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“Spring lamb” is so called because before modern times, the sheep gave birth in the spring. If you wanted lamb in other seasons, it would be frozen.
Today, animal breeders know how to enable birth year-round, so lovers of lamb need never be without it.
Use the ingredients of spring to (below) create your own spring lamb dish.
There are cuts from chops to roasts and less expensive cuts for lamb stew.
One of our favorite dishes is braised lamb shanks, ready to cook in your pressure cooker or Instant Pot.
Ever wonder why leg of lamb with green peas is such a popular pairing? It’s because both are spring foods. In the days when everyone had to eat “locavore,” people could only eat what was in season.
So today’s tip is: Celebrate this first day of spring by planning a lamb dinner with spring vegetables (a list follows).
Also, see more lamb recipes below.
How about some fava beans with a nice Chianti?
> May 7th is National Spring Lamb Day.
> The different cuts of lamb. How many have you had?
SPRING VEGETABLES
Because of imports from the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed, Americans have year-round access to traditional spring foods like artichokes, Belgian endive, spinach, radicchio, radishes, and watercress.
But spring brings specialties with short seasons, so eat them while you can!
Asparagus (look for purple asparagus)
Butter lettuce
Fava beans
Fennel
Fiddlehead ferns
Morel mushrooms
Mustard greens
Ramps
Rhubarb
Spring (English) peas, snow peas, pea pods
Sorrel
Vidalia onions
One of the most celestial restaurant dishes we recall, from several springs ago, was a simple sauté of asparagus, fiddleheads, morels, and ramps, seasoned with a little garlic.
It’s a lesson on how the season’s bounty needs little preparation to impress.
LAMB RECIPES
Boneless Lamb Loin With Blood Orange Sauce And White Bean Purée
Caramelized Australian Lamb Chops With Grilled Rosemary Carrots
Cranberry-Marinated Rack Of Lamb With Almond Wild Rice
Feta-Crusted Lamb Gyros With Herbed Yogurt Sauce
Greek Lamb Burger
Greek Lamb Pinwheels
Greek Nachos
Greek-Style Grilled Lamb Loin Chops With Bread Salad
Grilled Lamb Loin Chops With Zucchini, Walnut & Caper Couscous
Irish Lamb Stew
Lamb Burger Ideas
Lamb Kebabs with Guinness Marinade
Lamb Panini Sandwich With Beet Relish
Lamb Salad With Cucumber & Watercress
Loin Of Lamb Niçoise
Middle Eastern Pizza With Lamb, Feta & Kalamata Olives
Maple-Glazed Leg Of Lamb Recipe
Moroccan Spiced Rack Of Lamb
Moroccan-Style Lamb Kabobs
One Pan Lamb & Zucchini With Greek Accents
Pan-Fried Lamb Loin Chops With Tomato & Mozzarella Salad In A Mustard Vinaigrette
Pear & Lamb Kebabs with Beer-Rosemary Pan Sauce
Porcini-crusted Australian Lamb Rib Chops With Fresh Pea, Mint And Feta Salad
Rack of Lamb With Quinoa-Hazelnut Crust & Mint Pesto
Roast Leg Of Lamb With Artichokes & Mint-Yogurt Sauce
Rosemary Rack Of Lamb With Berry Jam
Shepherd’s Pie Spiced Up With Cumin & Smashed Chickpeas
Shepherds’s Pie Twice Baked Potatoes Stuffed With Lamb
Thai-Curried Lamb Shank Recipe With Cilantro Rice
Thai Grilled Lamb & Asparagus Salad
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[1] A lamb lover’s delight. Who needs steak (photo © Blu Restaurant | NYC [permanently closed]).
[2] Roast lamb loin with lamb sausage, seasoned ricotta and beluga lentils and accents of fresh apricot (photo © Fruition Restaurant | Denver).
[3] Stuffed leg of lamb (photo © Vermont Creamery).
[4] Rack of lamb (photo © DeLallo).
[5] Lamburger (photo © Australian Lamb | Meat & Livestock Australia).
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