Hi all,

I've just bought some diced, boneless mutton leg from my asian supermarket as I've heard it has more flavour than lamb.

My question is, should I be treating it the same way as lamb leg, or will it require slow braising / cooking to ensure it is tender?

Many thanks

James.

To me its a different flavour to lamb, its more meaty and less sweet, works really will in Mutton and Spinach Keema but long slow cooking is best...

Steve

I believe lamb is tender but has a stronger taste than mutton. May have to pressure cook mutton (for mutton curry).

Rajneesh: I think that mutton has a stronger taste than lamb. My wife isn't keen on it, for that reason. Mutton works well in Indian cookery because the spices counteract the strong taste.

But, yes, lamb also has a strong taste. When the meat of a small sheep stops being lamb and starts being mutton is hard to tell.

it depends on country etc but

Lamb - is under 1 year or there abouts

Hogget - 1 to 2 years old

Mutton - over 2 years old

roughly... different countries use things like how many teeth etc..

Steve

I was talking about Goat's mutton above as in India goat is more popular than sheep.

My family prefer lamb, so I always buy lamb. In India, we were vegetarians (even my husband only ate it very occasionally at his meat eating friend's houses). Almost all my family in India still are, or at least they don't cook it at home. Younger generations do eat it in restaurants, whatever is on the menu. I think it is goat mostly.

A pity that youngsters have to eat non-veg in restaurants - no home cooking.

In UK goat is rare, you have to pre-order it and most of the time it is not fresh so i give it a miss, though Paganum also sells goat - will try some day.

A vast majority of Hundu families still do not allow meat in their kitchens, so there is little choice for few family members who do eat it.

Goat is another matter: I've no idea how the younger/older distinction works there, but loved goat roasted on the spit during a Greek Easter lunch. How old the goat was, I've no idea.

But thansk, Steve, for the sheep info: I hadn't known about those distinctions.

Phil