Lamb steaks with aubergine and tahini yogurt

Serves: 4
Course: Main Course
Cooking Time: 0 hr 30 mins
Ingredients
  • 500g lamb leg steaks
  • 1 clove garlic, bruised
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsp mint leaves, finely shredded
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  • For the yogurt:
  • 45g (2 large tbsp) tahini
  • 180g Greek style yogurt
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • Juice of ½ lemon or 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
  •  
  • 2 aubergines
  • ½ a pomegranate, arils removed 
  • Mint leaves
  • To serve: tabbouleh or a green salad
  •  

1 Marinate the lamb steaks by placing the bruised garlic, lemon juice and olive oil into a Ziploc bag (I reuse salad leaf bags for this) or tupperware container with a generous pinch of salt. Mix well to ensure the meat is fully covered. Leave to marinate for an hour, or overnight in the fridge.

2 Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Cut each aubergine in half horizontally. Score the cut side of each in a criss-cross pattern. Place on a tray and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden and the aubergine is creamy and soft.

3 Meanwhile, make the tahini yogurt by mixing the yogurt, tahini, salt, garlic and lemon juice or pomegranate molasses together. Taste for seasoning.

4 Place a non-stick pan over a high heat. Add the lamb steaks, cooking on each side for two to three minutes, depending on the thickness of each steak. Leave to rest on a plate for five minutes before slicing thickly.

5 Place each aubergine half on a plate, dollop some tahini yogurt over them and sprinkle with pomegranate arils. Divide the lamb between the plates and garnish with mint leaves. You can also assemble it in a bowl, for sharing. Serve with tabbouleh or a green salad.

Lilly Higgins

Lilly Higgins

Lilly Higgins, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a food writer