How Long to Bake Lamb Chops at 375
This lamb chop recipe merges the best of lamb cooking traditions from all over the world. Each cuisine has its own methods and spices to make its perfect homely lamb meal, and this recipe takes the best ones from each and integrates them into the ultimate lamb chop recipe.
Ingredients
- 8 Lamb loin chops
- ½ tbsp Chili powder
- 1 tbsp Ground fennel
- 4 Medium gloves of garlic squished and chopped
- 1 tbsp Fine sea salt
- 1 tbsp Ground rosemary, or fresh
- 1 tbsp Mint leaves, dried or fresh
- 1 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- ½ tbsp White pepper
- 1 Orange (sliced)
- 4 tbsp Olive oil
- 3 tbsp Apricot jam (optional, only rub the chops with it for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking time)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- It’s not necessary to marinate the chops, but you can decide to do so before cooking. If you want very bold and strong flavors, marinate the meat with the ingredients.
- Mix them in a freezer bag or airtight container, and keep them in the fridge overnight. It’s crucial not to add the salt to the marinade and only salt the chops right before cooking; otherwise, they will lose moisture and become tough.
- I suggest following the same method with rosemary and only adding it to the meat right before oven baking because it can become sour-tasting in marinades and dominate the dish entirely.
- If you skip the marinading, just rub the lamb chops with the mixed spices and ingredients, leaving out the salt, apricot jam, and orange slices, and let them sit for 4-5 minutes while you heat a cast-iron skillet or a plain frying pan.
- Sear the lamb chops for 3 minutes on each side on high heat, and remove them from the pan or skillet immediately.
- Avoid using a fork to handle lamb chops, or poking them in any way! This creates holes where natural moisture will escape from the meat and it will dry out for sure.
- Transfer the chops into an oven-friendly baking tray, or if you have an oven-pan, that’s even better. Layout the orange slices under the chops in the baking tray, and now it’s time to salt them on each side.
- Bake them in the preheated oven at 375F for 6 minutes. Take the chops out. Turn up the heat to 400F, and spread a small amount of apricot jam on them. Bake it for an additional 4 minutes.
- Remove them immediately, and let them rest for 3-4 minutes before serving.