The divine lamb dish featured here is a perfect example of the excellent food served at El Olivo. This romantic restaurant, in a restored olive-oil mill, is a great spot to wine and dine someone special — the many wax-drenched candelabra are very nice touches. Service is impeccable, friendly, and attentive, including a sommelier at the ready to pair Spanish wines with the delicious local cuisine. El Olivo is one of three restaurants located in La Residencia, a beautiful resort in the western Majorca town of Deià.
Serve this refined Spanish dish as they do at the restaurant, with sautéed purple potatoes, mushrooms, baby carrots, and broccoli.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
Sauce
Lamb
Preparation
For sauce:
Step 1
Sprinkle lamb bones with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add lamb bones and sauté until dark brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer lamb bones to bowl. Add leek, carrot, and onion to same pot. Sauté until golden, about 12 minutes. Add tomato, red wine, garlic, bay leaves, and rosemary; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Add 4 cups water and lamb bones with any accumulated juices. Bring to boil. Cover partially, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduced, about 2 hours. Using tongs, discard lamb bones. Press vegetables and liquid through sieve into large bowl. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated.)
For lamb:
Step 2
Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and rosemary; sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Add breadcrumbs and sauté until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add olives and stir until moist clumps form, adding more breadcrumbs if mixture is loose. Season crumb topping with salt and pepper. Cool.
Step 3
Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Working in batches, add lamb racks to skillet, rounded side down. Sear until brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer to large rimmed baking sheet, seared side up. Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard over each. Press crumb topping into mustard. Roast lamb to desired doneness, about 25 minutes for medium.
Step 4
Rewarm sauce over low heat, stirring occasionally. Cut lamb between bones and serve with sauce.
