11 Ways to Start Cooking Lamb
Updated: Feb. 13, 2024
Skip the beef! We found delicious ways to cook lamb in your own kitchen.
You might not usually buy lamb at the butcher counter, but it’s worth a second look. (Don’t miss out on these other meats you didn’t know you could ask your butcher for, either). Lamb can be ground for burgers or cooked bone-in, baked or grilled, boldly spiced or delicately herbed. We introduce you to some of the best ways to cook lamb in your own kitchen.
Shepherd’s Pie
One of the most popular ways to cook lamb, Shepherd’s pie originated in the United Kingdom. It traditionally consists of ground lamb cooked in a rich gravy with vegetables like onions, peas, celery and carrots, and it’s topped with creamy mashed potatoes (or creamy mashed parsnips). Test your knowledge with these unusual shepherd’s pie facts.
Kibbeh
Kibbeh is a Middle Eastern dish made of ground lamb, bulgur and onions flavored with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. (See what spices will boost your mood!) Its preparation can range from baking to boiling or deep-frying. Kibbeh is often shaped like little footballs, but can also be formed into round balls or patties.
Irish Stew
Irish stew is a popular dish that has very specific traditional ingredients: neck mutton chops, potatoes, onions and water. They’re the only things included, as this is what the Irish farmers had on hand. Modern cooks might add things like peas, carrots or barley. Enjoy these classic Irish recipes.
Tandoori Lamb
To make this Indian favorite, lamb is marinated in a mixture of yogurt and spices like ginger, garlic, garam masala, cumin, paprika, cayenne and nutmeg. Turmeric is sometimes added to give a particular color (plus it’s a superfood). The meat is skewered and cooked in a heated clay oven, known as a tandoor.
Kofta
Kofta is a beloved meatball-type dish in Middle Eastern cuisine, and lamb kofta is particularly popular in Egypt. There, a mixture of ground beef and lamb is blended with onions, garlic, parsley, green cardamom, sumac, nutmeg and paprika, pressed around a skewer and cooked. Try these other meatball recipes from around the world!
Greek Easter Soup
Greek Easter Soup, also known as magiritsa, is a dish that’s usually eaten to break the 40-day fast of the Greek Orthodox Great Lent. It’s a hearty and filling lamb soup that’s flavored with onions and dill. Love Greek dishes? Here are more ideas for a Mediterranean celebration.
Bobotie
Bobotie is a complex South African lamb dish that consists of an egg topping, milk-soaked bread and minced meat. Recipes also include ginger, marjoram and lemon rind, though more modern cooks simply use curry powder to achieve the right bold flavors.
Rack of Lamb
This method of cooking lamb is something nearly everyone has seen before. It’s usually been “Frenched,” which means the rib bones are exposed by cutting off the fat and meat covering them. This way to cook lamb is surprisingly quick and easy–perfect for dinner.
Lamb Biryani
Lamb biryani, which translates to “spicy rice,” is a South Asian mixed rice dish with its origins in India. The spices and herbs used in biryani may include nutmeg, mace, pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves, coriander, mint leaves, ginger, garlic or saffron. Learn how to make biryani.
Shish Kebabs
The true origins of shish kebabs are unknown, though the term comes from Turkish words literally meaning “skewer” and “roast meat,” and it’s a signature Turkish meal. Hunks of lamb are marinated, skewered and roasted over a fire. Do this at home on your grill–here’s how to make a tasty marinade from scratch.
Tagine
Tagines are common in Morocco, and are named after the oddly-shaped piece of pottery used to make them. Lamb tagine is a slow-cooked savory stew full of pieces of tender meat and vegetables. Spices, nuts and dried fruit are all included in the mix to give the stew extra flavor and texture.
Originally Published: December 31, 1969
