Find your perfect Easter lamb to suit your time, budget, convenience or desire to show off! Just follow the prompts and Iβll guide you to your perfect lamb recipe. Welcome to the Easter Lamb Matchmaker! π
Finding the perfect lamb recipe for Easter
Every year leading up to Easter, my friends start messaging me asking which lamb recipe they should make for Easter Sunday. I always fire back questions β how many people, make on day or before, high or low budget, do you want rosy pink slices or fall-apart meat? Based on that, I point them to the lamb that suits them best.
So this year, I thought it might be helpful to turn that little back-and-forth into a guide so I can point you to your perfect Easter Lamb recipe! Hope you find this useful. π
βοΈTOP TIP βοΈ
Lamb leg is more economical than shoulder. A 2.5kg leg serves 8β10, while a 2.5kg shoulder serves 4β5, because slow-cooked shoulder loses more weight. Leg though is best served freshly made. Shoulder however can be made ahead, will reheat 100% perfectly, and is very hands off.
Easter Lamb Matchmaker
To use this matchmaker, answer the questions below and they will lead you to the Easter lamb that suits your needs. Note: These are for centrepiece lamb mains rather than things like skewers, meatballs and stews like Tagine. For my complete collection of lamb recipes, see Lamb Recipes.
1. HANDS OFF OR HANDS ON?
The first point of order is: Do you want something mostly hands-off, or are you happy to be more involved? Think set-and-forget, fall-apart slow cooker roast lamb leg (ie. low effort) versus a blushing pink oven roast lamb-leg that needs to be monitored and best served straight away (ie. more hands-on).
I want hands-off β Go to question 2.
Iβm happy with hands-on β Skip to question 5.
2. do you want something make-ahead?
Hands-off it is! Now, do you want a hands-off lamb recipe that can be made the day before? Or one you can make on the day and serve hot without reheating?
Yes, I want something I can make-ahead β Go to question 3.
No, I can cook on the day and serve without reheating. β Read on β¬οΈ
ππ YOU HAVE BEEN MATCHED! ππ Your perfect lamb recipes that are hands-off to cook but best served freshly made on the day are:
Slow cooked lamb legs β Either a whole leg slow-roasted in the oven or a half leg in the slow cooker. Because lamb legs are quite lean, even when they are slow-cooked to fall-off-the-bone tender, they are still best served freshly made.
Slow cooked lamb shanks in red wine sauce, port braised, Massaman Curry or Persian. Note: lamb shanks are also brilliant made the day before as well!
A 3 hour slow-roasted lamb shoulder. Though if you get up early enough, you could do the 12 hour lamb shoulder in time for Easter Sunday dinner! Both are equally low-maintenance to cook.
3. DO YOU WANT PLATED OR SHARE STYLE?
Cooking for a crowd is definitely less stressful when you make-ahead π. Now, do you want a lamb recipe where people help themselves (share-style) or one that is suitable for individual plating?
I want share-style β Go to question 4.
I want something I can serve individually plated β Read on β¬οΈ
ππ YOU HAVE BEEN MATCHED! ππ Your perfect lamb matches that can be made the day before, then reheated for serving and plated individually are:
Slow cooked lamb shanks in red wine sauce, port braised, Massaman Curry or Persian
4. DO YOU WANT CLASSIC LAMB FLAVOURS OR EXOTIC?
Of course you want share-style β itβs the best way to eat! But do you want a lamb with traditional flavours like garlic, rosemary and oregano, or do you want a lamb with bold and exciting flavours, like Middle Eastern or Massaman curry??
I want classic flavours! β Read on β¬οΈ
ππ YOU HAVE BEEN MATCHED! ππ Both these recipes are made for sharing and can be made ahead (even the day before) and refrigerated. To serve, simply reheat β without any loss of quality or juiciness of meat. These are very rare characteristics in the roast world!
3 hour slow-roasted rosemary garlic lamb shoulder with gravy; or
The ultimate 12 hour slow-roasted lamb shoulder with garlic and oregano and jus β the creme de la creme of all my roast lamb recipes
I want exotic flavours! β Read on β¬οΈ
ππ YOU HAVE BEEN MATCHED! ππ These can be made the day before then reheated on the day-of.
Lamb Shanks Massaman Curry β 10 minute prep, βdump and bakeβ (reader favourite!)
Fall-apart Massaman Lamb Shoulder β 5 minute prep βdump and bakeβ
Middle Eastern Shoulder with with all the trimmings in Tonight (page 251, photo preview here).
5. FOR HANDS-ON, do you want SHARE-STYLE OR MORE REFINED?
For those who have time for hands-on cooking on the day-of, do you want a lamb main that isΒ big, hearty and made for sharing with a group 6+, or somethingΒ smaller and a little more refined?
