Lamb Chops in Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 large onion
• 1 pepper, medium, any colour
• 250 g mushrooms
• 8 lamb chops
• 1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs or basil (15 ml)
• 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato puree (30 ml)
• 1 tablespoon Worcester sauce (15 ml)
• 1 teaspoon salt (5 ml)
• Ground pepper

Equipment

• Large, heavy-based frying pan with a lid

Steps

1. Heat the frying pan on a medium-high heat - don't add any fat. You want the pan hot before you add the lamb

2. Peel, quarter and chop the onion - not too fine

3. De-seed and chop the pepper into medium-size pieces - about 1-2cm x ½cm

4. Wash, trim and slice the mushrooms into medium slices

5. If your chops have a rind on them you may want to cut it off but don't remove all the fat (I don't usually bother.) If you do want to take some fat off, ad it to the pan for the initial browning

   For the casserole:

6. Brown the chops well in the pan. Make sure they are a good colour on both sides, but don't cook through

   You don't need any additional fat (apart from any you've cut off the chops)

7. Remove the chops and add the onion, pepper and mushrooms and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring all the time

8. Sprinkle the mixed herbs over the vegetables and put the chops back, on the top. Put the lid on the pan. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for about 5 minutes to soften the onions and peppers

9. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, Worcester Sauce and salt. Stir in without disturbing the chops too much. Replace the lid.

10. Turn the heat to low and cook for an hour.

    An extra 30-60 minutes won't hurt

11. When you're ready to dish up, add ground black pepper to taste and add more salt if necessary.

Notes