Superfast and Elegant

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These delicious lamb chops topped with sweet pomegranate sauce offer great flavor with minimal effort. Serve with a side of couscous.

Herbed Lamb Chops with Pomegranate Reduction

Ingredients

Cooking spray
8 (3-ounce) lamb rib chops, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
3/4 cup pomegranate juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon water
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation

Preheat broiler.

Coat a foil-lined baking sheet with cooking spray. Place lamb on prepared pan. Sprinkle lamb evenly with 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and thyme. Broil 5 minutes on each side.

Combine juice, mustard, and honey in a small bowl. Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add shallots and garlic to pan; sauté 1 minute. Stir in juice mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 5 minutes). Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl; stir until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in chives, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Serve with lamb.

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 2 lamb chops and 2 tablespoons sauce)


Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus, and Pesto

Ingredients

2 quarts plus 1 tablespoon water, divided
1 (16-ounce) package vacuum-packed gnocchi (such as Vigo)
4 cups (1-inch) slices asparagus (about 1 pound)
1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp, coarsely chopped
1 cup basil leaves
2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
2 tablespoons preshredded Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
4 teaspoons extravirgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add gnocchi to pan; cook 4 minutes or until done (gnocchi will rise to surface). Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon; place in a large bowl. Add asparagus and shrimp to pan; cook 5 minutes or until shrimp are done. Drain. Add shrimp mixture to gnocchi.

Combine remaining 1 tablespoon water, basil, and next 4 ingredients (through garlic) in a food processor; process until smooth, scraping sides. Drizzle oil through food chute with food processor on; process until well blended. Add salt and basil mixture to shrimp mixture; toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Yield 4 servings


Grilled Fusion Chicken

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup garlic-infused olive oil (see notes)
2 tablespoons each tequila and fresh lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons hot sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground dried chipotle chile
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
Chopped cilantro (optional)

Preparation

1. Pound chicken to 1/4-inch thickness. In a shallow dish, whisk oil, tequila, lime juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire, ginger, chile, and salt. Reserve 1/3 cup of this marinade, then put the chicken in dish, turn to coat, and marinate 30 minutes.

2. Grill chicken on a charcoal or gas grill over medium heat (you can hold your hand 1 to 2 inches above grill level only 4 to 5 seconds), turning once, until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes total.

3. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, simmer reserved marinade until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cream, then remove from heat. Serve chicken drizzled with sauce and garnished with cilantro, if you like. Serve extra sauce and a green salad on the side.

Yield 4 servings


Balsamic-Glazed Filet Mignon

Ingredients

4 (4-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 tablespoons dry sherry
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons honey

Preparation

Sprinkle both sides of steaks evenly with salt and black pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add steaks to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Remove steaks from pan; keep warm.

Add garlic and red pepper to pan; sauté 30 seconds. Add sherry to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 30 seconds. Add soy sauce and remaining ingredients; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, and cook 1 minute. Serve with steaks.

Yield 4 servings

Pair steak with classic sides like mashed potatoes and steamed green beans.


Steamed Mussels in Saffron Broth

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crushed
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 tablespoons whipping cream
1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice
4 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded

Preparation

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; sauté 1 minute. Add garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Add saffron; sauté 15 seconds. Stir in tomato paste, whipping cream, and clam juice; bring to a boil. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Add mussels to pan. Cover and cook 5 minutes or until mussels open; discard any unopened shells.

Yield 4 servings