I want big and hearty lamb main on a sharing platter β Read on β¬οΈ
ππ YOU HAVE BEEN MATCHED! ππ Donβt disappear on a deep forest Easter-egg hunt for hours towards the end of the cooking time of these, but your sacrifice will be rewarded with XX
Greek BBQ Butterflied Lamb Leg β 20 minute cook time, great for BBQ
Moroccan Lamb Backstraps β 8 minute cook time, also great for BBQ!
I want something more refined for a smaller group. β Read on β¬οΈ
ππ YOU HAVE BEEN MATCHED! ππ Here are your perfect lamb recipes:
Lamb racks ($$$) β Either Rosemary Crumbed Rack of Lamb, or a Herb and Garlic Marinated Lamb Rack. Donβt make me choose for you! Both are amazing! (Though the crumbed one is a little more hands-on with the prep).
Rosemary Garlic Lamb Cutlets β I know this is a bit of an outlier because itβs cutlets rather than a roast, but Iβve included this because they are a premium cut for special occasions. This is pretty much the only way I cook lamb cutlets. The better the meat, the simpler the flavours!
Hope you found your perfect match!
Truthfully, I feel like you canβt go wrong with any of these lamb recipes, itβs more about which recipe will suit your needs.
As for my first pick? Always the 12 hour lamb shoulder for succulent meat and a rich flavour thatβs superior to leg, plus itβs re-heatable. I often roast it in disposable foil trays for transporting convenience. To reheat, Iβll do it covered in the oven if time permits, else Iβll pop it in the microwave (YES I DO!) If Iβm short on time to cook, Iβll do the 3 hour roast version of the shoulder. And if Iβm really short on prep time, Iβll do the 5 minute prep Massaman Shoulder, which I actually just did for a lunch last weekend for that exact reason.
When an occasion calls for a carving moment or where I want one large roast to serve 10 people though, I will do a classic Roast Lamb Leg with all the trimmings. I do love a good lamb leg!
Hope you enjoyed this Matchmaker. Now, go meet your perfect lamb match β no awkward first dates required! β Nagi x
Remembering Dozer
Nothing could have prepared me for this. I never in a million years would have imagined Iβd be filling my home with artworks of Dozer gifted to me by readers. They came over the weeks, each one arriving with so much love and care it honestly stopped me in my tracks and had me bawling when I opened them.
I made a little video about these artworks I thought you might like to see:
I have a gazillion photos of Dozer, but these hold a special meaning that only something handmade can. I will be putting them up in my home and will treasure them forever.
With heartfelt thanks to the talented artists:
1. Michelle Jung from MJ Draws Dog
2. Robyn Ross
4. Rachel Somers
5. Roslyn Elms
I framed them all extra big so they have presence! Many thanks to Sydney Picture Frames in West Ryde for the wonderful job they did with the framing β friendly, great advice, fast turnaround and value.
These memories of Dozer are beautiful, as are the people who gifted them to you.
They really are, Annemarie β beautiful memories made even more special by the people behind them. β€οΈ β N x
Such wonderful gifts of love for your Dozer memory wall to surround you always.
Such a lovely way to think of it, Kathie β a wall of love to keep him close!β€οΈ β N x
If you did a count, how many people jump first to Dozer before the recipeπ₯°
Haha Maggie, I suspect the Dozer section might be winning by a landslide! π₯° β N x
Stop making me cry Nagi ! So beautiful..and was that Dozers toy π§Έ on the shelf ? π𧑠β¦β¦.no matter what it is in life that fills your heart when they depart itβs sooo hard β¦β¦just gorgeous from your beautiful people β¦..Easy carve la,b roast all the way ππ»
Tiff, I knowβ¦ it gets me too. And yes, that was one of his toys β€οΈ Easy carve lamb sounds like a very good plan! β N x
Thanks Nagi! Making your Slow Roast Leg of Lamb on Sunday! Perfectly hands off for the day I envision for myself. Beautiful art works, everyone captured his handsome face and loving heart so well π wishing you and your team a great Easter
Love that plan, Chelsey β hands-off lamb is exactly what Easter calls for! π And I agree, they captured his cheeky, loving face so well. β€οΈ β N x
Oh such beautiful art,showing this gorgeous boy.I skipped straight to Dozer and will go back now to look at the recipes.How wonderful that you and Dozer got to spend so many happy years together and what wonderful reminders of this boy to keep,each one different but all just him in all his beauty.
