The rack of lamb is a delicious and tender cut of meat that comes from the sheep's rib area, usually with eight chops weighing 1 to 2 pounds each. It's around 16 ounces for a New Zealand rack compared to an American 2-pounder. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt is said to be leaner and healthier than beef. In addition, this recipe uses the Frenched Rack to expose the bones by scrapping off the membrane and some meat from the bone. Although not a recipe I tested, this may work with loin chops.

Curried Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Chickpea Cucumber Salad

Name: Curried Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Chickpea Cucumber Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound lamb chops; 2 tablespoon ginger paste; 1 tablespoon avocado oil; 1 each lemon juice and zest; 5 garlic cloves (minced or garlic pressed); 1 teaspoon garam masala; 1 teaspoon Jamaican curry powder; 1 teaspoon cajun spice; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 can chickpeas; 1 cup Campari tomatoes (quartered); 1 cup cucumber (large diced); 1/4 cup scallions (medium sliced); 1/2 lemon juice and zest; 1/2 tablespoon avocado oil; 1 teaspoon cajun spice; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 large avocado; 5 ounces Greek plain yogurt; 1 tablespoon mayonnaise; 1/2 lemon juice and zest; 1/4 cup cilantro (coarsely chopped); 1/4 teaspoon garam masala; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Aromatic spiced air fryer lamb chops cooked to perfection and a refreshing citrusy chickpea salad of tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and scallions served with a creamy avocado sauce.

curried lamb chops on top of chickpea cucumber salad with avocado cream sauce on the bottom

Simple Air Fryer Lamb Chop Recipe

Are you ready to try something incredibly delicious in your air fryer? Then prepare for a new craving: an air fryer lamb chops with Mediterranean spices recipe. This dish is also packed with exciting twists of flavorful ingredients, a mash-up of North American, Mediterranean, and Indian cuisine.

The richness of the spiced lamb chops is balanced perfectly with the refreshing sweetness and tanginess of the chickpea salad and creamy avocado sauce that ties everything together. That is to say, it's literally a taste sensation you'll never forget. With only a few simple steps and minimal prep time, as a result, this delicious and tender meal is ready in just 25 minutes.

If you love curry, try the Air Fryer Roasted Chicken Chickpeas Vegetable Curry, Masala Chickpeas and Egg Curry, and Curry Lentil Turkey Stew recipes. Wait! There's more! Check out Curried Chickpeas and Mushrooms with Spiced Brown Basmati Rice.

For a Mediterranean vibe, check out the popular Air Fryer Branzino with Lemon Potatoes and Vegetables, Spicy Chicken Pitas with Arugula Feta Pomegranate Salad, and Hot Honey Lemon Chicken Skewers with Asparagus.

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Simple Air Fryer Lamb Chop Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Cooking tip
Frequently Asked Questions
Mediterranean Recipes
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Ingredients

Seasoning Lamb Chops

First, if not already done, you will cut your lamb rack into lamb chops to get started. Then, you will marinate the lamb chops in a bowl with ginger paste, avocado oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, garam masala, Jamaican curry, Cajun spice, salt, and ground black pepper. Very easy!

See the air fryer lamb chops recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients in containers on a round pizza pan for the curry lamb chops

Mediterranean-Inspired Chickpea Salad Ingredients

For this fun salad, in a bowl, you'll combine the chickpeas, quartered Campari tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced scallions, lemon juice and zest, avocado oil, Cajun spice, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. Once mixed well, just check for a balance of salt, lemon juice, and oil. Just 8 Ingredients for this Salad!

See the air fryer lamb chops recipe card for quantities.

chickpeas cucumber tomato salad in a metal bowl with a metal serving spoon for curry lamb chops.

Greek Yogurt Avocado Dressing

To make this dressing, mash up the ripe avocado and add Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, cilantro, garam masala, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. As a result, the cilantro and avocado complement the curried lamb very well. In addition, the mayonnaise in the dressing provides extra creaminess to balance the tartness from the lemon juice and yogurt. So simple and so versatile. So use this dressing for everything!

See the air fryer lamb chops recipe card for quantities.

prep for the avocado cream sauce in containers on a black pizza pan for curry lamb chops.

Final Result: Avocado Cream Sauce

Avocado Cream Sauce in a metal bowl with a whisk on a light wood board with a halved avocado and blue and white kitchen towel

Instructions

raw rack of lamb on a plastic cutting board for curry lamb chops.

Even though the package may label the lamb as Frenched, sometimes it needs a little more work.

rack of lamb laying flat next to a boning knife on a plastic cutting board.

Scrape the bones clean to prevent burnt pieces from roasting.

Scraped bones of a lamb rack on a plastic cutting board for curry lamb chops.

You may have to trim extra fat, but leave a thin layer to hold the meat together.

rack of lam on cutting board with a gloved hand pointing to its end

Then, you will cut between each bone.

one peace of lamb chop divided from a rack of lamb on a cutting board for curry lamb chops.

Just follow your knife all the way down, using your knife to feel between the bones.

one peace of lamb chop divided from a rack of lamb on a cutting board for curry lamb chops. with gloved hand pointing to the lamb chop

Also, make sure to stay in the middle for even pieces.

three lamb chops on a plastic cutting board with a boning knife for curry lamb chops

End pieces tend to be skimpier.

Busy Folks - Become a better home cook with cooking tips to help you cook more efficiently on Cook's Notebook tab. In addition, some related detailed steps can be found there. Learn more about prepping lamb.

