Jon Bonnell's Lamb with Mac n Goat Cheese

Chef's Table: Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine Recipe

Chef Jon Bonnell pairs a hearty meat dish with a classic twist.

From the kitchen of Jon Bonnell

Ingredients

For the Lamb:

6-7 ounce lamb loin, boneless

2 pinches of kosher salt

1 teaspoon canola oil

1/2 cup red wine

1 tablespoon veal demiglace

1/4 teaspoon butter

For the Mac n Goat Cheese:

1 cup cooked small pasta shells

1 1/2 cups goat's milk

1 tablespoon flour

1 tablespoon butter

pinch of kosher salt

pinch of white pepper

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeds removed, finely diced

1/2 roma tomato, seeds removed, finely diced

1 ounce fresh goat's cheese

For the Garnish:

1 small bunch fresh watercress

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 ounce fresh goat cheese

salt and pepper

Cooking Directions

For the Lamb:

Season the lamb loin with salt on all sides, then sear in a hot sauté pan in just a touch of vegetable oil. Brown on all sides and cook till desired temperature is reached (130 degrees internal temp for medium rare). Allow the meat to rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing.

Slice into medallions and plate with mac n goat cheese, then top with lemony watercress greens.

For the Reduction:

In the same pan, deglaze with red wine and reduce until the pan is almost dry. Add in the demiglace, mount with a dab of butter and swirl just until the butter is completely melted. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the lamb medallions just before serving.

For the Mac n Goat Cheese:

Add the butter and flour together in a saucepot and whisk together over low to medium heat until a roux has formed. Do not cook until brown, just to the stage where the butter begins to cook the flour and it starts to smell like sourdough toast. Remove from pan and set aside.

Add the goat's milk to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Reduce by 1/3 then add in the cooled roux. Whisk together and bring to a simmer.

The sauce will thicken when a simmer is reached. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more milk. If it's too thin, reduce more.

Add the diced jalapenos, tomatoes, goat cheese and pasta and stir together. Check for seasonings and plate using a ring mold.

For the Garnish:

At the last possible moment, dress the watercress greens with the lemon juice and olive oil in a mixing bowl, add a few pieces of goat cheese then place on top of the mac n cheese.

If this step is done too far ahead, the watercress will wilt.