Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray

Lamb Chops with Greens and Crispy Orecchiette Pasta with Walnut-Rosemary Pesto

Name: Lamb Chops with Greens and Crispy Orecchiette Pasta with Walnut-Rosemary Pesto
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H10M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: Salt; 1 pound orecchiette pasta; 1 1/2 cups walnuts; 7 to 8 stems rosemary, 1/4 to 1/3 cup leaves, loosely packed; 2 cloves garlic, cracked from skin; Black pepper; 3 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided; 1/2 to 3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano; 4 shoulder lamb chops, bone-in, 8 to 10 ounces each; 2 tablespoons butter; Grated nutmeg, to taste; 1 red onion, thinly sliced; 2 large heads kale, dinosaur kale or chard, chopped; 2 to 3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar

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Level: Easy
Total: 30 min

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 20 min

Yield: 4 servings

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Ingredients

Salt

1 pound orecchiette pasta

1 1/2 cups walnuts

7 to 8 stems rosemary, 1/4 to 1/3 cup leaves, loosely packed

2 cloves garlic, cracked from skin

Black pepper

3 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1/2 to 3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

4 shoulder lamb chops, bone-in, 8 to 10 ounces each

2 tablespoons butter

Grated nutmeg, to taste

1 red onion, thinly sliced

2 large heads kale, dinosaur kale or chard, chopped

2 to 3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar

Directions

Bring water to a boil for pasta, salt water and cook to al dente.
Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, a few minutes then cool. Add the nuts to a food processor with rosemary, 1 clove garlic, salt and pepper and turn processor on. Stream 1/3 cup oil into food processor to form pesto then scrape into a bowl and stir in about 3/4 cup grated cheese.
Rub chops with cut clove of garlic then season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chops and cook 4 minutes each side for medium rare doneness.
While lamb cooks, drain pasta and return pot to heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and butter in pasta pot and melt over medium heat. Place the pasta back in the pot and crisp 4 to 5 minutes, toasting the pasta. Season the pasta with salt and pepper and a little nutmeg.
Remove lamb from skillet and cover with foil to let meat settle. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high to high heat. Add onions and greens and sear them. Season the greens with salt and pepper and wilt down, 3 to 4 minutes. Add vinegar and turn greens to coat in vinegar.
Serve a chop alongside greens. Top greens with toasted pasta and drizzle some pesto over everything.