Spring Lamb Loin with Sunchoke Puree and Minted Caponata
Method
lamb
• In a food processor, purée parsley, oil, garlic, zest, and salt until finely chopped.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Untie and unroll lamb loin. Season inside of lamb with salt, pepper and sauce. Re-roll lamb and re-tie with kitchen string.
• Season outside of lamb with salt and pepper.
• Put lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and roast in middle of oven 20 minutes, or until a meat thermometer registers 120°F for medium-rare or more than 120°F for medium. Transfer lamb to a cutting board and let stand 10 min.
sunchokes
• Peel sunchokes and cut into 1-inch pieces.
• In a stainless-steel saucepan simmer sunchokes in cream and water to cover by 1 inch until tender, about 20 min. (Cream will help prevent sunchokes from discoloring).
• In a blender, purée sunchokes with some of the cooking liquid, salt, pepper to taste, and horseradish. Season to taste. Keep purée warm.
caponata
• Peel eggplants, leaving some strips of peel, then cut into 1-inch cubes and spread on half of a kitchen towel.
• Sprinkle eggplant with salt, then cover with other half of towel and weight with a baking sheet topped with 2 or 3 large cans for 30 mins.
• Rinse eggplant in a colander under running water, then squeeze dry in small handfuls.
• Heat oil in a skillet over moderately high heat then saute onion, stirring, until pale golden, 6 – 8 min.
• Add zucchini and eggplant and cook, stirring for about 5 min.
• Add olives, capers, and 2 tablespoons sugar and cook, stirring, 2 min., then stir in vinegar and tomatoes.
• Reduce heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, 20 min. If sauce is very acidic, add more sugar (to taste).
• Stir in fresh mint and pepper and transfer to a bowl and keep warm, covered.
• Can be made up to 2 days in advance to let the flavours develop.

