Grilled Lamb Chops with Wine Sauce

Name: Grilled Lamb Chops with Wine Sauce
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings.
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons finely chopped sweet onion; 3 teaspoons olive oil, divided; 1 cup dry red wine; 1 teaspoon butter; 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 cup cherry tomatoes; 6 whole unpeeled garlic cloves; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 4 lamb rib or loin chops (6 ounces each)

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Grill: 30 min. YIELD: 4 servings.

Karen Gorman of Gunnison, Colorado proves you don’t need fancy ingredients to create an elegant entree. The rich sauce and roasted tomatoes complement the and tender grilled chops beautifully.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons finely chopped sweet onion
3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 cup dry red wine
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup cherry tomatoes
6 whole unpeeled garlic cloves
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 lamb rib or loin chops (6 ounces each)

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, saute onion in 1 teaspoon oil until tender; add the wine. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons. Stir in butter and thyme. Remove from the heat; keep warm.
2. Place tomatoes on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil. Fold foil around tomatoes and seal tightly; set aside. Repeat with whole garlic cloves and remaining oil. Grill garlic, covered, over medium heat for 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, combine the minced garlic, salt and pepper; rub over chops. Grill lamb and tomato packet, covered, over medium heat for 6-8 minutes on each side or until lamb reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°).
4. Open tomato packet carefully to allow steam to escape; place tomatoes in a small bowl. When garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze softened garlic over tomatoes; toss to coat. Serve lamb with tomatoes and wine sauce.

Nutrition Facts

1 lamb chop with 1/4 cup tomatoes and 1-1/2 teaspoons sauce : 262 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 221mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.