‘Blast from the Past Recipe’

Lamb Chops & Parsley Butter served on a Bed of Watercress with New Potatoes (Serves 4)

I first posted this recipe in August 2020. As we are now welcoming the lighter evenings and warmer weather, I thought that it was the perfect time to remind you of this wonderful, yet simple lamb dish!…

Despite its simplicity, this recipe has lots of flavour. The watercress is an excellent accompaniment to the lamb whilst the parsley butter, with its touch of lemon juice, enhances the flavours superbly. You won’t use all the butter but it is great to have in the freezer – ready to slice and add to steamed potatoes on any occasion. This recipe calls for curly parsley rather than flat leaf, simply as it adds a little more texture and has a milder flavour, but you can use either type.

400g new potatoes

8 lamb chops

A little olive oil

100g butter, softened and cubed

A bunch of curly parsley, chopped (see note above)

Juice of ½ lemon

200g watercress, trimmed

Sea salt and black pepper

1. First make the parsley butter. Place the butter in a bowl with the chopped parsley, lemon juice and seasoning, mix well. Spoon on to a sheet of cling film and roll into a log shape, place in the freezer, wrapped in the clingfilm. Do not wash up the bowl that you used for mixing the butter – you can use it to season the steamed potatoes when serving!
2. Steam the potatoes for 20 minutes or so until cooked.
3. Meanwhile place the watercress on your plates.
4. Season the lamb chops and brush with a little olive oil, fry on a griddle pan (or in a normal frying pan) for about 2½-3 minutes each side so that they are still pink in the middle. Place the chops on the plates, on top of the watercress.
5. Now take your reserved ‘butter bowl’ and place the cooked potatoes in it, mix them around so that they get a good coating of the leftover butter, then place them on the plates.
6. Finally cut four slices from the parsley butter and place on top of the chops.