What’s the best lamb cut for Easter?
Why eat lamb on Easter?
Easter is a time of celebrating and whether it’s with family or friends, one of the best ways to celebrate the occasion is with a delicious meal to share. Lamb makes for a fantastic centrepiece in the springtime, especially around Easter. This post contains tips from our expert butchers on the best cut of lamb to serve to commemorate the Easter holiday and satisfy your friends and family.
Easter is primarily a Christian holiday, with Easter Sunday marking the resurrection of Jesus on the third day following his crucifixion. This day also marks the end of the Christian season of lent, where many take part in partial fasting and other light penances. Eating lamb on easter therefore serves as a way to remember the sacrifice Jesus made. This is because he’s sometimes referred to as the ‘lamb of God’, and because of the general idea of the ‘sacrificial lamb’.
Best lamb cuts for Easter
Although lamb is the expected meat to be served on easter, that doesn’t mean you can’t knock it out of the park. Lamb is a type of meat that can be chewy when it’s poor quality or when it hasn’t been cooked well. On the other end of the scale however, a quality cut of lamb can make for a legendary centrepiece.
Lamb shank is a relatively inexpensive cut that comes from the lower legs of the animal around the shin. While the connective tissue in this area can make the cut tough unless cooked properly, it is also responsible for the distinct flavour of lamb shank. When cooked slowly on a low heat, this makes for a juicy piece of meat that simply falls off the bone. This can both act as a delicious and rustic centrepiece for an easter meal.
Fillets of lamb neck are among some of the most tender and sweet lamb cuts available. Due to the mixture of muscle and fat, this cut can produce great results when cooked quickly on high heat or low and slow. Here, the quality you get when buying from an expert butcher can really shine through.
Carving a lamb roasting joint is an excellent way to bring people together and create a spectacle of easter lunch. However, there is also a great deal of variation within lamb roasting joints. For instance, a whole leg of lamb might offer a more rustic option that appeals to the tradition of eating a sacrificial lamb. Whereas an expertly prepared rack of lamb or lamb shoulder slow roasting joint could provide a little sophistication to your easter meal.
Lamb chops are a classic Sunday roast alternative or special treat. A good quality lamb chop is packed with rich flavours and tenderness. If you really want to push the boat out, try a Barnsley Chop. This cut contains a double chop taken from the loin, which is widely regarded as the most valuable part of the animal. What better way to pay homage to the spirit of easter than with this premium lamb cut.
Your online butchers
At The Village Butchers, we believe everyone should have access to quality meat at all times of the year, which is why we constantly rotate our special offers. Keep an eye out for our easter sale on selected cuts and meat products, especially specially selected lamb cuts. The Village Butchers only work with trusted UK suppliers. Contact us if you have any questions.