Grilled Lamb Skewers with Strawberry Maple Chive Glaze

AS SEEN ON BT – Strawberries take a twist here in a savoury glaze for Ontario lamb. They add an overall sweetness to the dish. Soak wooden skewers, if using, for at least 10 minutes. 

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Marinating Time: 2 hours

Cooking Time: about 20 minutes

Grilling Time:          20 minutes

Serves 6 to 8

Makes 2 cups (500 mL) Strawberry Sauce and 18 skewers

1 boneless leg of Ontario Lamb, about 5 lb (2.2 kg)

1/4 cup (50 mL) vegetable oil

1/4 cup (50 mL) minced fresh Ontario Chives

1 tbsp (15 mL) grated fresh lemon rind

2 tbsp (25 mL) each fresh lemon juice and Ontario Maple Syrup

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp (2 mL) each coarse sea salt and pepper

Glaze:

1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Ontario Shallot, minced

1/2 tsp (2 mL) each salt and pepper

3 cups (750 mL) halved Ontario Strawberries

1/4 cup (50 mL) Ontario Maple Syrup

2 tsp (10 mL) grated fresh lemon rind

2 tbsp (25 mL) each fresh lemon juice and balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup (50 mL) minced fresh Ontario Chives

Trim fat from lamb; cut into 2-inch (5 cm) cubes. In bowl, whisk together oil, chives, lemon rind and juice, maple syrup, garlic, salt and pepper. Pour into resealable plastic bag and add lamb cubes; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate and marinate for 2 hours. 

Glaze: In medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat, add garlic, shallot, salt and pepper. Cook stirring often for 3 minutes or until softened. Add strawberries, maple syrup, lemon rind and juice. Using potato masher, mash berries to bring out juices. Bring to boil; reduce heat, simmer, stirring occasionally, to combine flavours; about 10 minutes. Stir in vinegar; cook until thickened and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in chives. Set aside 3/4 cup (175 mL) of mixture to use as a dipping sauce.

Thread lamb onto skewers. Place on greased grill over medium-high heat. Brush with remaining glaze and grill until medium-rare, about 20 minutes, turning and basting skewers occasionally with glaze. Serve skewers with reserved dipping sauce. 

Nutritional Information:

1 Lamb Skewer

PROTEIN: 25  grams

FAT: 7  grams

CARBOHYDRATE: 4 grams

CALORIES: 184

FIBRE: 0 

SODIUM: 140 mg

Nutritional Information:

2 tbsp/25 mL Dipping Sauce

PROTEIN: 0

FAT: 1 gram

CARBOHYDRATES: 5 grams

CALORIES: 28

FIBRE 0.5 grams 

SODIUM: 60 mg