What’s not to love about lamb? From the classic rack of lamb enjoyed at Easter to burgers and riblets, or grilled lamb kabobs with tzatziki, lamb is delicious! Before the pandemic, one of the benefits of attending local flea markets and fairs was getting to sample new foods.
This vendor was at a 4-H event showcasing new recipes for lamb like lamb bacon and spicy lamb curries. Lamb bacon is made from the richly marbled lamb belly. It is naturally cured and smoked just like pork bacon or pancetta, but it has a richer, slightly gamey taste that works well with any dish in which you use standard bacon. It was addictive!
I grabbed several of the pamphlets for grilling lamb in the hopes of adding some new variety to our diet. While often the flyers and booklets you gather at a fair are forgotten, the pamphlets on cooking lamb were written by chefs who love lamb, and their tips are keepers.
Pure, wholesome food is an essential part of our homesteading lifestyle. Lamb is an excellent source of protein, providing all nine essential amino acids needed for good health. Lamb can be fatty, but that is based on the cut and how much fat is trimmed during processing. Lamb fat, or tallow, usually contains slightly higher levels of saturated fat than beef or pork, but for the new low-carb diets, that’s a plus. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a beneficial form of ruminant trans-fat. CLA is linked to health benefits such as reduced body fat mass, that is a plus when you are trying to lose weight. Lamb is rich in selenium, zinc, niacin, phosphorus, and iron. Lamb also contains several bioactive essentials like creatine, CLA, and cholesterol that may ensure good health.
Here is my favorite simple recipe for grilled lamb burgers. Don’t tell, but the feta cheese is the secret ingredient.
Ingredients:
1 pound locally grown lamb
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried cumin
½ cup finely chopped green onions
Sea salt and pepper to taste
½ to ¾ cup feta cheese
Gently mix all ingredients. Do not overmix. Grease the grill rack so that the lamb doesn’t stick to the rack. Cook on a preheated grill until the burgers are cooked to your desired degree of doneness, approximately 4 minutes per side for a medium-rare burger.
Mint and tzatziki, a sauce to serve with grilled lamb is a Greek yogurt-based concoction of English cucumbers, EVOO, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. It compliments lamb well.
I hope you support our local sheep and lamb producers. Lamb is a healthy addition to our diets. Have fun trying out some new recipes! Be blessed!
