Lamb (Shoulder or Leg) which do you prefer?

Soldato
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Having tried both recently I found the leg to be a far better cut of meat with more flavour and less fat to mess about with.

The leg coated with garlic butter and gravy was superb :)
 
Well, considering that the leg is generally a better, leaner cut then the shoulder... :p

I love lamb, favourite meat ever. I can eat it until I enter a form of torpor.
 
Not fussy, but I do prefer slow cooked meats more than pink meats. Shoulder in the oven at 120c for 4 to 6 hours, is where it's at.
 
Shoulder here. A slow braised shoulder of lamb finished off in the oven, is a thing of absolute beauty. Tastier and juicier than the leg in my experience.

I struggled to keep the lamb very moist even on a low temperature through normal roasting, so I tried braising it. Now I braise everything that needs a slow cook.

Use a heavy pan with a lid such as a Le Creuset, a few glasses of wine and a few glases of chicken stock, onions, herbs, shallots, garlic, the usual. Then 130 for four or five hours. Then take out of braising pot and dry with a kitchen towel. Now into a hot (>=200 deg C) oven for 20 minutes and you have a crispy outside with an absolutely tender inside.

Braising also renders the fat very well.
 
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Leg. Mentally hot oven for 20 mins to get the caramelised flavours. Then 180 for however long the size of the meat is. Rare.

I make loads of knife holes and stuff with garlic, anchovy and rosemary before cooking = the best.
 
If you prefer leg, you haven't done shoulder properly;)

All the flavours in the fat so you have to slow cook it. Cut some incisions in it and stuff them with rosemary, that's all you need along with seasoning and olive oil.
 
If you prefer leg, you haven't done shoulder properly;)

All the flavours in the fat so you have to slow cook it. Cut some incisions in it and stuff them with rosemary, that's all you need along with seasoning and olive oil.

I did slow cook the shoulder just before xmas and also stuffed it with garlic etc, I just found it was very fatty but not in a good way :(

Will perhaps try again if I see it on offer when shopping.
 
If you prefer leg, you haven't done shoulder properly;)

All the flavours in the fat so you have to slow cook it. Cut some incisions in it and stuff them with rosemary, that's all you need along with seasoning and olive oil.

Disagree.

Lamb leg pierced with garlic, rosemary and a touch of seasoning, thyme and olive oil is unbeatable!

I've tried and tested many alternatives, and nothing comes close.
 
I made Jamie's mechoui lamb shoulder this weekend and it was absolutely sublime. The best 'new' meal I've cooked for ages. I made up a batch of Harissa from this recipe (using about 6-7 red chillis, not 100g :eek: ) and it was stunning. Exactly how I remember it from Tunisia. Quite bitter and salty and completely blow-your-head-off :D:D

Anyway, we're having leftovers tonight and have about a third of the lamb (shredded) to reheat and have again in the same dish. But I'm not sure of the best way to reheat it and keep it moist? Thoughts? I was wondering if just boiling it in some water might do it :p
 
I made Jamie's mechoui lamb shoulder this weekend and it was absolutely sublime. The best 'new' meal I've cooked for ages. I made up a batch of Harissa from this recipe (using about 6-7 red chillis, not 100g :eek: ) and it was stunning. Exactly how I remember it from Tunisia. Quite bitter and salty and completely blow-your-head-off :D:D

Anyway, we're having leftovers tonight and have about a third of the lamb (shredded) to reheat and have again in the same dish. But I'm not sure of the best way to reheat it and keep it moist? Thoughts? I was wondering if just boiling it in some water might do it :p

Got any harissa left? If so reheat slowly in the oven and cover with foil. Would be my recommendation.

Edit - Scam, that lamb recipe states 180 degrees C for 3 hours...was it still moist after that heat for that time?! Normally I'd do shoulder of lamb for ~four hours at 130 (fan).
 
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Shoulder if I have the time to cook it nice and slowly, leg if in a bit more of a hurry. I love a bit of mutton as well, has a stronger taste to it, and isn't tough if cooked properly.

Oh, and get some spuds in the roasting juices!
 
I did slow cook the shoulder just before xmas and also stuffed it with garlic etc, I just found it was very fatty but not in a good way :(

Will perhaps try again if I see it on offer when shopping.


What you need to do is put it on a very high heat for about 30min, all that extra fat will just burn away. Drop the heat to the normal temp - about 160.

you should be just left with a bit of fat at the top and the fat in the middle.
 
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