“Onion Water” Lamb Chops

The Afghan name of this dish—o be peyaz—means, literally, onion water. The lamb chops are marinated in an intensely flavored mixture of saffron, onion juice, chiles, and turmeric. Most Afghan meats are marinated for several days prior to cooking, but these chops can be grilled after a couple of hours. The recipe was inspired by the Khyber Pass restaurant in New York City. The onion juice has a tenderizing and aromatizing effect on the lamb, and it’s used throughout the Islamic world.