Lamb

Chicken or beef? It’s the quintessential wedding reception question, and it’s often the question we ask ourselves when it comes time to prepare dinner. Oh sure, every now and then we’ll break the pattern and have pork or fish, but when it comes to the American dinner table, chicken and beef are the feature entrées.

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your cooking, try an alternative meat like lamb. Though often thought to be tough and strong-flavored like the mutton of yore, today’s lamb is actually quite tender and mild-tasting. Most lamb you purchase in the grocery store is grain-fed, creating a tender meat with a unique but not overpowering flavor. Imported or grass-fed lamb may be a bit stronger, but is still likely to be quite palatable.

One of the great things about lamb is its versatility. Roasted, braised, grilled, baked, sautéed or stewed, lamb is a delicious alternative to chicken or beef.

Lamb chops are a common variation, and lamb chops recipes range from the simple (grilled with rosemary) to the exotic (topped with spicy mango chutney). These chops tend to be small, so allow at least two per person.

The lamb shank, cut from the lower part of the front leg, is a reasonably priced cut about the size of a turkey drumstick. Though it can be prepared a variety of ways, one of the simplest, best lamb shank recipes is simply to braise the meat until it practically falls off the bone.

The most popular lamb cut is the boned, rolled and tied, or BRT, leg. These roasts are usually around 5 or 6 pounds, but almost a pound of that is fat that should be trimmed, so err on the side of caution when determining portions. The BRT leg is incredibly versatile and can be prepared whole according to a number of lamb roast recipes or cut into chunks for a lamb stew or lamb curry recipe.

You don’t have to stray far from the traditional farm animals for a tasty, healthy alternative to chicken, beef and pork. With a variety of cuts and a nearly infinite number of recipes to choose from, you’re sure to find a lamb dish that’s easy and delicious enough to add to your regular dinner rotation.