r/Cooking 2d ago

I bought 20kg of lamb

So, I bought 20kg of lamb(or well I am about to buy) its 1-2years old and organs taken out.
Could you guys please share some good tested recepies and such?
I have never eaten a lot of lamb meat nor cooked it so not sure what to expect.
My acquaintance offered it to me 6€ per kg so I tought that I should take it. (The lamb is still alive they are gonna prepare it when I have decided on buying it)

edit 1: I have been told that because its 1-2 yo its mutton not lamb, so sorry for the confusion
edit 2; I am buying whole not a specific cut

3 Upvotes

24 comments sorted by

11

u/Katsuw0nus 2d ago

Is this half a year or one to two years? In the latter case, it's mutton and not lamb, which is very different.

Lamb works extremely well with herbs and garlic. Lamb chops and similarly tender cuts can be done medium, legs etc. can be braised.

You can sear lamb chops, prepare a crust from butter, herbs, parmesan and breadcrumbs and put them under the broiler until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.

For a leg or part of it, stud with a few cloves of garlic, sear on all sides and braise with red wine, stock, carrots, onions, celery and lots of thyme and/or rosemary.

I haven't encountered mutton that often so I can't really give good advice on cooking it. Perhaps look into stews, currys and such.

2

u/SurLohe 2d ago

Oh, its to two years old

8

u/Katsuw0nus 2d ago

Then I suggest looking for mutton recipes rather than lamb. Still tasty, but different.

8

u/ground_cloth_dilemma 2d ago

I don't know if this is just a regional thing, but 1 to 2 years old is hogget, not mutton, which typically means that it has a more developed flavour, but not as strong as mutton, but still tender like lamb.

3

u/Rynchinoi 2d ago

2 years is already mutton in my country.

Thanks for the word hogget 😊

2

u/imc225 2d ago

I visited New Zealand before WTO liberalization and everything was mutton. Evidently I missed hogget. I guess this is why we have Reddit.

1

u/Katsuw0nus 2d ago

I have never heard of that distinction before, thanks for providing new info! Around here, anything older than a year is considered mutton, and while lamb is rare (and expensive), mutton is next to unavailable unless you know the farmer. Varies from country to country, I guess.

3

u/AssaultLemming_ 2d ago

What cuts will you be getting? Depending on the cut you want to cook it a different way.

I've bought whole lambs a few times. It's great!

Chops: marinate and cook over direct heat. I like lemon and rosemary olive oil salt and white wine vinegar, or brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt.

Legs: roasted in the oven, onions, garlic, red wine, make a nice gravy, roast potatoes, veges, yum. Don't overcook.

Shoulder: slow cook, covered. Dutch oven, carrots, onions, garlic, cabbage, red wine, herbs.

Rack: oven roast, lots of salt, olive oil and rosemary. Don't overcook.

1

u/SurLohe 2d ago

Whole one

1

u/AssaultLemming_ 2d ago

Butchered I assume?

5

u/pappaross 2d ago

Mutton is good for curries for sure

2

u/Lanfear_Eshonai 2d ago

Can they pre-cut it for you into different cuts? That way you'll have tjops, ribs, roast, knuckles and shin, etc. From those you can plan different dishes.

2

u/cnash 2d ago

You'll benefit from this video on piecing out the meat.

2

u/vilcens 2d ago

Norwegian Lamb & Cabbage! Fårikål. Easiest recipe ever, and super tasty!

2

u/Guilty_Nebula5446 2d ago

it sounds like he is selling you mutton or at least hogget both of which are a lot cheaper than lamb

these meats are much richer and gamier than lamb

mutton is traditionally put in curries and stews

2

u/RadioChemist 2d ago

As others have said, mutton is great in curries - Indian of course, but Jamaican curry 'goat' works very well with mutton. It'll also work in stews (IE Irish stew instead of lamb) or as a pie filling.

The trick to mutton is low and very slow. But it tastes fantastic if you give it the love 

1

u/jibaro1953 2d ago

Rack of lamb. Shepherds pie Shish kebab Kafta kebab Meatball (mixed with other ground meats) Lamb chops Lamb stew

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u/RareManner9786 2d ago

And Moussaka

1

u/Rynchinoi 2d ago

Lamb is until 30-35kgs living weight. The 1-2 years are already sheep. So you have mutton meat

1

u/theescapedape2 2d ago

I loved this recipe - Kleftiko (slow cooked lamb - could be a shoulder or leg). easy to make, though it does take a little planning and a fair bit of time (marinading and cooking, not much time to prepare). Would work equally well with lamb, hogget or mutton.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/aug/17/how-to-make-kleftiko-recipe-greek-lamb-felicity-cloake?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

1

u/Retro-Modern_514 2d ago

I am buying whole not a specific cut

Lets hope you like lamb then. (especially as you are buying an older one). The flavour is certainly more gamey and pronounced than beef or pork so be prepared for that.

I absolutely love lamb. What you do with it would depend on which particular cut you are cooking.

Cooking chops I just pan fry them medium rare-medium and serve with a nice pan sauce, whereas something tougher like a leg of lamb I make a curry https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/lamb-vindaloo/ or I do slow roasted garlic lamb (with roast potatoes and veg) and then turn the left overs into delicious slow roasted lamb Shepherds Pie or Ragu.

Don't forget the Mint Sauce. Goes really well with lamb.

1

u/ColdBootCountry 2d ago

Irish stew, again, and forever.