Lamb is as versatile a meat as any—whether fried, chopped, or stewed, it is the star ingredient in countless delicious recipes. One of the first animals ever domesticated, sheep have long been used for food both for their meat and their milk. Lamb meat comes from a sheep that is less than one-year-old. After one year, the meat is called hogget, and after two years the meat is called mutton. Though different countries may vary in their definitions of what these categories of sheep meat are called, lamb is always the most expensive because it is the most tender.
Due to the widespread domestication of sheep, lamb recipes can be found all over the world. It is fascinating to see how different cultures have taken this classic ingredient and turned it into something spectacular.
—Elizabeth Kenning
India: Lamb Biryani
Ingredients:
½ cup plain yogurt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 tsp cayenne
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp fresh-ground black pepper
1 ¾ tsp salt
1 lb. boneless lamb, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 Tbs butter
1 onion, cut into thin slices
¼ tsp ground cardamom or ground coriander
¼ tsp turmeric
5 cloves
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
1 ½ cups long-grain rice, preferably basmati
2 ¾ cups water
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup chopped cashews
Step One:
In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt with the garlic, cayenne, cumin, black pepper, and ½ teaspoon of the salt. Stir in the lamb.
Step Two:
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat. Add the onion and cook until starting to soften, about three minutes. Stir in the cardamom, turmeric, cloves, cinnamon, rice, and the remaining 1 ¼ teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring, for one minute.
Step Three:
Add the lamb mixture to the pan. Stir in the water and raisins. Bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer until the rice and lamb are almost done, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat. Let stand, covered, until the rice and lamb are just done, about five minutes. Stir in the cashews.
Adapted from Food and Wine Magazine
England: Lamb Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients:
1 ½ lb. lamb shoulder chop (bone in)
1 Tbs salt and freshly ground pepper
1 Tbs olive oil
1 red onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
2 sticks celery, diced
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 Tbs flour
1 ½ cups water
3–4 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1–2 inch chunks
2 Tbs butter
¼–½ cup milk
2 Tbs sour cream
2 Tbs shredded cheddar
1–2 Tbs butter, optional
Step One:
Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Step Two:
Generously rub the lamb chop with a bit of oil and season. Place into a snug-fitting, high-sided oven-safe dish and add a bit of water to the bottom. Roast for two hours, or until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.
Step Three:
Remove lamb from oven and let cool slightly. Take the lamb off the bone and roughly chop; make sure to save the bones, fat, and accumulated juices from roasting.
Step Four:
There should be about two tablespoons of fat in the roasting tray. Place fat into a high-sided pan and warm over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and rosemary. Cook, stirring, until lightly caramelized, about ten minutes.
Step Five:
Sprinkle on the flour and stir well. Add the lamb, bones, and tray juices to the pan, as well as 1½ c cups of water. Bring to a boil and turn the heat down to a gentle simmer, reducing until you get a loose lamb stew. Season with salt and pepper.
Step Six:
While the lamb is cooking down, prepare your potatoes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Add the potatoes and cook until very tender, 15–20 minutes. Drain, then mash (push potatoes through a sieve for extra smoothness) , mixing and mix in the butter, milk, sour cream, and cheddar. Taste, adjust with extra milk and butter if needed, and season.
Step Seven:
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Step Eight:
In a pie dish, spread a thin layer of potato on the bottom and sides. Spoon in the lamb filling and then cover with the remaining mashed potatoes. Top with dabs of butter, if desired.
Step Nine:
Bake for one hour until the top is crisp and golden. Enjoy!
Adapted from jamieoliver.com
Australia: Roast Leg of Lamb
Ingredients:
5 lb. leg of lamb
4 cloves garlic, sliced
2 Tbs fresh rosemary
Salt to taste
Ground pepper to taste
Step One:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step Two:
Cut slits in the top of the leg of lamb every three to four inches, deep enough to push slices of garlic down into the meat. Generously salt and pepper the top of lamb, and place several sprigs of fresh rosemary under and on top of the lamb. Place lamb on roasting pan.
Step three:
Roast in oven until the lamb is cooked to your desired doneness, about two hours. Do not overcook the lamb; the flavor is best if meat is still slightly pink. Let rest at least 10 minutes before carving.
Adapted from allrecipes.com
Mexico: Lamb Barbacoa
Ingredients:
3–5 lb. lamb shoulder (bone-in or boneless, see notes)
1 Tbs salt
1 Tbs olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
1 orange, sliced
3 bay leaves
Barbacoa Marinade:
2–4 dried ancho chilies (stems removed, seeds removed)
1 chipotle pepper (plus 2–3 tablespoons of the chipotle “juice”)
4–6 cloves garlic
2 cups chicken or beef broth or water
Juice from one orange
2 Tbs cumin
2 Tbs coriander
1 Tbs chili powder
2 Tbs dried oregano or Mexican epazote
2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbs vinegar (white or apple cider)
1 Tbs brown sugar or honey or maple
Step One:
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Step Two:
Score fat on the lamb. Generously season all sides of the lamb shoulder with salt. Set on counter while making the marinade.
Step Three:
To make the marinade, de-stem the dried chilies, break them in half and discard the seeds. Break the chilies apart into smaller pieces and add to the blender with the remaining ingredients. Blend until very smooth.
Step Four:
Heat a skillet or dutch oven to medium-high heat and add oil. Sear the salted lamb shoulder, patiently browning each side to create a deep-colored crust.
Step Five:
Once all sides are seared, place lamb shoulder in the dutch oven. Nestle the onion and orange slices all around it along with bay leaves. Pour the marinade over top and shake the pan to get the marinade to the bottom.
Step Six:
Cover tightly and bake in a 325°F oven for three to four hours.
Step Seven:
Roast is done when meat pulls apart easily. Pull the meat off the bones (if using bone-in lamb) and discard any fat. Tear into smaller pieces and place into an ovenproof serving dish. Strain one to two cups of the marinade and pour over the meat, keeping it moist. Taste the lamb and adjust salt and heat to taste.
Adapted from feastingathome.com