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Video: Lamb loin makes superb spring dish

TODAY recipes
updated 3/4/2010 6:25:49 PM ET 2010-03-04T23:25:49

Australian chef Luke Mangan is known all over the world for his culinary artistry, and his new book — "At Home and in the Mood" — is an ideal guide for cooks who love to entertain at home. The book's easy-to-follow recipes run the gamut from comfort food to fine dining to tea blends and cocktails.

Here are two of Mangan's recipes from "At Home and in the Mood": spring lamb loin with peas, feta and pine nuts, and baked ratatouille with mozzarella.

Recipe: Spring lamb loin with peas, feta and pine nuts (on this page)

Recipe: Baked ratatouille with mozzarella (on this page)


Recipe: Spring lamb loin with peas, feta and pine nuts

Ingredients
  • 6 5-ounce lamb loins, trimmed
  • Sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen peas
  • 4 tablespoons feta
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
  • Good handful of mint leaves, chopped
  • 1 lemon
  • Cracked black pepper
Preparation

Season the trimmed lamb loin and drizzle over some olive oil. Place on grill or hot pan and cook for approximately 1 minute on each side. It should not be overcooked, but pink in the middle. Let rest.

Cook the peas in salted boiling water until tender. Drain and crush with a fork. Add the feta and crush further to combine. Add toasted pine nuts and mint, a squeeze of lemon and a good splash of olive oil and pepper.

Slice the lamb loin into about 5-6 slices and arrange on top of the crushed peas. Spoon more crushed peas and mint on top.

Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and serve.

Serving Size

Serves 6

Recipe: Baked ratatouille with mozzarella

Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 large eggplant, unpeeled, thinly sliced
  • 2 zucchini, thinly sliced
  • 1 large red pepper, seeded and sliced
  • 3 Roma tomatoes, sliced
  • 8-ounce (approximately) tub of cherry bocconcini
  • 1/2 cup tomato juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
  • Sea salt and cracked black pepper
  • 2 balls of mozzarella
  • Good pinch of sugar
  • Few drops Tabasco
  • Few drops Worcestershire sauce
Preparation

Preheat oven to 340 degrees F.

In a large wok, heat the olive oil. (Mangan uses a wok to give plenty of room to toss and stir while frying the vegetables.)

Fry the garlic and onions until just turning brown. Remove from the wok and set aside.

Fry off the eggplant, zucchini, pepper and set aside.

Add the tomatoes, tomato juice, herbs, seasonings, sugar and sauces. Heat through, then add all the vegetables.

Spoon all the vegetables and the juices into an ovenproof dish.

Slice the mozzarella and arrange on top.

Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Serving Size

Serves 6 to 8

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