Chicken Parmigiana

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups all-purpose flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
4 large eggs, beaten with 2 tablespoons water and seasoned with salt and pepper
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 cup vegetable oil or pure olive oil
Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
1 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Fresh basil or parsley leaves, for garnish

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each breast in the flour and tap off excess, then dip in the egg and let excess drip off, then dredge on both sides in the bread crumbs.

Divide the oil between 2 large saute pans and heat over high heat until almost smoking. Add 2 chicken breasts to each pan and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and top each breast with some tomato sauce, a few slices of the mozzarella, salt and pepper, and a tablespoon of Parmesan. Bake in the oven until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and garnish with basil or parsley leaves.

Tomato Sauce:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large Spanish onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, smashed with some kosher salt to make a paste
2 (28-ounce) cans plum tomatoes and their juices, pureed in a blender
1 (16-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1 small bunch Italian parsley
1 Cubano chile pepper, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add pureed tomatoes with their juices, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 cup water, bay leaf, parsley, Cubano pepper, and bring to a boil. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Reduce heat and cook until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.

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Cornell Chicken with Grilled Steak Fries

Ingredients
Brine:
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
8 whole cloves
8 black peppercorns
8 sprigs fresh rosemary
8 fresh sage leaves
8 sprigs fresh thyme
Two 3 1/2-pound chickens, halved, keel bones and wing tips removed
Canola oil, for brushing

Spice Mixture:
3 tablespoons dried sage
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground celery seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Sauce:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
5 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons clover honey
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions
For the brine: Whisk 8 cups cold water, the vinegar, salt, sugar, cloves, peppercorns, rosemary, sage and thyme until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Add the chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. Do not brine any longer than 2 hours or the chicken will start to break down.

For the spice mixture: Stir the sage, marjoram, pepper, rosemary, thyme, celery seeds and ground cloves in a small bowl.

For the sauce: Whisk the vinegar, mustard, honey, rosemary, thyme and sage in a bowl until smooth.

Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling. Rinse under cold water and pat dry. Brush the chicken with canola oil. Sprinkle the skin side of the chicken with half the spice mixture and some salt and pepper.

Prepare a charcoal grill for direct and indirect cooking. On the direct side, have the coals at medium-high heat. Arrange the chicken skin side down on the grill, over direct heat. Rub the bottom of the chicken with the remaining half the spice mixture. Grill the chicken until well browned, about 10 minutes. Flip the chicken skin side up and baste 1/3 cup of the sauce.

Move the chicken to indirect heat, cover, and cook until the thigh meat registers 165 degrees F, about 40 minutes longer. Baste with 1/3 cup of the sauce every few minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Brush with the remaining 1/3 cup of the sauce and sprinkle with parsley. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Arrange on a platter with the Grilled Steak Fries.

Grilled Steak Fries:
5 large Yukon gold or russet potatoes, par cooked in salted water
Canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
Finely chopped fresh chives

Heat the grill to medium heat. Cut each potato into eighths. Brush the potatoes with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the potatoes until lightly golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, about 4 minutes each side. Transfer to a platter and immediately drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with more salt and chives.

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Grilled Eggplant Caponata Bruschetta with Ricotta Salata

Ingredients

• 4 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
• 2 medium globe eggplants, cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 large stalk celery, diced
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup Sicilian green olives, pitted and chopped
• 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• Pinch red chile flakes
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 loaf Italian bread, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 8 ounces ricotta salata, crumbled

Directions

Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.

Brush the tomatoes and eggplant with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes each side. Grill the tomatoes until charred all over, about 8 minutes. Remove the eggplant and tomatoes from the heat and cut into dice.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil in a large saute pan. Add the celery and onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the eggplant and tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Add the olives, vinegar, raisins, capers, sugar, chile flakes, a big splash olive oil, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the basil and parsley and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer the caponata to a bowl and keep at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving. The caponata can be made 1 day in advance, covered and refrigerated. Bring the caponata to room temperature before serving.

Meanwhile, grill the bread on both sides until slightly charred, about 30 seconds each side. Remove the bread from the grill and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top each slice of bread with some of the caponata and sprinkle with the ricotta salata. Drizzle the top of each slice of bread with more olive oil and scatter basil on top.

