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David Olson, A Bachelor and His Grill Smoked Christmas crown roast of Australian lamb

  • Prep 3Hr
  • Cook 2Hr
  • Style
  • Meat
  • Cut
  • Serves 1

"On the eve of this season’s merriest holiday, crown roast of lamb will serve again as the rustic centerpiece for our family’s farm to table feast. While entirely elementary in preparation, these frenched, twisted and tied racks of lamb are glorious in presentation." - David

Ingredients

For the lamb: 

  • 1 crown roast of Australian grass-fed lamb, frenched, trimmed and tied
  • 1 cup olive oil, plus additional to baste
  • 2 tablespoons each of dried basil, rosemary, sage and thyme, all coarsely ground
  • 6-8 cloves garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground peppercorn, to taste
  • 2 cups oak wood chips and 1 cup of chestnuts shells, soaked in water for 1 hour prior to use

For the Roasted Butternut Squash and Faro Salad

  • 1 butternut squash, peeled and petite diced
  • Olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground peppercorn, to taste
  • 1 cup uncooked faro, prepared in 2 cups boiling water
  • ½ cup dried cranberries, plus fresh cranberries to garnish
  • 1 crisp red apple, petite diced
  • ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • ½ cup salted dry roasted pecans, roughly chopped
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 2 cups green Japanese kale, leaves removed from stems, finely chopped and packed

For the Maple-Cider Vinaigrette:

  • ⅓ cup cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ⅔ cup olive oil
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground peppercorn, to taste

Preparation

  1. From your butcher: Purchase a, "bone-in, frenched, and tied crown roast of lamb."
  2. To prep: At least 2 hours prior to smoking, remove crown roast from refrigeration. Whisk together olive oil, herbs, garlic, salt and pepper, then rub into the lamb. Wrap the exposed frenched bones in tin foil. Wrap the entire roast in cling plastic and set on a sanitized counter to rest, elevating the lamb to near room temperature. Preheat grill to 275F, at least 30 minutes prior to the cook. When the billowing smoke thins and turns a faint blueish in hue, you are ready to begin smoking!
  3. To cook: Place seasoned lamb crown in smoker and baste intermittently with oil, until the pork is within 15F of desired serving temperature (see notes section below). Turn up grill to maximum heat, searing the exterior of the lamb, removing the roast from the grill when within 5 degrees of desired serving temperature. Rest under a tinfoil tent for 15-20 minutes prior to carving.
  4. For the butternut squash and faro salad: Preheat oven to 400F and line a rimmed baking sheet with tin foil. Season squash in subsequent four ingredients, then roast in oven for 20-25 minutes, until exterior is just golden brown and interior is fork tender. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, prepare faro per package instructions, to al dente. Drain liquid and set aside to cool. 
  5. For the vinaigrette: In a small mixing bowl, emulsify all vinaigrette ingredients with an immersion blender. Set aside.Toss together all salad ingredients and fold in vinaigrette until well combined. 
  6. To serve: Spread the Faro and Butternut Squash Salad over the base of the plate. Rest the smoked lamb crown roast over the stuffing. Fill the middle of the roast with additional salad. To serve and plate, remove kitchen twine and slice the racks between the bone. Lay the chops over a spoonful of the salad and drizzle with additional maple-cider vinaigrette. Season, to taste. Devour.