Cuts of Lamb
One of the most important things is to choose the right cut for your meal.
It can be intimidating ordering at the butcher counter when you don’t know what cut of lamb to ask for, and we are here to help. This page provides information for selecting the right cut of lamb for your meal.
Talk to your local butcher about the availability of the lamb cuts as shown on this cut chart.
Neck
Neck Bone
Pieces
Rib Chops
Loin Eye
Muscle
Lamb (Loin)
Chops
Double Lamb
(Loin) Chops
Boneless Lamb
Shoulder,
Shoulder Chops
Diced Shoulder
Meaty Shoulder
Bones
Individual Ribs
Small Rib Pieces
Mince/Ground
Breast
Meaty Leg
Bones
Diced Leg
Leg Roasts/Steaks
Rack of Lamb
Steak Roast
Secondary
Products:
Heart, Liver, Kidney,
Tripe, Tongue, Feet,
Head
Today’s Ontario consumer of lamb comes from many international backgrounds. Most cuisines share meat cut product preferences with their main difference arising in the preferred cooking method, seasonings used, and cut sizes.
These are examples of some of the lamb cuts and cuisines favoured by different cuisines:
African. Often large diced cubes are preferred for stews and soups. Secondary products are an important part of the cuisine. Secondary products are often used in soups and stews.
Mediterranean. Chops, roasts, small cube cuts are used from leg, loin and shoulder meats for stews, sauces, kabob, and barbeque cooking. Spiedini sticks and shawerma are a popular use of shoulder meats.
East Indian. (Afghanistan/Pakistan region) there is a focus on shoulder and leg meats which are diced into larger bone-in cubes for stews. Cuts are often used for chops, kabobs, and ground meat.
Caribbean. Cuisine favours smaller cube cuts for soups, stews, and curries. Secondary products are often used in soups and stews.
Northern Europe/British Isles/Ireland. Recipes favour heavier lambs and mutton for roasts, oven-cooked shanks, stews, and casseroles.
Chinese. Cuisine favours diced lamb for soup, kabobs and stews, and barbeque chops.
Try our Lamb Recipes
Looking for some recipe inspiration? New to cooking lamb and need some ideas to get started? Everything you need for a great lamb dish is served up right here.
