Warm Lamb, Carrot and Beetroot Salad

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Serves: 3-4
Cooking Time: 60 mins
Ready Time: 75 mins
Cooking Method: Searing
Difficulty: easy

Ingredients

3-4 Lamb Rumps

FOR THE SALAD
2 large beetroot
5-6 carrots, sliced
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 red onions, quartered
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
2 tsp poppy seeds
1 Tbsp honey, warmed

FOR THE DRESSING
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp red or white wine vinegar
1 tsp honey
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp, finely chopped mint leaves

FOR THE PASTA & SPINACH
300gm orzo/risoni pasta or couscous
2-3 handfuls of baby spinach

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake or 200°C conventional bake.
Remove the lamb rumps from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature (bloom).

PREPARE THE VEGETABLES
Cut the top and tail off the beetroots and wrap in tinfoil. Place in the oven and bake for an hour.
Add the carrots to a roasting dish with the garlic, onions, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, honey and 1 tablespoon oil.
Mix it all up to coat evenly and season generously with salt and pepper.
Bake in the oven along with the beetroot for the last 30 minutes. Remove everything and set aside.
Increase the oven temperature to 200°C fan bake or 210°C conventional bake.

MAKE THE PASTA
Cook the orzo in a saucepan of boiling salted water, according to packet instructions. Drain well.
Mix the drained orzo with half of the dressing and the spinach.

COOK THE LAMB
Season the lamb rumps with salt and pepper.
Heat a little oil in a frying pan over a high heat. Add the lamb, fat side down, and cook for a few minutes until browned and crispy, and most of the fat is rendered out.
Turn over and cook for another couple of minutes to brown the other side.
Transfer to a roasting pan and roast in the oven for 13-15 minutes for medium.
Remove from the oven, cover loosely with foil and rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing thinly across the grain.

MAKE THE DRESSING
To make the dressing, whisk the ingredients together and season to taste.

TO SERVE
Rub the skin off the beetroot with your fingers and slice into thin wedges.
Season with salt and pepper. Spoon some risoni/orzo/couscous mixture on to plates or bowls, then top with roasted veges, beetroot and sliced lamb.
Sprinkle with the feta, pine nuts and extra mint then drizzle with a little more dressing.

Recipe by recipes.co.nz