Home > How To Cook... > How to Cook Lamb

How to Cook Lamb

By: Cara Frost-Sharratt - Updated: 14 Sep 2010 | comments*Discuss
 
How To Cook Lamb

While you might consider a Sunday roast leg of lamb a bit of a luxury on a student budget it can work out to be quite economical if everyone chips in and helps out. If you're a meat eater, you should make an effort to look for your local butcher when you get to college. You might be surprised at some of the bargains you can get and there are cheaper cuts of meat that aren't inferior; it's just that people don't really know what to do with them.

Roast Lamb

You can roast a number of different cuts of lamb, including shoulder, rack and breast; however it's the leg of lamb that constitutes the classic Sunday roast dinner. If you're cooking for a large number of people, choose a whole leg but if there's just a few of you a half leg should be ample. As a rough guide, you'll need to cook a leg of lamb for about 25 minutes per lb, plus an extra 25 minutes, at a temperature of about 180-190C. Add a little bit extra if you like your meat well done. So, you just need to weigh the leg or, if you don't have scales, ask the butcher to do this for you. You should also let the meat rest for 5 minutes once you've taken it out of the oven, before you carve. Use this time to get the gravy ready and dish up the vegetables.

Lamb Chops

Quick, easy and delicious you can bake or grill lamb chops, according to taste, and serve with pretty much any accompaniment you fancy. It's important to keep an eye on the meat, as it's very easy to overcook lamb chops and they'll lose a lot of flavour. Brush with a little mustard or sprinkle with some breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese halfway through cooking, for something a bit different.

Shepherd's Pie

This is a very economical way to enjoy lamb. Allow about 500g of lamb mince for a Shepherd's pie that will serve four people. It's really easy to make;

  • Simply fry a chopped onion and a couple of chopped garlic cloves in a little olive oil, in a large pan.

  • Add two finely chopped carrots then stir in the lamb mince and cook, stirring, until it's browned.

  • Add two tablespoons of tomato purée, a good dash of Worcestershire sauce and a little boiled water, if it's too dry.

  • Simmer very gently for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, peel and chop about 3-4 medium potatoes and boil until soft.

  • Drain well, add a knob of butter and a dash of milk then mash well.

  • Place the lamb mixture in an ovenproof dish, top with the mashed potato and cook in a medium hot oven for about 30 minutes.

  • Serve with green vegetables.

Red meat is a good source of iron so, unless you're a vegetarian, lamb is a great choice for dinner. If you plan your meals and choose economical cuts, you should be able to budget for plenty of meat in your diet.

Related Articles in the 'How To Cook...' Category...
Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice..
Why not be the first to leave a comment for discussion, ask for advice or share your story...

If you'd like to ask a question one of our experts (workload permitting) or a helpful reader hopefully can help you... We also love comments and interesting stories

Title:
(never shown)
Firstname:
(never shown)
Surname:
(never shown)
Email:
(never shown)
Nickname:
(shown)
Comment:
Validate:
Enter word:
Topics
Comments
  • SavePlus UAE
    Re: Working Out a Food Budget
    Great advice! Setting a food budget is all about balance, and these tips really help to keep things manageable without compromising on…
    5 April 2025
  • haha
    Re: How to Make Basic Sauces
    nice, but i think it would be better if you had, like, satay sauce, and garlic dip. but still, nice.
    12 April 2020
  • MIZzTyDah
    Re: Organising Your Kitchen
    how do l cook jollof rice and frid rice..also vegetable soup..
    14 January 2018
  • sissy
    Re: Dinner in 10 Minutes
    What else can you do with jacket potato I have butter and a bit of gravy with mine
    16 June 2017
  • cez
    Re: The Quick Guide to Great Cooking
    i'm a student want to learn more basic sauce and any additional ingredients for cream sauce white sauce.thank you
    1 June 2017
  • Panda
    Re: Ten Ideas for Jacket Potatoes
    Please could you add pictures of the goods if possible.
    11 June 2016
  • Philip
    Re: How to Cook Fish
    Your advice on poaching (and other ways of cooking) haddock seems very sensible and in touch with real life. This ( I know comparisons are odious…
    26 November 2015
  • stanos
    Re: Ten Ideas for Jacket Potatoes
    Could you help me with easy toppings for jaket bbq bake potatos ,for to cook 30 at a time need some help ,so come all you great…
    12 November 2015
  • StudentCook
    Re: Meals for £1
    Bb - Your Question:Students don't have luxrys like oil and an onion just hanging about or pepperOur Re
    18 September 2015
  • Evied
    Re: Cooking in Bulk
    Go into supermarkets late in the day and pick up reduced veg, Take home cut up in dinner portion Bags up in freezer bags Put in freezer til you…
    11 September 2015