Many foodies want to know how lamb vs sheep meat differ. While it may seem that they are the same, but they vary primarily due to age.
If you do not know already, the age of the animal affects the taste and flavor of the meat also, how you will prepare the meat.
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What is the difference between lamb vs sheep?
Check out the following:
Lamb meat
Lamb animal is a sheep whose age is less than 12 to 14 months. So, the question arises whether the lamb is a baby sheep? Yes, the meat is very tender, and it is either pale red or pink.
Lambs who are below the age of 12 weeks are called spring lambs. They are incredibly soft, but the flavor is mild compared to lamb.
Sheep meat
Mutton or sheep meat is from sheep which are more than a year old, mainly three years.
The main difference between lamb vs sheep meat is the color and the amount of fat it has. It is deep red, and the taste is too strong.
Mutton or sheep meat is more preferred in Europe and the Middle East. However, people from the United States prefer lamb.
Lamb vs sheep skin
The lamb and sheepskin are called lambskin and sheepskin, respectively. But there is not much difference between the skin of a lamb and sheep.
The only difference one can feel between lamb vs sheepskin is that the lamb’s skin is softer than sheepskin.
Most individuals cannot even tell the difference between them.
Lambskin is used for many things such as bags, shoes, belts, gloves, hats, purses, etc.
Lamb vs sheep as food
Lamb and sheep are both consumed as foods. However, lamb meat is much pricier than sheep meat. That’s why farmers prefer to raise lamb.
Growing sheep is costly too, as you need to feed it for three years, and the profit is less. Whereas lamb you need to grow them for a year and can have more profit.
Lamb meat is also tender, so it is easily digestible. But you need to roast and stew the mutton well before eating them, as it is difficult to digest.
Lamb vs sheep leather
Without the fur, it is called lamb leather and sheep leather. Lamb leather much softer and smoother than sheep leather.
For the clothing industry, lamb leather is used for dresses, coats, jackets, and pants.
Sheep leader is used for making accessories, book covers, furniture, etc., as it is more sturdy.
Commonly asked questions
Difference between a ram and a sheep?
Sheep can be either female or male. Ram are male sheep, and male lambs are known as a ram lamb.
Rams are bigger and stronger compared to ewes or female sheep. They are very aggressive too.
Compared to the horn of a ewe, rams have a longhorn.
How to know how old a sheep is?
By looking at their teeth, you can tell the age of the sheep. Sheep has eight teeth, and each year a pair grows.
So, a year old will have two teeth, and a 2-year-old will have four teeth, and so on until the age of 4.
What is goat meat called? What is the difference between goat meat and lamb?
Goat meat is called mutton, the same as sheep meat. The main difference between goat meat and lamb is the nutrition value.
Goat meat is much healthier and lower in calories compared to lamb. However, lamb is cheaper than goat meat.
Lamb food recipe
Since we know most prefer lamb meat, here are some recipes that you can try.
Lamb shanks
Ingredient list
You need eight lamb shanks, four tablespoons of olive oil, five tablespoons of butter, one chopped onion, four garlic cloves (minced), two large carrots (chopped), three tablespoons of tomato paste, two and ½ cups of beef broth (low in sodium), 2 cups of tomato sauce, 1 cup of red wine, two rosemary, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and salt to taste.
The method
First, preheat the oven to 320f. Season the lamb with black pepper and salt. In the dutch oven, medium heat, heat the oil.
Add the lamb and cook it until it is light brown all over, for 5 minutes per side. Do it in batches if needed. Please remove it from the pot and put it on a dish.
Second, in the large pot, medium heat, add three tablespoons of butter, carrots, and onion. Cook it for 5 minutes until soft. Now add the garlic and cook it until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the tomato paste and mix it well so that the veggies are coated.
Third, pour the tomato sauce, rosemary, and broth, add the lamb shanks again. Once it is boiling, lower the flame and cover it with a lid.
Cook the lamb for 2 hours or until it is tender.
Fourth, transfer the lamb to a cutting board. Cover it with aluminum foil and discard the rosemary.
Fifth, on a stove, medium heat, add the red wine and boil it. Reduce the flame and simmer it for 8 to 10 minutes until the liquid is thickened. Add the rest of the butter in this.
Sixth, remove the foil from the lamb shanks and add the wine to it. Serve it with mashed potato or plain rice.
Lamb roast
Ingredient list
Eight ribs or lamb (around 2 kilograms), four garlic cloves, one tablespoon of thyme leaves, ½ teaspoon of salt, three tablespoons of rosemary leaves, ¼ teaspoon of black pepper, one teaspoon of chopped parsley, lemon wedges, and olive oil.
The method
In a food pocessor, add garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, and olive oil. Blend it until it is a smooth paste.
Place the lambs on a baking sheet and season them with salt, thyme, and black pepper. Let it sit for 2 hours.
Preheat an oven to 425f. For medium-rare, roast the lambs for 30 minutes. Insert a thermometer to check the temperature and turn off the oven when it read 125°.
Cover it with aluminum foil and let it rest for 20 minutes.
Garnish it with lemon wedges and parsley.
Lamb Burgers and Tzatziki
Ingredient list
For Burgers
You need 500 grams of ground lamb, 100 milligrams of feta cheese, ½ teaspoon of garlic paste, black pepper and salt each, two tablespoons of oregano leaves., five tablespoons of chopped onion, six pita pieces of bread, one zucchini, six lettuce leaves, one yellow squash, and six slices of tomatoes.
