Nowadays, lamb is used in all sorts of dishes and cultures. It can be cooked fresh or from frozen for future meals. A leg or shoulder of lamb is often cooked for a special occasion. Quite often, people overindulge and there are plenty of cuts of lamb remaining that didn’t make it to the dinner table. Once cooked, leftover meat needs to be refrigerated and consumed within three days. Some people will agree that lamb can taste even better as leftovers the following day. The next question is ‘what to do with leftover lamb?’ Before you throw it all into the food bin, don’t let perfectly good cuts go to waste, there are plenty of different ways to make the most out of leftover lamb.
The fastest and easiest way of using leftover lamb is using it in a sandwich. It’s no secret that meat sandwiches are one of the best. You can enjoy a delicious lamb sandwich loaded with toppings of your choice. Make a classic lamb sandwich by coating two slices of bread with mayonnaise and adding red onion, lettuce, roasted cherry tomato, gherkins, smoked paprika, cheese or mustard.
If you enjoy Mexican food, you will love our next idea, leftover lamb tacos. Ideal for lunch or dinner the following day. Lamb tacos can be made in only a few minutes. You will need leftover roasted or ground lamb, taco shells or tortillas, onion, garlic, sour cream or plain yoghurt, spice mix, guacamole, jalapeño, lime and salsa. Who said tacos can only be eaten on Tuesdays? If you’re not a fan of Mexican food, you can still make mild lamb tacos by replacing the jalapeño with cherry tomatoes or bell peppers and replacing the spice mix with a more tame soy or barbeque sauce.
For Indian cuisine, leftovers don’t get much better than being used in a curry. To make a simple lamb and vegetable curry, boil the basmati rice. Meanwhile, saute onion and garlic, then add the curry powder, turmeric, flour and diced leftover meat until fragrant. Add lamb stock to create a smooth paste, then gradually add lamb stock and tomato paste. Simmer for 15 minutes before serving with basmati rice and naan bread. To make the dish go further, add some tomatoes or chickpeas to bulk it up or add coconut cream to make a rich curry sauce.
If you have leftover lamb mince, you can make homemade lamb meatballs. Mix the leftover mince in a bowl with greek yoghurt, garlic, salt, pepper, spices and coriander (you can use clean hands to blend together ). Next, use a spoon to scoop out small portions of the mixture and shape them into round meatballs using your hands. Make sure to handle and shape the meatballs lightly to create light and fluffy meatballs. Saute the meatballs in some oil until cooked and brown. Serve with spaghetti, pasta and scatter feta over the top. For extra flavour, add chopped tomatoes and tomato puree.
Put a twist on a traditional beef shepherd’s pie by making a lamb shepherd’s pie instead. Chop any cooked leftover lamb and place it into an ovenproof dish along with any sauteed vegetables of your choice. Add gravy or lamb stock to combine the mixture. Add a layer of mashed potatoes on top, then a layer of breadcrumbs before sprinkling it with cheese. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until golden on top. Finally, serve with chips or extra vegetables. This recipe is ideal for any leftover lamb, vegetables, gravy and mashed potatoes following a roast lamb dinner. With no waste, it’s a no-brainer!
The above ideas will prevent any unnecessary waste while creating new tasty dishes. A succulent lamb dish can be traced back to the quality of its ingredients. When purchasing lamb, choose fresh and look for lean cuts with pinkish red flesh and a good amount of marbling. At HP Westwood, we are a Red Tractor and RSPCA assured meat wholesaler and our luscious wholesale lamb cuts are locally sourced and 100% traceable. Our establishment has made us the top meat supplier for British butchers and meat retailers across the Midlands.
If you’re interested in becoming a customer, speak to our team today by calling us on 01543 279463. We will be happy to provide you with more information and start supplying you with fresh and local lamb produce.