CUTLETS OF WINDSOR LAMB WITH SAUCE PALOISE

SERVES 6

36 spears of English asparagus

750g (1lb 10oz) Jersey Royal new potatoes

30g (1oz) butter

12 cutlets of lamb (French-trimmed)

Sea salt and pepper

100ml (3½fl oz) herb oil, such as rosemary or thyme

FOR THE SAUCE

A small bunch of mint 350ml (12fl oz) white wine vinegar

1tsp white peppercorns 100g (3½oz) shallots, finely chopped

250g (9oz) unsalted butter 3 free-range egg yolks A squeeze of lemon juice

For the sauce, pick the leaves from the mint and set aside. Chop the mint stalks, then combine with the vinegar, peppercorns and shallots in a pan. Bring to the boil over a high heat, then cook until the mixture has reduced by two-thirds.

Blanch the mint leaves in boiling water for 10-15 seconds to soften, then quickly refresh under cold running water. Gently squeeze the leaves dry and finely chop with a sharp knife.

Melt the butter in a pan, skimming off any white solids that rise to the surface. Keep warm. In a heatproof bowl placed over a pan of simmering water, whisk together the egg yolks and the vinegar reduction until they form a pale yellow foam (sabayon) which should hold its shape when you lift the whisk. (You must ensure that the sabayon does not get too hot or the egg yolk will start to cook.)

Slowly trickle the warm butter into the sabayon with a ladle, whisking all the time. The sauce should acquire a consistency similar to that of mayonnaise. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and the chopped blanched mint.

Carefully peel and trim the asparagus, taking care to remove the woody stems at the base of the spears.

Wash the Jersey Royals well and bring to the boil in a large pan of salted water. Turn down the heat until the pan is just simmering and allow to cook gently until tender. Once the potatoes are cooked, strain them and return to the heat briefly to dry off, before adding the butter. Cover and keep somewhere warm for at least 10 minutes before serving: this is so the potatoes can really absorb the butter.

Season the lamb cutlets with sea salt, freshly milled pepper and the herb oil before grilling in a hot griddle pan for 3-5 minutes per side (depending on how you like your lamb cooked).

Allow the lamb to sit and rest somewhere warm for 5 minutes. In the meantime, cook the asparagus in boiling salted water for 4-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears. Serve the lamb with the asparagus, Jersey Royals and a generous pot of warm sauce Paloise.