Slow Smoked Pork Shoulder with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Queso Fresco

Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
4 sprigs fresh thyme
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large white onion, chopped
2 heaping tablespoons ancho chile powder
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1 or 2 chipotle in adobo, finely chopped
1 boneless pork shoulder (about 5 pounds)
Warm corn tortillas

Napa Cabbage Slaw, recipe follows
Hot sauce
Fresh cilantro leaves
1 cup crumbled queso fresco

Directions
Special equipment: 2 cups wood chips (hickory or apple), soaked in water 30 minutes

Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the thyme, garlic, onions, ancho chile powder, brown sugar, cumin, coriander, orange juice, lime juice, 1/2 water and chipotle, and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool. Put the pork in a large pan and pour over the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the pork from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.

Preheat a charcoal grill for indirect heat and place the soaked wood chips on top of the coals.

Place the pork on the grill, cover and let smoke until the temperature inside the grill is 220 degrees F. Add chips as necessary to continue smoking until the internal temperature of the pork reaches140 degrees F. Then just let the pork finish cooking until the internal temperature reaches about 190 degrees F. This can take about 5 hours. Let the pork rest 30 minutes.

Shred the pork and serve in the warm tortillas topped with some Napa Cabbage Slaw, hot sauce, fresh cilantro leaves and queso fresco.

Napa Slaw:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons canola oil1 teaspoon celery seeds
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 green onions, coarsely chopped
2 serrano chiles
1 head Napa cabbage, finely shredded
1 large carrot, julienned
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco

Whisk the mayonnaise, vinegar, oil and celery seeds until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the green onions and serrano chiles. Place the cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. Add the dressing and the queso fresco, and toss to combine.

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Slow Smoked Pork Shoulder with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Queso Fresco

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 large white onion, chopped
• 2 heaping tablespoons ancho chile powder
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 3/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 or 2 chipotle in adobo, finely chopped
• 1 boneless pork shoulder (about 5 pounds)
• Warm corn tortillas
• Napa Cabbage Slaw, recipe follows
• Hot sauce
• Fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 cup crumbled queso fresco

Directions

Special equipment: 2 cups wood chips (hickory or apple), soaked in water 30 minutes

Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the thyme, garlic, onions, ancho chile powder, brown sugar, cumin, coriander, orange juice, lime juice, 1/2 water and chipotle, and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool. Put the pork in a large pan and pour over the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the pork from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.

Preheat a charcoal grill for indirect heat and place the soaked wood chips on top of the coals.

Place the pork on the grill, cover and let smoke until the temperature inside the grill is 220 degrees F. Add chips as necessary to continue smoking until the internal temperature of the pork reaches140 degrees F. Then just let the pork finish cooking until the internal temperature reaches about 190 degrees F. This can take about 5 hours. Let the pork rest 30 minutes.

Shred the pork and serve in the warm tortillas topped with some Napa Cabbage Slaw, hot sauce, fresh cilantro leaves and queso fresco.

Napa Slaw:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon celery seeds
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 green onions, coarsely chopped
• 2 serrano chiles
• 1 head Napa cabbage, finely shredded
• 1 large carrot, julienned
• 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco

Whisk the mayonnaise, vinegar, oil and celery seeds until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the green onions and serrano chiles. Place the cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. Add the dressing and the queso fresco, and toss to combine.

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Honey-Rum Pinto Beans with Burnt Ends

Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
8 ounces double-smoked slab bacon, cut into small dice
1 medium carrot, grated on the large holes of a box grater
1 medium Spanish onion, cut into small dice
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Two 15-ounce cans pinto beans, drained, rinsed well and drained again
2 cups Bobby Flay's Mesa Barbecue Sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce
1 to 2 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium canned broth, plus more if needed
1/4 cup clover honey
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
A few cups burnt ends from Smoked, Spice Rubbed, Texas-Style Brisket
Handful torn fresh parsley leaves


Directions
Put the canola oil and bacon in a medium cast-iron or enamel coated cast-iron Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook until crisp. Add the carrots and onions to the pan and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, about 1 minute. Add the beans, barbecue sauce, 1 cup stock, honey and brown sugar and mix gently to combine; season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer, about 20 minutes. Check to see if the mixture is dry, and if it is, add a little more stock. Continue simmering until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the burnt ends. Garnish the top with the parsley and let sit 10 minutes before serving.


