9 Lamb Chop Recipes That Have Us Ditching The Ham This Easter (2024)

FAQs

Is Easter dinner lamb or ham? ›

We all know the two most popular meats in the world to serve as the centerpiece of an Easter dinner are lamb and ham. For most Americans, unlike most of the rest of the world, the choice is usually ham.

A rare, or pink, lamb chop that has been seared well on the outside should be fine because any bacteria on the outer surface will have been killed by the heat. But minced or diced lamb or mutton should never be served pink. It needs to be thoroughly cooked and browned. The same goes for burgers.

Cook all raw lamb steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145° F (62.8° C) as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.

Very soft = rare – bright red, raw centre. Soft = medium rare – pink inside with a red centre. Springy = medium – pink throughout. Firmer = well-done range – mostly brown inside.

For Christians, the lamb is more a representation of Jesus sacrificing himself and dying on the cross – Jesus being “the lamb of God”. It's most likely that Christians eat lamb at Easter to remember this sacrifice. The sacrificial lamb is mentioned in the Old Testament, when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son.

Roast lamb or roast ham is the traditional meat for the main meal on Easter Sunday. Read on for more on what to serve with your traditional Easter roast. Hot cross buns, which are spiced tea cakes, are traditionally served on Good Friday.

Originally Answered: Is lamb healthier for you than beef? It really depends on the cut of beef. 95% lean ground beef has fewer calories and less fat and cholesterol than many cuts of lamb. However, lamb on the whole, tends to have fewer calories and less fat/saturated fat and cholesterol than beef.

Don't eat lamb every day, and choose lean cuts when possible. Preparing lean cuts of lamb sensibly and eating them in moderation can help maintain a healthy diet and healthy cholesterol levels.

You certainly can and in fact, most lamb cuts are best served either rare or medium rare at most.

Slow cooking in liquid transforms tougher cuts of lamb into fork-tender meat. Neck, shoulder and belly, either diced or as whole joints, are the best cuts for slow cooking and need to be cooked for at least 2 hrs at 150C to soften the meat.

Does lamb get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

The leg and rack of lamb are perfect for herb-crusting and oven-roasting; since the shank and shoulder are a bit tougher, they fare well in stews or braises—the long cook time allows them to significantly break down and become fork-tender.

However, when cooked meat is stored in the refrigerator or freezer, it can continue to oxidize due to exposure to air. As a result, the meat can turn gray or brownish in color, and the surface may appear dry or discolored. This is not a sign of spoilage, but rather a natural chemical reaction.

Ham, lamb, salmon, spinach pie — make Easter dinner something really special by going all-out with our favorite traditional mains and side dishes. Then, take your spread over the top with our classic Easter desserts.

Lamb: In some parts of the country, lamb is the traditional Easter main course, often served with mint jelly and sides such as roasted potatoes and asparagus. Deviled eggs: Deviled eggs are a popular appetizer for Easter dinner, often served as a symbol of new life and resurrection.

On Easter Sunday, tradition dictates that we all sit down together – be it with family or friends – and feast on lamb. The rest of Easter is apparently about munching chocolate or hot cross buns, and on the evening of Good Friday we are supposed to eat fish.

When you think of Easter do you picture spring flowers, colorfully decorated eggs, and sugar cookies made to look like adorable chicks? If you're like most people, you probably think of your holiday meal, too. Like Thanksgiving and turkey, Easter has that traditional main dish that defines the holiday meal-Easter ham.