Goat Cheese Stuffed Lamb Chops

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 2 center-cut lamb chops (thick cut bone in. 1 -1/2 to 2 inches thick)
• 4 ounces goat cheese, divided (lively run is very nice)
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1/4 cup celery, chopped fine
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped fine
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 3 teaspoons oil
• 1/2 cup wine (semi-dry. a good riesling. don't cook with what you wouldn't drink!)
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 heat 2 oil and butter over medium-high heat in a skillet.
• 2 insert paring knife into chop at end away from bone & open a 2 inch hole almost to bone.
• 3 work knife back & forth until the pocket is almost the full size of chop. set aside.
• 4 saute celery in melted oil/butter mixture for 3-4 minute. add chopped onion and saute for 5-6 minutes more.
• 5 remove onions & celery with slotted spoon, reserving as much oil/butter combination as possible. remove skillet from heat.
• 6 mix 1/2 of the goat cheese and the stripped leaves from 2 sprigs of the thyme with the celery & onion in a bowl & allow cheese to slightly melt from the heat of the vegetables.
• 7 when mixture is cool enough to work with (3-5 minutes) divide stuffing evenly and stuff chops. do not be afraid of over stuffing. season both sides with salt & pepper.
• 8 return skillet to a medium-high heat and bring to temperature.
• 9 sear stuffed chops, turning once until browned on each side. about 2-3 minutes per side.
• 10 once chops are browned add the 1/2 cup of wine (adjust as necessary. the liquid should reach 1/2 way up the sides of the chops) and the remaining sprig of thyme.
• 11 immediately reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
• 12 cook at simmer 30 minutes or until internal temp is 160.
• 13 once chops are done, remove & keep warm.
• 14 discard thyme sprig.
• 15 increase heat to high & add remaining goat cheese.
• 16 stir pan sauce constantly until reduced by half.
• 17 plate with kluski or egg noodles & green beans. pour a generous amount of sauce over chops and reserve the rest for you and your partner.