Lamb Chops with Rosemary & Garlic on the Buschbeck Grill

Lamb chops are made for the fire, and they're one of the first things I ever cooked on our Buschbeck back in Geelong. There's no marinating overnight, no fuss. Just garlic, rosemary, lemon and a hot grill plate sitting over glowing coals.

What makes this one work so well on a Buschbeck is the speed. The cast iron grill gets ferociously hot over coals, so the chops sear hard on the outside in a couple of minutes while staying pink and juicy in the middle. That's the whole trick with lamb chops on a Buschbeck grill: high heat, short time, hands off the fork.

I serve mine with a big Greek salad, a cold drink, and absolutely no cutlery. Fingers only.

Serves 4 · Fire: hot coals · Cook: 8 min

Ingredients

• 12 lamb cutlets or loin chops
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tbsp chopped rosemary
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
• Sea salt and black pepper

Method

1. Mix the garlic, rosemary, oil and lemon zest. Rub over the lamb and season well.
2. Heat the cast iron grill over hot coals.
3. Grill the chops for 2–3 min each side, until browned but still pink in the middle.
4. Rest for 3 min, then squeeze over the lemon juice and serve.

Fire note: Lamb fat can flare up, so keep a cooler spot on the grill to move the chops to if the flames jump. Use tongs, not a fork, to keep the juices in.

Buschbeck kit: Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Grill · Heat-Resistant Gloves

How to cook lamb chops on a Buschbeck

You'll want the Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Grill for this one, set directly over a bed of hot coals. Build your fire well ahead of time and let it burn down until you've got a solid layer of glowing coals rather than big flames - that's where the real heat lives.

Lay the grill plate over the coals and let it heat through properly before the chops go anywhere near it. You want it hot enough that the lamb sizzles the second it touches the iron.

• Rub the chops with the garlic, rosemary, oil and lemon zest, then season generously.
• Grill for 2-3 minutes a side over the hottest part of the fire.
• Keep a cooler zone on the grill to shift the chops to if the fat flares up - lamb fat drips and catches easily, so don't walk away.
• Use tongs, never a fork, so you're not piercing the meat and losing all that lovely juice.

Pull the chops off while they're still a little pink in the middle, rest them for a few minutes, then hit them with the lemon juice right before serving. If you're still getting a feel for your fireplace, my guide on how to use a Buschbeck outdoor fireplace covers lighting and building the right kind of fire for grilling like this.

What to serve with lamb chops on the Buschbeck

A crisp Greek salad is my go-to, with plenty of lemon to echo what's already on the chops. Warm flatbread or a torn loaf of wood-fired rosemary focaccia is perfect for mopping up the juices. If you've got the coals going anyway, throw on some fire-blistered tomatoes with burrata as a starter while the lamb rests.

FAQs

How long do lamb chops take on a Buschbeck grill?

About 8 minutes total - 2 to 3 minutes per side over hot coals, plus a few minutes resting before serving.

What heat should the Buschbeck be for lamb chops?

You want hot coals, not open flame. The cast iron grill should be screaming hot so the chops sear quickly without overcooking in the middle.

Why do lamb chops flare up on the grill?

Lamb fat renders quickly and drips onto the coals, which can cause flames to jump. Keep a cooler spot on the grill ready to move the chops to if that happens.

Should I use tongs or a fork for lamb chops?

Always tongs. A fork pierces the meat and lets the juices escape, leaving you with drier chops.

Get all 89 recipes in The Wood Fire Kitchen

Lamb Chops with Rosemary & Garlic is one of 89 recipes in my cookbook, The Wood Fire Kitchen: Recipes for your Buschbeck outdoor fireplace. It covers everything from lighting and reading the fire to pizza, grilling, the rotisserie, camp-oven dinners and desserts baked in the embers, with a Buschbeck kit note on every recipe so you know exactly which accessory to reach for.

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