Even a quick and easy recipe can be part of a celebratory or romantic meal. File this one away for a Wednesday birthday, Tuesday anniversary or even a random Thursday.
If you’re armed with the right recipe, a fancy dinner doesn’t have to take any more effort than any other meal, besides perhaps opening a nice bottle of wine and pulling out linen napkins. Pick up a relatively quick-cooking protein and a par-cooked vegetable at the store, and you’re already most of the way there.
My choice for a weeknight date night? Lamb chops. You can choose to go as fancy as you want here — rib chops are always a treat — but for my money, shoulder chops are the easier, more flavorful choice. They cook in about 10 minutes, and because they’re well marbled, if you accidentally leave them in the pan longer than that, they’ll still taste great no matter how much — or little — pink is still in the middle.
Lamb and peas are, of course, a classic combination. For this meal, simply saute a small jalapeño pepper with a couple of cups of frozen peas that can go straight from freezer to skillet. The heat from the jalapeño helps to balance the richness of the lamb; a couple tablespoons of white wine vinegar tossed in right before serving will do the same. A very generous handful of chopped fresh mint is probably expected. But, like the peas, it’s a frequent foil for lamb for a reason. Its sharpness helps play the balancing act with the rich, fatty meat, and the additional pop of greenery may help you forget that we’re about to shift from sweater weather to winter.
If a starch on the side is necessary in your house, serve your lamb with speedy steamed couscous. You can start it before you even season the lamb; it’ll still be hot when this celebratory dinner is ready 20 minutes later.
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