So what gives here - lamb thread

[episodic]

So I was looking for some chuck for burgers Sunday. I was lamenting the high cost of hamburger since I was a kid (69 cents a pound) - when I noticed that ground lamb was cheaper than the burger.

On faith alone, I got a few pounds.

Is this going to be epically good or an epic fail . . . lamb burgers?

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

What kind of animal does "hamburger" come from?

Hmmm, this?

Anyway, if by "hamburger" you mean beef, then lamb is much better tasting.

 

[spidey07]

Lamb burgers are incredible. Serve with goat cheese and cucumbers and tomatoes. Don't overcook. You could even make a meat loaf out of it and it'd be awesome.

If you want to get creative make some tsichi (sp?) sauce.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

It can be epic if you prep and cook it right. Lamb should be done to a max of medium and preferably medium rare. Give it plenty of salt and ground pepper. You could also add some mustard to it as well.

Another dish you can make from ground lamb is Shepard's Pie, if you like that sort of thing.

 

[eldorado99]

I've never made one but I suspect if you stuck with souvlaki type ingredients it would turn out amazing.

 

[Perknose]

As long as you're not expecting the manly, beefy taste of hamburger, you could be in for a treat.

Let the more delicate but absolutely delicious taste of the lamb shine through! Don't overcook it. NO toppings like lettuce or onions or ketchup . . . perhaps a little high quality spicy mustard.

If you must use one of those pasty, cheap-o burger rolls, lightly toast it, that will help.

Let us know how it all turns out!

 

[episodic]

How'd lamb get cheaper than burger. . .

 

[Perknose]

How'd lamb get cheaper than burger. . .

<cough>Australia</cough>

 

[Chaotic42]

What kind of animal does "hamburger" come from?

Hmmm, this?

Anyway, if by "hamburger" you mean beef, then lamb is much better tasting.

Ground beef is often called hamburger here. As for lamb being cheaper, I'm jealous. Lamb is outrageously expensive at my grocery store.

 

[guyver01]

<cough>Australia</cough>

you'd think at this point all they would have left are lamb/human hybrids.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

As for lamb being cheaper, I'm jealous. Lamb is outrageously expensive at my grocery store.

Same here, which is bullshit all things considered...

 

[911paramedic]

You should buy beef in bulk.

 

[Perknose]

Same here, which is bullshit all things considered...

Not really. Lamb is not industrially raised like chicken or a lot of cattle.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Instead of burgers you might want to try making kebabs with it. I take the ground lamb and add some finely diced onion and chopped fresh parsley. Add salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and cumin. Mix it all up in a bowl with your hands. Make small meatballs out of the mixture and cook in a cast iron skillet or frying pan on the stove top. Disclaimer: Your house/apartment will smell a lot like lamb after this.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If I could find cheap ground lamb I wouldn't use it for burgers. You can make great gyros with it.

 

[CZroe]

Lamb has an aftertaste I don't particularly care for, but boy does it smell good when cooking.

 

[zinfamous]

Lamb burgers are incredible. Serve with goat cheese and cucumbers and tomatoes. Don't overcook. You could even make a meat loaf out of it and it'd be awesome.

If you want to get creative make some tsichi (sp?) sauce.

This. lamb is my 2nd favorite meat.

Next to pork, of course. This thread has inspired me to make some lamb burgers.

holy crap, spidey. lamb burger + goat cheese sounds like a delightful journey down decadence lane.

 

[zinfamous]

<cough>Australia</cough>

yeah, I don't get that. The US produces a shit-ton of lamb, yet most places I go, I mainly see NZ or Australian lamb? What gives? I'd much rather have the fresher, meatier US lamb...which should be cheaper, no?

 

[sjwaste]

Ground lamb is great. Spidey and Perk had good tips for you. I'd combine the two. Lamburger, med-rare. Top with a nice piece of late summer tomato (they're almost gone). Smear some goat cheese on a really good roll - I'm thinking something like brioche. Eat w/ a heavy red or a dark beer.

The goat cheese and tomato will add a nice acidity to cut the richness of the lamb and the brioche.

 

[sjwaste]

yeah, I don't get that. The US produces a shit-ton of lamb, yet most places I go, I mainly see NZ or Australian lamb? What gives? I'd much rather have the fresher, meatier US lamb...which should be cheaper, no?

Nope! American lamb is the superior product. It costs more because a lot more of it goes to restaurants. Australian/NZ lamb is good, but any chef or restauranteur will tell you it's inferior to the American product.

Much like any honest French chef will tell you American beef is prized over there.

 

[spidey07]

This. lamb is my 2nd favorite meat.

Next to pork, of course. This thread has inspired me to make some lamb burgers.

holy crap, spidey. lamb burger + goat cheese sounds like a delightful journey down decadence lane.

We make lamb a lot. There is something really special about goat cheese, cucumbers and tomatoes that really are the perfect thing to go with it.

And mint jelly of course. Flavor explosion. Probably a lot for a burger but these really are the perfect things for lamb.

We do rack of lamb with a salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, goat cheese. Serve with the lamb with some mint jelly on the side.

/drool

As others have mentioned, the secret to good lamb even ground is you can't let it get past medium otherwise the flavor and moisture is gone and it turns into shoe leather.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Not really. Lamb is not industrially raised like chicken or a lot of cattle.

He means the fact that we raise a shit tonne more lamb here than beef.

 

[IronWing]

In theory, lamb should be cheaper than beef as it takes less inputs per pound of meat produced.

 

[slayer202]

use some greek spices. it won't technically be a burger, but its the same idea

 

[spidey07]

use some greek spices. it won't technically be a burger, but its the same idea

You lika de sauce? Here, more sauce. Me likey de sauce.

The tsiki sauce.