Substitutions

Mayonnaise - Try using mayonnaise made with olive oil or vegan mayo.
Jamaican Curry and Garam Masala - Use Indian yellow curry powder
Campari Tomatoes - These tomatoes tend to be sweet with low acidity. For example, try using grape, cherry, or plum tomatoes as a replacement since they usually are sweeter than globe tomatoes.
Lamb Chops - This rub will work great on white fish and chicken breast and should take 6 to 8 minutes in the air fryer when using thin cuts.

Change Heat Level - Modify the air fryer lamb chop recipe's heat level to your liking and learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Pairings.

Variations

Use ingredients separately for other meals.

Lamb Rack Roast - Keep the lamb whole, and use the spices to make a lamb rack roast
Great Side Dish - Use the chickpea salad as a great side dish for your Mediterranean-themed meal.
Avocado Cream Sauce - Use the cream sauce to make lamb burgers; on the other hand, try using the cream sauce for fish tacos.

Or serve the curried lamb chops with the Quick 5 Vegetable Medley, also done in the air fryer.

Equipment

Mixing Bowls - Used for marinating the lamb, making the chickpea salad, and avocado cream sauce.
Air Fryer - For the lamb chops. In addition, this recipe was developed using the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill. However, you can try roasting in the oven if you do not have an air fryer.
- For example, you have two options with different results: a sheet pan with parchment paper or a sheet pan with a sheet pan rack. For instance, the parchment paper will produce vegetables roasted in their juices and caramelization at the bottom.
- In contrast, the sheet pan rack will result in just roasting around the vegetables due to the hot air flowing around the vegetables. Now, the trick is not to overcrowd in whatever method you choose, but if this happens, toss in between cooking.

Kitchen Must Haves - Find other tools I use here.

Storage

Refrigerator - To store in the fridge, you can place the lamb, chickpea salad, and avocado sauce in separate shallow 2-inch containers to cool down quickly. Then, store in an air-tight sealing container. The meal will last up to three days.
Freezer - I do not recommend freezing the chickpea salad and avocado sauce. However, follow the refrigeration process mentioned above. Then, you can place the lamb in the freezer in a labeled, airtight plastic sealing bag.

Cooking tip

Prepare Lamb Chops - Gather all the ingredients listed for the curried lamb chops. Also, make sure that your lamb rack is fresh. In addition, the flesh should not be slimy, and it should be bright red. First, use a sharp knife to carefully remove any excess thick fat pieces from the meat, as this can prevent it from cooking evenly.

Then, scrape away any membrane around the bone's surface to make it look neat. Finally, we come to the fun part: cutting between the bones to create individual lamb chops.

Using your essential tool - a sharp boning knife - cut down vertically along right in the middle of each bone to separate them. This process may take some patience and practice to get right, but trust me, it will be worth it—and once it's finished, season with the spices listed in the lamb chop recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Jamaican Curry, Garam Masala, and Cajun Spice?

This bypasses the numerous spices you'll need to collect and add to this dish. Plus, these spices are versatile to use in other recipes.

What is Jamaican Curry Powder?

Jamaican curry powder is a unique spice blend that can add a deliciously spicy and aromatic flavor to any dish. Its yellow color comes from turmeric powder. In addition, other spices it may usually contain are mustard seeds, anise, ginger, coriander, scotch bonnet, cinnamon, fenugreek, and ground black pepper.

Its origins date back to the mid-1800s when Indian workers immigrated to Jamaica, bringing their spices. Evidently, over time, these spices mixed with local Jamaican ingredients and flavors, resulting in a creative and flavorful curry powder that has now become well-known around the globe.

Try my Chicken Curry Stir-Fry with Coconut Rice.

What is Garam Masala?

This Indian brown spice blend has a unique nutmeg fragrance compared to generic yellow curry powder due to the combination of anise, fennel, cinnamon, cardamom, caraway seeds, Indian bay leaves, black pepper, cloves, and mace. The name also means "spice blend/mixture."

What is Cajun Spice?

Firstly, Cajun is a mash-up of French, African, and Spanish cultures on American soil. It also reminds me of my Haitian heritage and how similar we are from the language to the food.

In addition, the spices included in this blend are usually smoked paprika, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder, and white or black pepper. Herbs like basil and oregano can also be found in the seasoning.

Likewise, the spice blend has influences from their cultural blend in Louisiana cuisine. Also, learn more in my Blacken Trout with Chorizo Beans and Garlic Broccoli post.

What are Lamb Chops?

The rack of lamb is a delicious and tender cut of meat that comes from the sheep's rib area, usually with eight chops weighing 1 to 2 pounds each. It's around 16 ounces for a New Zealand rack compared to an American 2-pounder.

It is said to be leaner and healthier than beef. In addition, this recipe uses the Frenched Rack to expose the bones by scrapping off the membrane and some meat from the bone. Although not a recipe I tested, this may work with loin chops.

What is a Boning Knife?

It's a knife with a very narrow, long blade, making it great for making precision cuts and getting between bones and joints to cut and separate meat.

What are Compari Tomatoes?

Compari tomatoes are a huge favorite in our household. In addition, they are a size between a cherry and plum tomato. They are also sweet with just the right balance of acidity, making them great to add to anything.

Mediterranean Recipes

Looking for other Mediterranean recipes like this? Try these:

See more Mediterranean →

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