Chef John's Char-Grilled Lamb with Mint-Orange Glaze
Chef John's Char-Grilled Lamb with Mint-Orange Glaze features juicy lamb loin chops kissed by smoky heat and coated with a bright marmalade-mint finish. Warm cumin, coriander, and a hint of cinnamon add depth, while citrus and herbs keep each bite fresh. Ideal for a summer dinner or a special weekend meal when you want bold flavor with minimal fuss.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook10 mins
- Serves5
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Char-Grilled Lamb with Mint-Orange Glaze, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 45 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 7 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 56 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 40
- Heart Health
- 54
- Metabolic
- 14
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 50
- Performance
- 33
- General Wellness
- 1
Put the lamb chops in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add the olive oil, garlic, cumin, mixed herbs, black pepper, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt; toss until the lamb is evenly coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
- 2
Preheat an outdoor grill to high heat and lightly oil the grate.
- 3
Place the lamb chops on the grill; sprinkle with a little salt. Grill the first side until seared, 4 to 7 minutes depending on the size of the chops, rotating the chops a half turn about 1 minute before flipping. Flip the chops and grill the other side until your desired doneness, 4 to 7 minutes more. For medium rare, an instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers should read 125 to 130 degrees F (52 to 54 degrees C). Transfer to a serving dish and tent loosely with foil.
- 4
For the mint sauce, mix the marmalade, mint, vinegar, and pepper flakes in a bowl.
- 5
Brush the sauce over the grilled chops. Enjoy!
- Calories 421.6 kcal High 21%
- Protein 38.25 g Good Source 77%
- Carbohydrate 23.82 g 9%
- Total Fat 15.93 g High 20%
- Saturated Fat 4.9 g High 25%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 121.89 mg High 41%
- Sodium 135.4 mg Moderate 6%
- Dietary Fiber 0.59 g Low Source 2%
- Total Sugars 7.74 g --
- Added Sugars 0.05 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 120.37 mg Low Source 9%
- Iron 5.1 mg Good Source 28%
- Potassium 558.39 mg Moderate 12%
- Vitamin A 4.34 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 12.23 mg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Chef John's Char Grilled Lamb with Mint Orange Glaze is made with 14 ingredients and serves 5. It takes about 20 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Pepper, and Fresh Mint. Each serving provides about 421.6 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Char-Grilled Lamb with Mint-Orange Glaze made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Pepper, Fresh Mint, Garlic. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Char-Grilled Lamb with Mint-Orange Glaze?
- About 20 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 421.6 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Char-Grilled Lamb with Mint-Orange Glaze easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 14 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Chef John's Char-Grilled Lamb with Mint-Orange Glaze healthy?
- Chef John's Char-Grilled Lamb with Mint-Orange Glaze has an easyChef Pro health score of 38/100. Per serving, it provides 421.6 calories and 38.25 g of protein, or 77% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 135.4 mg (6% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 4.9 g (25% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.
For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.
Score a recipe free, no app required