used as a marinade before it hits the flame. ...
  • 2 / 20. Béarnaise Sauce. ...
  • 3 / 20. Fresh Herb Sauce. ...
  • 4 / 20. Peppercorn Sauce. ...
  • 5 / 20. Creamy Whipped Feta Dip. ...
  • 6 / 20. Garlic Scape Pesto. ...
  • 7 / 20. Tzatziki Sauce. ...
  • 8 / 20. Creamy Horseradish Sauce.
Mar 18, 2024

Should I sear my rack of lamb before roasting? ›

Lamb rack is best seared in a pan and finished in the oven – this gives you lots of control over your cooking temperatures but still gives you a nice caramelisation on the surface of the meat. Be sure to remove the meat from the fridge before cooking so it can come to room temperature.

How many ribs in a rack of lamb? ›

A rack of lamb, also known as carré d'agneau (though this term may also refer to other cuts), is a lamb cut that is perpendicular to the spine and includes 16 ribs or chops. In retail, it is commonly sold as a 'single' rack, which means it is sawn longitudinally and includes the 8 ribs on one side only.

What vegetable goes best with lamb? ›

Zesty spring greens. A quartet of spring veggies – broad beans, asparagus, baby courgettes and peas – are tossed with lemon, butter and almonds for a luxurious addition to roast lamb. Get the recipe for zesty spring greens.

What is traditionally served with lamb? ›

Nothing beats crispy and fluffy roasted potatoes as a side for lamb. Roast potatoes are a classic accompaniment to lamb, especially for a Sunday roast. Lamb and roast potatoes go well together because they both have a rich and hearty flavour that is satisfying and comforting.

What enhances the flavor of lamb? ›

Garlic powder is one of the most popular spices used in cooking lamb dishes. It adds amazing flavor without overpowering other ingredients in the dish. Try adding garlic powder directly into your marinade or rubbing it on the outside of your lamb before cooking for maximum flavor impact!

What makes lamb taste better? ›

It's such a distinctive flavor that it pairs well with nice, strong spices, as well as herbs. Coriander, fennel, garlic, shallot, ginger, lemon peel --I think those work really nicely with lamb. There are other herbs that are traditionally paired with lamb, like mint.

What is the best spice for lamb? ›

Cumin. Brash, stinky cumin is the perfect spice for lamb. High heat mellows out its intense flavors into a pleasantly grassy perfume.

Do you rinse rack of lamb before cooking? ›

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

Should you flip the rack of lamb? ›

Arrange the lamb with the ribs pointing down. Cook for 15 minutes at 450ºF, then flip over and cook for another 10 minutes until the lamb has an internal temperature of 130ºF. Rest the lamb. Set lamb on a cutting board for at least 10 minutes to rest before carving.

Do you cook rack of lamb fat side up or down? ›

Place the lamb rack bone side down (fat side up) on a roasting pan lined with foil. Wrap the exposed rib bones in a little foil so they don't burn.

Which is healthier lamb or beef? ›

Nutrition: Lamb is a nutrient-dense meat that is rich in protein, iron, and vitamin B12. It is also lower in fat than beef and has fewer calories. Versatility: Lamb is a versatile meat that works well in a variety of dishes, from meatballs and burgers to shepherd's pie and curry.

What is the difference between lamb ribs and rack of lamb? ›

The main rib section of the lamb, the rack is made up 16 ribs, also called chops. Although it's made up of two sections, each of 8 ribs, it is mostly sold halved. When sold whole, it's called a double rack of lamb. A rack of lamb consists of tender, lean and flavorful meat as well as the rib bones.

What is the tastiest cut of lamb? ›

Loin. This is the most tender part of the lamb, producing only the most tender and flavourful cuts. Boned and rolled loin makes for a delectable roasting joint. This is also where the juiciest chops and noisettes come from.

Which strong herb pairs well with lamb? ›

Which herbs go with lamb (and how to grow them)
  • Rosemary and lamb. With its woody flavour, rosemary is the perfect companion for your favourite lamb dish. ...
  • Mint and lamb. Taking its roots from Middle Eastern dishes, mint is often used when cooking more complex lamb dishes. ...
  • Oregano and lamb. ...
  • Thyme and lamb.

What accompaniments complement meat dishes? ›

Side Dishes for Meat Pairings Bound to be a Hit
  • Beef Side Dish Pairings.
  • Lyonnaise Potatoes. One of the simplest and high on the list of comfort food side dishes for beef. ...
  • Scalloped Potatoes. ...
  • Garlic Butter Mushrooms. ...
  • Couscous – The Lighter Side. ...
  • Balsamic Roasted Carrots. ...
  • Poultry Side Dish Pairings.
  • Potato Salad.

Can you eat rack of lamb with your fingers? ›

“In an upscale restaurant, if you were eating pork or lamb chops, could you use your hands to eat all the yummy meat off the bone?” You absolutely could, but as with most things, there's a fuzzy line between polite and barbarous behavior. Nibbled discretely, no one will have an issue.

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