Straight to Dozer first is always the right move, Cheryl β recipes can wait! π And yes, each piece really does capture a different little part of him. β€οΈ β N x
Oh Nagi! I just love the pictures; what talented and thoughtful artists. They really captured the essence of the bond you and Dozer had. What a fabulous way to keep him alive in your thoughts and memories. I absolutely love them xxx
Nina, thatβs exactly what I feel too β they somehow captured that bond so perfectly. Itβs really special. β€οΈ β N x
I fell apart reading and watching your Dozer section, just like your hands-off roast lamb! Thank you for all of your hard work and for sharing Dozer with the world β€οΈ
Oh Stacyβ¦ falling apart like a hands-off roast lamb is quite the image! π Thank you for the lovely words β he definitely stole hearts everywhere. β€οΈ β N x
First recipe Iβve ever seen that uses Boolean logic! We tekkie types love this stuff! Canβt wait to try it on our lamb leg this weekend. (Couldnβt get shoulder!)
Kay, haha I knew the tekkie crowd would appreciate that! π Hope the lamb leg is a winner this weekend. β N x
Forget the lamb video is picture perfect , Thank you kindly. I got photo album of my MAZA she was 16 and her name means Rotten spoiled β¦..what you think? Of course she was so was Dozer . Love the animals.
Vera, haha MAZA sounds like the perfect name β βrotten spoiledβ is exactly how Dozer lived too! π They really do have us wrapped around their paws. β€οΈ β N x
Such wonderful artwork by yes, very talented folks who also adored Dozer and admire what you Nagi do for us all.
π€π₯°π
It really is incredible, Rose β so much talent and so much love all in one place. β€οΈ β N x
Nagi, Iβm an mid 8Os keen cook who thought that she was pretty clued up after so many years [always keen to learn though] & yet, bless you, you have taught me so much,so big thanks & hugs
Iβve lost three dog friends over my life & itβs bloody difficult to come to terms with but the artwork of Dozer is fantastic β I feel as though I knew him [labs are special]
Annette, that means so much coming from such an experienced cook β thank you! And yes, labs really are something specialβ¦ big hearts and big personalities. β€οΈ β N x
What a great compilation of great lamb recipes, Thank you Nagi !
We are slow cooked lamb lovers but also often fall for lamb cutlets πππ!!
Dozer paintings and drawings are just amazing β€οΈ
Iβm a suck for cutlets too! π But so expensive π So glad you enjoyed the matchmaker and the Dozer artwork too. β€οΈ β N x
Nagi wow!!!
So much love, so much talent π€© All inspired by your unshakable love for Dozer β₯οΈ
What a beautiful legacy born out of your willingness to express your vulnerability π
It really does feel like a beautiful kind of legacy β so much love coming through in every piece. β€οΈ β N x
You are putting love on your walls, Nagi β love you earned and deserve which was created with immense caring . . . wish we all knew how to show what we feel . . . and you are giving such love back to us with your original and absolutely fantastic choices for us to follow and make. A post I shanβt keep just for the βhowβs but for the smiles you will have brought forth right around the world. Oh β Massaman lamb or Lamb Shawarma for me . . . . thinking of you β have some fun > it is time, he would want to hear the laugh up there . . .
Eha, βlove on the wallsβ is exactly what it feels like- and I love your picks, Massaman or Shawarma is a very good dilemma to have! π And yes, Iβm sure heβd be telling me to stop being serious and have a laugh. β€οΈ β N x
Iβm in tears too. What incredibly talented and kind people we have in this wonderful community (because you attract them Nagi).
These pieces will look superb on your walls and although may bring a tear now, in time youβll be able to look at them with happiness in your heart, as you remember your beautiful and very special boy x
It really is an incredible communityβ¦ I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such kind, talented people. And youβre right, I think one day these will bring more smiles than tears. β€οΈ β N x
Nagi San. This is so touching and so thoughtful of your fans. Brought a tear to my eye. Miss you Dozer.
Thank you also for your lamb matchmaker. I am sure you had me in mind when you had this wonderful idea. Big hugs to you and have a wonderful Easter break.
Sabrina, I had you in mind for sure! π So glad you enjoyed the matchmaker, and I hope you have a wonderful Easter too. β€οΈ β N x
My heart was crushed watching you losing your precious boy . I loved getting your recipes so I could catch up on my Dozierβs moments β¦. Miss him so much !
Lots of love for you, Nagi
That means a lot, Pat. Iβm glad the Dozer moments brought a little smile along with the recipes. He had a way of stealing the spotlight every time. β€οΈ β N x
Such talented, generous and kind artists. Beautiful gifts, worth more than money.
Thatβs exactly how I feel Tracey, priceless in every way. β€οΈ β N x
Absolutely beautiful, Nagi. What a magnificent tribute to your boy. Just shows how much he and you are loved β€οΈ
It really does show the love, Nikkiβ¦ I feel so lucky to have these. β€οΈ β N x