Korean Barbecued Rack of Lamb

4.8
(15)

This Korean rack of lamb recipe show's how lamb's subtly sweet gaminess works perfectly with the funky goodness of gochujang chile paste. The salt and sugar content of the simple marinade acts as a brine for the lamb, producing a juicy interior when soaked overnight. In the final stage, the marinade is reduced, doubling as a sauce. I love using the rack for this since it's more tender, easier to work with than the leg, and a little more user-friendly than chops.

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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Additional Time:
8 hrs 10 mins
Total Time:
8 hrs 50 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
2 racks of lamb
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • ¼ cup minced green onions, white and light green parts only

  • ¼ cup soy sauce

  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar

  • 6 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste)

  • 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

  • 2 (1 pound) racks of lamb, trimmed of any excess fat

Directions

  1. Combine green onions, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, gochujang, brown sugar, sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt in a medium bowl; whisk until marinade is well combined.

  2. Cut a slash about 1 1/2 inches deep between each lamb rack's rib bone, stopping above the loin. Transfer racks to a large resealable plastic bag. Place the bag in a large bowl; pour marinade into the bag. Seal the bag and massage marinade onto lamb. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 8 hours to overnight, turning once or twice.

  3. Preheat an outdoor grill to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  4. Remove lamb racks to a plate and return marinade to the refrigerator. Use paper towels to blot off excess moisture from the fatty side of lamb. Season the top with kosher salt.

  5. Cook lamb racks, fat-side down, on the preheated grill until browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meat reads 125 degrees F (52 degrees C), 12 to 15 minutes more. Transfer lamb to a platter and let rest for 10 minutes.

  6. Pour reserved marinade into a small saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to a glaze, 1 to 2 minutes.

  7. Brush glaze over lamb, then cut each rack between the bones to serve.

Chef's Notes:

You should find gochujang at any grocery store where the cool kids shop, but if not, it's available online.

Once reduced, the ingredient amounts above will only allow for a few tablespoons of sauce. If you want more, double the amounts, and save half to add to your reduction.

27 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

421 Calories
30g Fat
12g Carbs
24g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 421
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 30g 38%
Saturated Fat 12g 59%
Cholesterol 97mg 32%
Sodium 1626mg 71%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 24g 48%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 38mg 3%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 351mg 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.