We love cooking roasts right after a nice afternoon session. Nothing beats having played with a few friends and then being able to enjoy a delicious BBQ with some beers in the backyard in the afternoon. And cooking a roast lamb over the Weber BBQ is a popular way to entertain in Australia and New Zealand.
Lamb is a popular choice when determining what to feed your guests for small social occasions due to its excellent flavours and juicy, delicate flesh.
What are your options when choosing the best piece of lamb to roast?
- Leg
- Shoulder
- Best end of the neck
- Saddle
- Loin
- Chump
- Breast
As you can see, these cuts are not all the same and may require somewhat different preparation procedures.
Each cut may also be better suited to some groups than others. Making the appropriate choice for the occasion may be somewhat overwhelming.
Hopefully, the following explanation will provide you with better knowledge, allowing you to make a more educated selection when selecting the finest cut of lamb for roasting.
Purchasing Lamb Cuts
When it comes to lamb, as with any other form of meat, fresher is better. Examine the label for expiration dates and seek for meats that are rosy pink or crimson.
Fine-grained meats with solid fat are ideal for roasting and baking. Talk to a professional butcher if you’re unsure about which cut or preparation procedure is ideal for your requirements.
Personally, I never go past having delicious Sovereign Lamb from Australian Lamb Co. Their lamb is extremely delicious and is prefect for roasting no matter what cut you end up going with. I would highly recommend any Australian Lamb Co lamb for their delicious tasting lamb.
It’s well worth going to a butcher shop to obtain expert guidance, especially if you don’t prepare lamb very often.
Lamb’s Leg
Legs work hard as one of the most active portions of the lamb, resulting in meat with a powerful flavour.
Leg of lamb is best-cooked whole on the bone on the grill or on the weber. It should be delicious, juicy, and soft when cooked properly.
I avoid cooking lamb in the oven since it tends to be drier. Because this is a rather lean piece of meat, avoid overcooking it or you’ll end up with a dry and rough leg of lamb.
One delicious technique to prepare a leg of lamb is to massage it with herb-infused oil, garlic, rosemary, and even mustard.
To create a smokey flavour, roast in the oven and then finish on the grill. A leg of lamb is ideal for a family supper or entertaining a big gathering.
Serve this meal with a side of fresh veggies.
If you have a Weber Q BBQ, you should try my Weber Q Roast Lamb recipe, in which I mix rosemary and garlic to produce an amazing feast for your family and friends.
Shoulder
The lamb’s shoulder, like the legs, works hard and is thus more delicious due to the high muscle composition.
The shoulder meat, on the other hand, takes a bit longer to get soft, so it’s ideal to simmer and roast gently to break down the flesh into its most delectable form.
Cook the bone-in shoulder until the meat falls off with a fork. A slow-cooked shoulder with roasted veggies is a fantastic Sunday lunch recipe.
The shoulder, like the leg, responds well to a herb rub. Slash the skin and massage the rub into the flesh all over.
To enhance flavour, put the shoulder on top of onion wedges and cover with a braising liquid.
Cook on high heat to sear the meat, then reduce to low heat for 4-5 hours, depending on the weight of the shoulder.
Slow-cooked roasted lamb is also a fantastic dish for a crowd or when you don’t have much time to cook for the family.
Best End of Neck
Most grocery shops and butchers sell the neck. It’s frequently left attached to the shoulder, but the butcher may detach it for you.
The lamb neck is a versatile protein that can be prepared and served in a variety of ways, but it is more costly than other lamb parts.
Cooking is comparable to preparing a steak. It’s a tasty meal that’s a terrific substitute for beefsteak when you’re seeking something different.
If you want to try something different, you may add lamb neck to stews and curries. If you’re barbecuing, it also works nicely as kebabs, so there’s no end to how flexible this cut is.
Lamb Saddle
A lamb’s saddle is made from the loin area in the lumbar region.
It is made up of the animal’s loin on both sides. This incision can be found with or without the bone, and it’s frequently coiled up into an easy-to-carve joint.
One of the most costly lamb cuts, saddle of lamb is the greatest lamb cut for roasting.
It usually feeds 8-10 people and is ideal for special events.
Consider boning and filling the cut before roasting it. Before you pick up, the butcher will normally do this for you.
Lamb Loin
Loin is likewise derived from the lamb’s waist.
Similar slices are called as loin chops, and they can be cooked similarly to other chops.
You may alternatively keep the loin whole, bone it, and roll it to produce a roasting joint.
Because lamb loin is a moderate-fat cut of meat, it’s an ideal choice for roasting and may be marinated as well as stuffed.
Chump
The chump may be a cut you’re not acquainted with, but it originates from a bone-in leg.
The chump is removed by cutting across the leg at an angle. The butt tenderloin is kept with this cut.
This smaller piece of pork, with very little flesh wasted, won’t create a large supper, but it’s excellent for a couple.
It’s also a reasonably priced cut with delicious tastes, making the chump a good choice for a low-cost supper.
Breast
Another good value cut of lamb is the lamb breast.
Because it is one of the fattiest cuts of meat, it can become tough if not cooked properly.
This cut of beef, however, is frequently underutilised and underestimated. You’ll be pleased with the results if you treat it like a pork belly cut.
The coating of fat on the lamb provides flavour and aids in the tenderization of the meat as it cooks gently.
The lamb breast feeds four people on average, making it a good choice for small families.
Browning followed by low-temperature roasting yields great results.
The breast has a natural taste but can tolerate a variety of more powerful flavour additions, so consider drizzling a lemon and garlic oil blend over the breast while it cooks gently.
