Sweet and spiced winter lamb chops

1. Preheat oven to 220°C. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the honey, garlic, 1 tbsp spice mix and a good glug of olive oil.
2. Place the vegetables on a lined baking tray, drizzle over the honey mix and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place in the oven at 220°C for 25-30 minutes until the veggies are tender and golden brown.
3. While the veggies are cooking, make the feta whip. Place the feta and yoghurt in a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and whisk until smooth. Set aside. 
4. Sprinkle the remaining spice mixture all over the lamb chops and season with salt and pepper. Add a drizzle of oil to a large frying pan over high heat and cook the chops for 3 minutes each side. Once cooked, leave to rest for 3 minutes.
5. To assemble, place the whipped feta on the bottom of a large serving platter, top with the vegetables, sprinkle over the chopped dates and top with lamb chops.

Tips:

• Want an ultimate show-stopping garnish? Whip up some honey toasted hazelnuts! Just place ¼ cup chopped hazelnuts in a small pan and toast until fragrant. Add a sprinkle of salt, a pinch of chilli flakes, drizzle with honey and stir until all the hazelnuts are coated. Spoon onto a piece of baking paper and leave to cool. Serve sprinkled over your dish with mint leaves.

FAQs:

• How do you keep lamb chops from getting tough?
  • Temperature is by far the most critical aspect of cooking lamb chops. Undercooking even tender lamb chops can render them unpleasantly chewy, while overcooking will lead to tough, dried-out meat. Be sure to use a timer when cooking to ensure your lamb chops are cooked for the correct amount of time.
• Do you preheat the pan before placing the lamb chops on?
  • Yes! Be sure to heat the pan on high heat before placing your lamb chops on and starting your timer. If the pan is not hot enough before you place the lamb chops on, they will be undercooked and can be chewy.