Smoked, Spice Rubbed, Texas-Style Brisket:
3 tablespoons ancho chile powder
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon allspice, ground
1 tablespoon celery seeds
1 tablespoon coriander seeds, ground
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon mustard seeds, ground
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon smoked Spanish paprika
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
One 8 to 10 pound brisket, untrimmed
3 cups oak or pecan wood chips, or 6 big chunks, soaked in cold water for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours
2 cups apple juice (in a spray bottle)


Mix together all the spices in a bowl. Liberally rub the entire brisket with the spices, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours. Remove the brisket from the refrigerator 1 hour before beginning the smoking process to take the chill off, and remove the plastic wrap.


Get your smoker running at 225 degrees F with hardwood charcoal and a few handfuls of soaked wood chips. This temperature should be maintained throughout the entire smoke. (If you are using a grill: Set up the grill for indirect heat, banking the coals on one side of the grill and scattering the wood chips on top. Maintain the temperature at 225 degrees throughout the smoking process, adding chips as necessary until you wrap the brisket in foil.)


Place the brisket fat-side up on your smoker grate and close it up for the long smoke.


Open your barbecue smoker every hour or 2 and spray the brisket liberally with apple juice to help keep the meat from drying out. Also keep apple juice in the water pan if you are using a water smoker.


When the internal temperature reaches 165 to 170 degrees, after about 4 hours, wrap the brisket in aluminum foil and continue to cook for another 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours. This little trick is a big help in getting the meat tender, especially for beginners. Figure that a brisket smoked at around 200 degrees will take about 1 1/2 hours per pound. The brisket is done when the internal temperature reaches 185 degrees F. Remove and let rest 20 minutes before slicing. Remove the foil from the brisket over a large pan or disposable pan and reserve the liquid. Cut off the brisket points and reserve for Honey-Rum Baked Pinto Beans with Burnt Ends.


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Steamed Mussels with Fennel and Ouzo

Ingredients
2 pounds cultivated mussels, scrubbed and debearded
2 shallots, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 bulb fennel, trimmed, cored and thinly sliced
1 ripe beefsteak tomato, diced
1 cup white wine
1/4 cup ouzo
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Grilled bread, for serving


Directions
Heat olive oil in a large pot over high heat on the grates of the grill. Stir in shallots and garlic and cook until tender. Stir in fennel and tomato, and continue cooking about 5 minutes. Add white wine and ouzo and reduce by half. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in mussels, 1/2 the basil and season with salt and pepper. Cover the pan and cook until the mussels are open, discarding any that do not. Stir in the remaining basil and serve in large bowls with grilled bread.


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New York Strip with Blue Cheese, Vidalia Onion Jam and Warm Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Ingredients
Onion Jam:
2 tablespoons bacon drippings
3 Vidalia onions, peeled, halved, sliced 1/4-inch thick
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 jalapeno chile, finely diced
1/2 cup red wine
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons creme de cassis
2 tablespoons grenadine
Honey, to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley


Directions
Heat grill to high. Heat a cast iron skillet until hot, but not smoking. Add the drippings, heat, and then the onions, garlic, jalapeno, wine, vinegar, cassis, grenadine and salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid mixture is thickened and jam-like, about 20 minutes. Taste and season with honey, salt and pepper. Stir in the parsley, transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature.


Warm Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette:
2 1/2 pounds red new potatoes
1/2 pound slab bacon, cut into lardons and cooked until golden brown and crisp, 2 tablespoons drippings reserved
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
2 cloves chopped garlic
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons roughly chopped basil leaves
2 tablespoons roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with cold water and season with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil and cook until tender when pierced with a knife. Drain, let cool for a few minutes and quarter


While the potatoes are cooking, whisk together the drippings, vinegar, mustard, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, and then stir in the chopped basil and parsley.


Add the warm potatoes and the bacon to the vinaigrette and gently fold to combine. Serve with the steak.


Grilled NY Strip:
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
Canola oil
4 NY Strip steaks (12-ounces each) removed from the refrigerator 20 minutes before grilling
3/4 pound wedge blue cheese (recommended: Cabrales), room temperature
2 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream
Handful parsley sprigs
Heat the grill to high. Mix together the salt, pepper and thyme in a small bowl. Brush the steaks with oil on both sides and season with the salt mixture. Grill steaks until golden brown and slightly charred on both sides and cooked to medium-rare doneness.


