This lamb loin recipe with mint & shallot sauce is very easy to make and guaranteed to impress your family!
And the best part is, it’s really healthy and Weight Watchers friendly at only 6 SmartPoints for a serving size of 2 lamb chops.
Lamb Loin Recipe
I found this lamb loin recipe on the Eating Well website.
One reason this particular cut of lamb is so popular is the fact that it is a nice, tender cut of meat.
In addition, mint and lamb have gone together for a very long time, starting centuries ago in England!
Honestly, the combination of the mint jelly, shallots, and beef broth really give this dish extra flavor and take it to the next level!
Ingredients
The ingredients for this delicious lamb loin recipe are simple to find in your grocery store:
- Apple Juice
- Corn Starch
- Lamb Loin Chops (Bone-In Lamb Loin Chops or Boneless Lamb Loin)
- Kosher Salt or Sea Salt
- Black Pepper
- Canola Oil
- Shallot
- Beef Broth
- Cider Vinegar
- Mint Jelly
- Fresh Mint
Step by Step Instructions
I absolutely love step by step instructions, especially with pictures because you can visualize what you need to do in order to make this recipe.
Clearly, it totally takes the mystery out of it and offers you the realization that, yes, you can make this recipe.
Steps 1 Through 3
First, you’ll start out with 8 lamb chops in need of the fat being trimmed.
On a large cutting board, use a sharp knife to trim the fat off.
Then, place the lamb chops into a large cast iron frying pan.
To emphasize, your large skillet needs to be something that can go into the oven, such as a cast iron pan.
I highly recommend you use a very large cast-iron skillet so that all of the lamb chops fit at once.
Now, brown just one side of the lamb chops in the frying pan.
While doing this, go ahead and slice up your shallot.
I included a picture of the shallot (below) before slicing it.
Maybe I’m not the only person who didn’t realize a shallot was basically just a very small, slightly longer onion.
For some reason, I thought shallots looked like big scallions.
So, I learned something today!
Steps 4 Through 6
Steps 4 through 6 are also very easy.
While waiting for the lamb chops to brown in the frying pan, you can measure out the apple juice and mix in the corn starch.
You’ll need this mixture for later when you prepare the mint & shallot sauce.
Now, once your pan-seared lamb loin chops are brown on one side, place the entire pan into your oven at a high temperature of 450 degrees.
Steps 7 Through 9
They should bake in the oven for around 11 minutes or the amount of time it takes to get the chops to an internal temperature of at least 140 degrees using an instant-read thermometer.
Your lamb chops should be medium-rare at this internal temperature.
However, if you prefer your lamb chops to be medium or well done, I recommend baking them for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
After taking your lamb chops out of the oven, use a pair of tongs to remove them from the pan and place them on a serving dish.
Now, cover them loosely with aluminum foil to keep them warm.
Then, use the same pan on top of the stove to sauté your minced shallots.
But be sure to use pot holders because the pan handle will be very hot!
Now, cook your shallot, stirring constantly, until browned and softened, around 3-4 minutes.
Lastly, add your corn starch mixture, beef broth, and mint jelly.
At this point, all you have to do is snip some fresh mint and add a tablespoon to your shallot & mint sauce.
Pour the sauce over top of the warmed lamb chops.
Then, sprinkle a 2nd tablespoon of fresh mint on top of the sauce.
Substitutions and Additions
Since everybody’s taste preferences are unique, I’ve included some common ingredient substitutions and additions for making your lamb loin chops:
- Lemon Juice and/or Lemon Zest
- Garlic Cloves, Garlic Powder, or Minced Garlic
- Fresh Rosemary, Fresh Thyme and/or other fresh herbs
- Substitute lamb rib chops for lamb loin chops
- If you’re making a rack of lamb, you can still use the mint and shallot sauce with it.
- Substitute Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Canola Oil
- Brown Sugar
- Herb Paste
- Substitute Yellow Onions for Shallot
Suggested Side Dishes for Lamb Loin Chops
Also, here are some great side dish recommendations to go with your delicious lamb chops:
- Green Beans
- Sweet Potatoes
- Broccoli
- Side Salad
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cooked Carrots
How The Lamb Chops Recipe Turned Out
Gotta admit, I was a little bit nervous serving these to my husband and son.
It’s been years since I made a recipe with lamb loin chops and I didn’t know how they’d turn out.
But if my son’s plate was any indication as to how they would receive this recipe, it was going to be just fine!
Needless to say, he piled 3 tender lamb loin chops onto his plate along with a side of broccoli.
I nonchalantly looked at him in the corner of my eye as he took his first bite.
Keep in mind, this used to be the child who would rather starve than eat any food he didn’t know or trust.
However, now he is way more adventurous with his food – thank goodness!!
I casually asked, “How do you like it?”
And both of them said “It’s good!”
Ah, those two words make me very happy!
Between the 3 of us, we finished all 8 succulent lamb chops!
So, by all means, don’t save this great recipe for special occasions!
Who says you have to go to a fancy restaurant to eat this delectable of a dish?
Lamb Loin Recipe with Mint & Shallot Sauce
Lamb Loin Recipe with Mint & Shallot Sauce – 6 Weight Watchers SmartPoints
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Apple Juice
- 1 ½ tsp Cornstarch
- 8 Lamb Loin Chops, approximately 1 1/2 lbs , trim any extra fat
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- ½ tsp Pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tsp Canola oil
- 1 Shallot, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup Beef Broth, reduced sodium
- 2 tbsp Cider Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Mint Jelly
- 2 tbsp Fresh Mint, minced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Mix apple juice & cornstarch in a small bowl and set aside.
- Trim the fat off lamb loin chops and sprinkle with salt & pepper.
- Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add lamb loin chops to heated skillet and cook until browned on one side.
- Flip lamb loin chops and place entire pan into the oven.
- Bake lamb loin chops for approximately 11 minutes or when a meat thermometer in one of the lamb chops reaches 140 degrees (for medium-rare).
- Transfer lamb loin chops to a serving platter and cover loosely with tin foil.
- Place skillet back over medium-high heat on your stove-top (use a pot holder) & add shallot.
- Cook shallot, stirring constantly, until browned and softened.
- Add beef broth, vinegar, and mint jelly and bring to a boil. Use a fork to break up the jelly until it dissolves into the sauce.
- Cook, whisking constantly, until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Stir in the cornstarch mixture and bring sauce to a simmer.
- Stir constantly until the sauce is thickened.
- Remove sauce from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of fresh mint.
- Pour sauce over top of the lamb loin chops and then sprinkle another 1 tablespoon of fresh mint on top.
Notes
Finally, for more delicious Weight Watchers friendly dinner recipes, click on over to:
North African Meatball Stew – 5 Weight Watchers Points
Grilled Lamb Loin Chops with Spinach Lentil Salad – 8 Weight Watchers Points
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