Lamb leg or shoulder for roast?

[MrsDThaskala]

Happy weekend everyone. I'm planning on a roast lamb tomorrow. Should I buy a leg of lamb or shoulder of lamb? Don't like the fatty bits. It's going along with traditional roast bits like potatoes and cauliflower cheese. What do you think? Which lamb?

Leg if you don't like fatty bits definitely. Jealous, I love lamb

If you don't like the fatty bits get leg. Personally I think shoulder is a far superior cut, and tastier due to the fact it's a fatty cut. It needs to be slow cooked until it falls apart (should just pull off the blade) and it's beautiful. If cooking leg it should be pink

Agree with a preference for shoulder as in "the fat of the lamb"! But not necessarily slow cooked, cooked to a medium/medium rare is also great, and quicker!

But for OP get leg yes. Make sure it doesn't dry out.

Shoulder is the best for exactly the reasons @ragandbonewoman
If you don’t want all the tasty goodness go for the bland leg 😂 (half joking, it’s not necessarily bland but it’s nowhere near as good as shoulder - you need the fat for the flavour 😋 we’ve got lamb rump tonight).

Leg for a traditional roast. Shoulder is good for long, slow braises in a sauce rather than on its own with gravy added separately at the table.

Aaaah. Not sure now! The family are chicken breast kind of people not eating the leg etc, so just want some nice slices of lamb. Just not sure which!

Which cut

You need leg, then.

Sounds like leg would suit you best.

Buy some roastbags as well. Roast the joint in the bag until 30-45 mins before end of cooking. Remove the joint from the bag and return it to the oven to crispen up while you use the juices in the bag to make the gravy.

Leg definitely. I like it best butterflied and cooked in about 45 minutes on the gas bbq.

But butterflied and cooked in the oven is good too.

If you want “slices” of meat like you get slices off a chicken breast which you’ve said, you’ll need a lamb leg. You won’t get slices off a lamb shoulder, it’s more like “pulled” meat when properly cooked so it all falls apart. As other lamb fans have noted, however, it’s the most delicious cut better than leg IMO.

if they are chicken fans, why not give them what they like???

I love a slow cooked shoulder of lamb best, especially with Cauliflower cheese!!!

But it sounds like you are.a leg of lamb family. I'd butterfly it (very easy to do..just google) and then marinade it with harrissa, cumin,.crushed garlic and olive oil and grated lemon zest. Then you just frazzle it for 20 mins if you like it rare or a bit longer if not. But it's really easy with a short cooking time. Make sure it rests for.a.decent amount of time.