Serves 2
Time 20 min
Ingredients:
• 2 lamb neck fillets, about 200–250g each
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp harissa paste
• 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• 2 tbsn tahini
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 garlic clove, grated
• ¼ cup pistachios, roughly crushed
• 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds, to serve
• fresh mint or parsley, to serve
Method:
Bring the lamb neck fillets to room temperature, pat dry, season with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, mix the harissa, pomegranate molasses, honey and garlic to make the glaze.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy pan over medium-high heat on the stovetop.
Sear the lamb neck fillets for 3–4 minutes per side, until well browned and cooked to medium — lamb neck fillet is lean and best not overcooked.
In the last minute of cooking, brush the fillets generously with the harissa glaze, turning to coat and letting it caramelise slightly in the pan.
Remove from the pan and rest for 5 minutes.
Slice the lamb on an angle.
Spoon over any remaining glaze, scatter with crushed pistachios, pomegranate seeds, tahini and torn mint.
Chef's notes & hacks:
- Lamb neck fillet cooks quickly and is lean, so treat it like a steak — don't take it past medium or it can dry out.
- Brush the glaze on right at the end of cooking, not at the start, or the honey and sugars in it will burn before the lamb is cooked through.
- Toast the pistachios in a dry pan for a minute before crushing for extra flavour.
- Make extra glaze and keep in the fridge for a week — it's great on roasted vegetables or brushed onto chicken too.