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Texas-Style Potato Salad with Mustard and Pickled Red Onions

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

Kosher salt

1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced

2 1/2 pounds new red potatoes

6 hard-cooked eggs, coarsely chopped

1 roasted red pepper, finely diced

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley or cilantro

Directions

Bring the vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar and salt dissolves, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool for 10 minutes. Add the onions and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours. Drain the onions through a strainer into a bowl and reserve the pickling liquid.

Put the potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water by 2 inches and add 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until a knife inserted into the center of the potatoes meets with no resistance. Drain the potatoes well, let cool slightly (but not all the way) and slice into 1/2-inch thick slices.

Transfer the warm potatoes to a large bowl. Add the eggs, pickled onions and red peppers. Whisk together the mayonnaise, mustards, a few tablespoons of the pickling liquid and season with salt and pepper. Add the dressing and parsley to the warm potatoes and gently mix to combine; season with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature or cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and serve chilled.

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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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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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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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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 French Bread Pizza with Mushroom Pesto and Fontina Cheese

Ingredients

• 1-ounce dried porcini mushrooms
• 1 pound cremini or white button mushrooms, stems removed
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Whole head roasted garlic, pulp removed
• 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
• 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• 1 loaf French bread, about 24 inches long, sliced in 1/2 lengthwise
• 2 1/2 cups grated fontina cheese

Directions

Place the porcini mushrooms in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let sit until softened, 30 minutes.

Heat the grill to high.

Brush the cremini or white button mushroom caps with the canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the mushrooms on the grill, cap side down and grill until golden brown and slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the caps over and continue grilling until the mushrooms are cooked through, about 5 minutes longer. Remove from the grill, let cool slightly then coarsely chop.

Remove the porcinis from the soaking liquid and place in the bowl of a food processor with a few tablespoons of the soaking liquid. Add cremini mushrooms, garlic pulp, walnuts, parsley and thyme in a food processor and process until finely chopped. With the motor running, slowly add 1/2 cup of the olive oil and process until smooth. Add 1/4 cup of the Romano cheese and pulse a few times to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper.

Brush the bread on the cut side with the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Evenly spread the pesto over the cut side of each half of bread. Top the pesto with the fontina cheese, return to the grill, cheese side up, close the cover of the grill and cook until the cheese has melted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the grill and sprinkle with the remaining Romano.

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French Bread

Gigantes

Ingredients

• 1 pound gigantes (or big lima beans), soaked for 12 hours, drained
• 1/4 cup Greek olive oil
• 1 large Spanish onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (15-ounce) can chopped plum tomatoes plus their liquid
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Add the beans to a pot with enough cold water to cover well. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer until just soft throughout but not quite cooked, approximately 50 to 80 minutes, depending on the beans. Drain and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Add onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and their liquid, 2 cups water, honey, cloves, salt, and pepper and boil gently for 20 to 30 minutes or until it begins to thicken. Stir in the parsley and remove from heat.

Place the beans in an oven-proof dish, pour tomato mixture on top, stir and spread mixture out evenly. Bake 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until beans are soft. (Check the dish during cooking and if needed, add a small amount of boiling water.) The dish will look crispy on top. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot or at room temperature.

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Lima Bean

Roasted Leg of Lamb

Ingredients

• 1 (7-pound) semi-boneless leg of lamb, aitchbone removed, fat trimmed to 1/4-inch thick, and lamb tied
• 8 garlic cloves
• 1 cup flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• Pita bread, wrapped in foil and warmed in the oven

Directions

Pat lamb dry and score fat by making shallow cuts all over with tip of a sharp small knife.

Place garlic, parsley, mint, lemon zest and juice, salt, pepper, and oil in a food processor and process until smooth. Rub the paste all over the lamb and place in a lightly oiled roasting pan. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Roast lamb in middle of oven for 20 minutes, reduce heat to 350, and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into thickest part of meat (not touching bone) registers 135 degrees F, about 1 3/4 hours.

Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 15 to 25 minutes (the internal temperature will rise to about 145 degrees F for medium). Slice the meat against the grain and serve with pita.

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Lamb