For Tzatziki
It would be best if you had ½ cup of greek yogurt, ½ teaspoon of lemon zest, 1 cup of cucumber (seedless), one tablespoon of lemon juice, and salt and black pepper to your taste.
The method
To make the tzatziki mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
In a bowl, the burgers mix the lamb, onion, pepper, garlic paste, cheese, oregano, and salt. Make the patties 1 inch thick. Please keep them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
On a grill, with medium fire, place the burgers, squash slices separately, and coat them with oil. Grill them for 10 minutes, turn them every 2 to 3 minutes.
Once done, add the lettuce, tomato slices, and patties to the burger. Top it with some sesame seeds.
Moroccan Tagine Lamb
Ingredient list
Two kilograms of lamb roast (boneless), 3 cups of chicken broth (ow sodium), 1 cup of dried apricots, five garlic cloves sliced, one chopped onion, four tablespoons of olive oil, three tablespoon of tomato sauce, ½ cup toasted almonds, and two tablespoons ginger (minced).
One cinnamon stick, ½ teaspoon of ground coriander and ground turmeric each, ¼ teaspoon of ground cardamom, ground cloves, and ground nutmeg each, ¼ cup of cilantro (chopped), a pinch of saffron, ¼ teaspoon of black pepper, and salt to taste.
For garnishing, you can add some chopped mint leaves, cooked couscous, and parsley.
The method
In a bowl, mix the lamb and salt together. Please keep it for an hour or overnight in the fridge.
Second, in a saucepan, medium heat, add the chicken broth and bring it to boil. Remove it and add apricots. Leave it for 20 minutes.
Third, in a dutch oven, medium heat, heat some oil. Toss the lamb and cook it until it is light brown, about 5 minutes on each side. You can cook it in batches if needed.
Remove the lamb and place it on a dish.
Fourth, in the pot, medium heat, out the onion. Cook it until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the ginger and garlic cook until the smell vanishes for 60 seconds. Then add the tomato sauce, stir until mixed.
Saffron, spices, and cinnamon stick should be added now and cook until it is toasted, for about 2 minutes.
Fifth, add the lamb, chicken broth, and apricots to the pot and add salt and pepper to your taste.
Once it is boiling, reduce the heat and simmer. Cover it with a lid until the lamb is tender and the liquid is less. This will take about 90 minutes to cook.
Turn off the heat and add cilantro. Garnish with mint, cilantro, and almonds. Serve it with couscous.
Mediterranean Style Grilled Lamb
Ingredient list
To make the marinade.
You need three tablespoons of parsley, 15 milliliters of olive oil, two teaspoons of lemon juice, three garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon black pepper, two tablespoons marjoram, and salt to taste.
To make the skewers
It would be best if you had 1 kilogram of ground lamb, one green and red bell peppers each, two medium onions, sea salt, black pepper, and lemon wedges.
The method
Place all the ingredients under marinade in a mixer and blend it until smooth.
Make sure the lamb pieces are dry, and add salt and pepper. Please place it in a tray and cover it up. Please put it in the refrigerator for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 400f and place the lambs on the grill pan. Add black pepper and onion on top of it.
Grill it for 30 to 40 minutes and turn it over after 15 minutes.
Garnish it with lemon wedges and parsley.
Easy Lamb Ragù
Ingredient list
You need 1 kilogram of ground lamb, three tablespoons of olive oil, two carrots (diced), two celery chopped, one chopped onion, ½ cup of red wine, two tablespoons of tomato sauce, and three garlic cloves (minced).
Two teaspoons of chopped oregano, one tablespoon of chopped thyme, two teaspoons of chopped rosemary, ½ teaspoon of red chili flakes, salt, and pepper according to the taste.
The method
In a pot, medium heat first heats the oil. Add carrots, celery, and onion and cook them for 5 minutes until they are soft. Now add tomato sauce and garlic cook until the smell dissolves.
Add the lamb now and cook it until it does not look pale red, for like 10 minutes.
After the red wine and cook until it is almost reduced to 3 to 4 minutes. Add all the other ingredients such as red chili flakes, tomatoes, herbs, pepper, and salt.
Once it starts boiling, it reduces the heat and simmers it for 40 minutes.
Lamb Meatball with Tzatziki and Garlic Fries
Ingredient list
For Lamb Meatballs
You need 500 grams of ground lamb, two tablespoons of mint, one teaspoon of chili flakes, one egg, ¼ cup of feta cheese, two tablespoons of cilantro, one tablespoon of cumin powder, black pepper, garlic, sumac each, ¼ cup of panko, two onions minced, and olive oil.
For Garlic Fries
It would be best if you had three potatoes, three garlic cloves, one tablespoon lemon juice, olive oil, and one tablespoon of parsley.
For Mint Tzatziki
You need 1 cup of greek yogurt, two tablespoons of mint, one tablespoon of lemon juice, olive oil, ½ cup of cucumber, two garlic cloves, salt, and pepper according to your taste.
The method
To make the meatballs, you need to mix all the ingredients except the oil. Roll them into ½ inch balls.
In a frying pan, medium heat, add olive oil and place the meatball. Cook each side for 8 to 10 minutes and rotate it every 2 minutes.
For the garlic fries, preheat the oven to 400f. Mix the potatoes with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil.
In a baking sheet place, they and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Halfway through the process, flip the potatoes.
To make the tzatziki, mix all the ingredients in a bowl and keep it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until they become chill. Squeeze lemon juice when on top after that.
Final thoughts
Now you know the difference between lamb vs sheep and most probably know which meat you prefer more.
If you have already tested both of them, let us know which one you prefer in the comment section below.
