Lamb and tapenade recipe

Lamb and olive is a fantastic combination that’s only improved by the anchovies and capers.

Heston says: “Lamb and olives are a classic Provençale combination and this is an easy way to pair the two flavours.”

Tip: Store any leftover tapenade in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Enjoy on bread, or delicious as a dip.

Ingredients

  Metric  Cups  Imperial  For the salad

• 200 g runner beans, sliced diagonally
• 12 radishes, quartered

• 7.1 oz runner beans, sliced diagonally
• 12 radishes, quartered

• 7.1 oz runner beans, sliced diagonally
• 12 radishes, quartered

For the salad dressing

• 80 ml grapeseed oil
• 20 ml white wine vinegar
• 20 g wholegrain mustard
• 1 tsp English mustard

• 2.8 fl oz grapeseed oil
• 0.7 fl oz white wine vinegar
• 0.7 oz wholegrain mustard
• 1 tsp English mustard

• 0.3 cup grapeseed oil
• 0.1 cup white wine vinegar
• 0.7 oz wholegrain mustard
• 1 tsp English mustard

For the tapenade

• 340 g black olives (from brine) drained and washed
• 100 g drained capers
• 100 g anchovy fillets in oil
• 20 g mint, leaves only
• 25 g basil, leaves only
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon; zest and juice

• 12 oz black olives (from brine) drained and washed
• 3.5 oz drained capers
• 3.5 oz anchovy fillets in oil
• 0.7 oz mint, leaves only
• 0.9 oz basil, leaves only
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon; zest and juice

• 12 oz black olives (from brine) drained and washed
• 3.5 oz drained capers
• 3.5 oz anchovy fillets in oil
• 0.7 oz mint, leaves only
• 0.9 oz basil, leaves only
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon; zest and juice
• 8 pieces lamb (shoulder, loin, rack or leg steaks)
• 8 pieces lamb (shoulder, loin, rack or leg steaks)
• 8 pieces lamb (shoulder, loin, rack or leg steaks)

Details

• Cuisine: French
• Recipe Type: Main
• Difficulty: Easy
• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Step-by-step

1. Start by making the salad. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil over a high heat. Add the beans and cook for 2 minutes, adding the radishes after 1 minute. Remove them from the boiling water and plunge them immediately into a bowl of iced water to refresh them. When cold, strain the beans and the radishes and place them in a bowl.
2. Whisk together the oil, vinegar and mustards and pour the dressing over the beans and radishes. Mix gently and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3. For the tapenade, remove the stones from the black olives by placing them on a baking tray with another baking tray on top. Roll the top tray back and forth until the flesh separates. Place it in a food processor with the rest of the ingredients, except the lamb and the 1 tbsp of oil. Blitz together until a thick paste is formed.
4. For the lamb, place the tablespoon of oil in a frying pan over a high heat until it is smoking hot. Add the lamb and flip over every 15–20 seconds until cooked to medium rare (3–5 minutes approximately) or to your liking, before leaving it to rest for 5 minutes. Spread some of the tapenade on top of the lamb pieces and serve. Alternatively, barbecue the lamb and spoon over a dollop of tapenade while it is still warm.

by Heston Blumenthal