Ingredients
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1 1/4 pounds lamb shoulder (or other grilling cut), cut into 1-inch cubes
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1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground fennel seeds
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1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground red pepper flakes
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Salt
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2
medium eggplant
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About 5 tablespoons olive oil
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3 tablespoons
coarsely chopped mint leaves
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4
thick slices country bread
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1/4 cup crumbled French feta
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4 lemon wedges
Directions
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Soak 12 bamboo skewers in water. Season the lamb all over with the fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, and salt. Let rest for 20 minutes. Cut the eggplant crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Season the slices with salt and lay them between sheets of paper towel. Let sit for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the grill to medium high.
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Stir together the mint, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Pat the eggplant slices dry, then brush them with olive oil. Brush the bread lightly with olive oil, as well. Skewer the lamb, about 4 pieces per skewer.
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Grill the lamb skewers, eggplant slices and bread, keeping the lamb closer to the hottest part of the grill and eggplant and toast on the periphery. Turn as needed. You want the lamb medium rare (5 to 8 minutes total), the eggplant browned on the edges and just cooked through, and the bread toasted.
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Lay 4 to 6 slices of eggplant on each plate. Top with the lamb skewers. Spoon over the mint and sprinkle with feta. Serve with the grilled bread and a lemon wedge on the side. Make sure your guests use the lemon -- the acid pulls all the flavors together.
Before starting Food52 with Merrill, I was a food writer and editor at the New York Times. I've written several books, including "Cooking for Mr. Latte" and "The Essential New York Times Cookbook." I played myself in "Julie & Julia" -- hope you didn't blink, or you may have missed the scene! I live in Brooklyn with my husband, Tad, and twins, Walker and Addison.
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