Just before the steaks are done, use a fork to mash the cheese with some of the cream, so that it is chunky but a bit creamy. Mound some on each steak, and let melt very briefly, so the steaks don't overcook. Remove to a platter and let rest 5 minutes before serving. Top with parsley sprigs and serve.



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Shrimp 2 Ways: Soy Sauce-Grilled Shrimp with Spinach Salad and New-Style Scampi

Ingredients
Base:
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 limes, juiced
2 teaspoons honey
2-inch piece fresh ginger, finely grated
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup canola oil, plus more for brushing
For Soy Sauce-Grilled Shrimp with Spinach Salad:
12 ounces large (21-24) shrimp, peeled, tail-on, and deveined
1/2 recipe base
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper


Spinach Salad:
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
8 ounces baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts


For New Style Scampi:
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 recipe base
2 limes
Canola oil, for brushing
12 ounces large (21-24) shrimp, peeled, tail-on, and deveined
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves


Directions
For Soy-Sauce Grilled Shrimp:


Whisk the soy, lime juice, honey, ginger, garlic and canola oil in a medium bowl until combined. Transfer half to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and set aside. Add the shrimp to the marinade in the bowl and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.


While the shrimp marinates, whisk together the rice vinegar, soy sauce, canola and sesame oils, scallion and cilantro in a small bowl.


Heat the grill to high. Remove the shrimp from the marinade, brush with canola oil, and season with salt and pepper. Skewer the shrimp and grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until just cooked through.


Toss the spinach with some of the vinaigrette and mound in the center of a serving platter. Arrange shrimp around spinach and spoon over more of the dressing. Scatter the peanuts over the salad and shrimp.


For the New-Style Scampi:


Add the butter and red pepper flakes to the marinade in the food processor, and pulse until combined. Scrape the mixture into a small saucepan and put on the grill just to melt the butter.


Trim the ends from the limes and halve. Brush with canola oil, season with salt and pepper, and grill, flesh side down, until marked and slightly softened, 4 to 5 minutes.


Skewer the remaining shrimp, brush with canola oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until just cooked through. Slide the shrimp from the skewers into a shallow bowl, pour over some butter sauce, and toss to coat. Scatter the cilantro over the top, and arrange the grilled limes around the shrimp.


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Bobby Flay's Fra Diavolo Jambalaya

Ingredients
2 red bell peppers
4 plum tomatoes, halved
5 cloves garlic, peeled, plus 3 cloves, thinly sliced
6 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons chipotle puree, depending on how spicy you like it
12 ounces Spanish style chorizo, sliced in 1/4-inch thick slices
1 large Spanish onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cups long-grain white rice
1/2 cup vodka
2 to 3 cups lobster stock
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano leaves
1 pound cultivated mussels, scrubbed
2 steamed lobsters (1 1/2 pounds each) meat removed
1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions


Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.


Place the peppers, tomatoes and 5 garlic cloves on a baking sheet, drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until the peppers and tomatoes are slightly charred and the garlic is golden brown. Transfer to a food processor with the chipotle puree and process until smooth; scrape into a bowl.


Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook until golden brown on both sides. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels.


Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the sliced garlic and cook until lightly golden brown. Add the red pepper flakes and cook for 20 seconds. Stir in the rice and cook for 2 minutes.


Add the vodka and cook until reduced. Add the tomato/pepper puree and enough stock to cover, season with salt and bring to a boil. Add the chorizo and oregano, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Lift the lid, add the mussels, cover again and cook until the mussels have opened, discarding any that do not, and the rice is al dente and all the liquid is absorbed. Remove from the heat and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in the lobster meat and crabmeat, fresh basil, parsley and green onions.


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Grilled Clams on the Half Shell with Bacon, Garlic, and Hot Pepper

Ingredients
32 littleneck clams on the half shell
1/4-pound bacon, finely diced
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
Freshly ground black pepper


Directions
Preheat grill to high.


Place a medium saute pan over medium-high heat, add the bacon and cook until lightly golden brown. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and continue cooking until the bacon is crisp. Remove from the heat, stir in the olive oil, parsley, and bread crumbs and season with black pepper, to taste.


Top clams with bacon mixture and place on the grill. Grill for about 1 minute or until just cooked through. Serve immediately.


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Gratin Dauphinois

Ingredients
3 cups heavy cream
6 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch thick slices (on mandoline or with a knife)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 clove garlic, peeled and halved
1 cup grated Gruyere
2 tablespoons chopped chives, optional


Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.


