Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Rosemary and Thyme
Tender and aromatic lamb chops, quickly cooked in the air fryer with rosemary and thyme.
Steps
- 1
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C. Preheating is not mandatory but helps achieve a nice crust.
- 2
In a large bowl, drizzle the lamb chops with avocado oil and season with rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- 3
Mix well to coat the meat evenly with the seasonings.
- 4
Place the chops in the air fryer basket in a single layer without touching (if needed, cook in two batches).
- 5
Cook for 7-8 minutes, turning halfway through (after 4 minutes).
- 6
For medium-rare texture, internal temperature should reach 54-57°C. Do not overcook beyond medium – the meat becomes dry.
- 7
Remove the chops and let them rest on a plate for 5 minutes before serving.
- 8
Serve with light sides such as air fryer vegetables, Caprese salad, or tzatziki sauce.
Shopping list
4 pieces lamb chops, 1-2 tbsp avocado oil, 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper
Recipe story
Lamb chops are a delicacy appreciated in Mediterranean cuisine, where rosemary and thyme have been used for centuries to flavor lamb. In ancient Greece, grilled lamb was served at feasts, and in Italy, rack of lamb is a traditional dish in the Abruzzo and Lazio regions. The modern air fryer recipe preserves the essence of classic flavors, offering a quick and healthy cooking method.
Ingredient Secrets
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Thyme
In ancient Rome, thyme was burned in temples to purify the air and ward off evil spirits, and Roman soldiers added it to their baths to strengthen their courage. In the Middle Ages, noble ladies embroidered thyme on knights' scarves as a symbol of bravery. The ancient Greeks used it in baths and temples, and its name derives from the Greek 'thymos', meaning 'courage'.
Rosemary
In ancient Rome, rosemary was a symbol of remembrance and fidelity, used in bridal crowns and funeral rites. Legend says that the goddess Venus, emerging from the sea waves, created rosemary.
Olive oil
Originating in the Mediterranean basin, olive oil was already produced in ancient Crete 5,000 years ago. In ancient Greece, it was considered a gift from Athena and used in lamps, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies. The Romans spread it throughout the empire, and in the Middle Ages, monasteries preserved the tradition of its production.
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