Bring 2 cups of the heavy cream to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Add the potatoes, salt and pepper and cook for 3 minutes.


Rub the cut side of the garlic clove on the bottom and sides of an 8-inch casserole or baking dish. Add the potatoes and cream and top with the remaining cream and Gruyere cheese. Sprinkle chives over top, if using. Bake on a baking sheet until potatoes are tender and cheese is golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving.

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Gratin Dauphinois

Green Chile Cheeseburgers

Ingredients
2 pounds ground chuck, 80 percent to 85 percent lean
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 thin slices Chihuahua or provolone
4 good-quality hamburger buns, toasted
Green Chili Sauce, recipe follows
Romaine lettuce leaves, optional
4 thick slices beefsteak tomatoes, optional
Pickled jalapenos, optional


Directions
Heat grill to high. Form meat into 4 (8-ounce) burgers and season each burger on both sides with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Grill until charred on both sides and cooked to desired doneness.


Place 2 slices of the cheese on each burger, close the lid or tent with foil, and cook until the cheese has just melted, about 1 minute. Place burgers on buns and top with a few tablespoons of Green Chile Sauce and lettuce, tomato, and pickled jalapeno, if desired.


Green Chile Sauce:
2 poblano chiles, grilled, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 medium white onion, grilled and chopped
1 to 2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh epazote, or fresh oregano leaves
1/4 cup cold water
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.


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Cheeseburger Sandwiches

Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 cup thinly sliced scallions
• 1 large clove garlic, minced

Directions

Bring water to a boil. Add salt and pepper. Add grits and cook until water is absorbed, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter and cheese.

Rinse shrimp and pat dry. Fry the bacon in a large skillet until browned; drain well. In grease, add shrimp. Cook until shrimp turn pink. Add lemon juice, chopped bacon, parsley, scallions and garlic. Saute for 3 minutes.

Spoon grits into a serving bowl. Add shrimp mixture and mix well. Serve immediately.

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Shrimp

Squid with Bacon and Garlic Oil

Ingredients

• 8 ounces slab bacon, cut into lardons
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pounds fresh squid, cleaned and sliced into rings
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped thyme leaves

Directions

Place the bacon in a medium saute pan over medium heat and cook until lightly golden brown and the fat has been rendered. Increase the heat to high and add the garlic, olive oil, and squid, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook the squid for 2 to 3 minutes or until just cooked through. Stir in the herbs and serve.

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Squid

Bacon

Grilled Flatbread with Asparagus Pesto and Fontina

Ingredients

• 1 pound grilled asparagus
• 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, plus chopped for garnish
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts
• 3/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup, plus 4 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano
• 1 pound fontina cheese, thinly sliced
• 1 large prepared pizza shell (recommended: Boboli)

Directions

Heat grill to high

Combine the asparagus, basil, garlic and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse a few times to coarsely chop. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and process until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper and transfer the pesto to a bowl. Stir in the Pecorino Romano.

Place pizza shell on the grill. Grill until slightly crisp, about 1 minute. Remove the shells and spread each with the pesto. Top with the fontina, return to the grill, close the cover and continue cooking until the cheese has melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the grill and sprinkle with the remaining Romano cheese and chopped fresh basil. Slice each flatbread into bite-sized pieces.

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Flatbread

Grilled Lamb Chops with Rosemary, Salt, and Tapanade Aioli

Ingredients

For the tapanade aioli:

• 1/2 cup prepared mayonnaise
• 1 lemon, zested
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 anchovy fillets, drained
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 tablespoons pitted nicoise olives
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the lamb chops:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary plus sprigs, for garnish
• 1/4 cup kosher salt
• 12 bone-in baby lamb chops, Frenched
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper

For the tapanade aioli:

Directions

Combine the mayonnaise, zest, juice, anchovies and garlic in a food processor and process until smooth. Add the olives and salt and pepper and pulse a few times just to incorporate the olives, not puree them. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Can be made 8 hours in advance and refrigerated.

For the lamb chops:

Combine the rosemary and salt in a food processor and process until combined.

Heat the grill to high.

Brush the chops on both sides with oil and season with a few teaspoons of the salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place on the grill and grill until golden brown and slightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes.Flip the chops over and continue grilling to medium-rare doneness, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Top each chop with a dollop of the aioli. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

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Lamb Chops