Mutton

[poliphilo]

Mutton has been off the British menu for decades. I don't know why. Somewhere down the line it acquired a bad image- as being gamey and tough and that was that- you couldn't buy it any more; you could only buy lamb. Beef can be tough too- but that hasn't led to it's being driven out of the shops by veal. No, I don't understand it at all. 

Mind you, I don't suppose everything that's labelled lamb is quite as youthful as it pretends to be. I expect we eat plenty of mutton in disguise- and especially in pies and ready meals and such.  That phrase  "mutton dressed up as lamb" didn't gain currency without a reason.

A year or two back Prince Charles figureheaded a campaign to reinstate mutton. He gave mutton parties and was filmed munching on the stuff and going "Mmmmmm, delicious", but I don't think it had any effect. Leastways I've yet to see mutton- advertised as such- on the butchers counters in the shops round here.

With one important exception. The Asian owned supermarkets sell it unashamedly. They call it sheep. We bought some sheep last week and put it in the slow cooker and served it with mushrooms and rice and it was perfectly fine, not tough at all and- to be honest- if I hadn't have been in on the secret I wouldn't have guessed I wasn't eating lamb.

Oh, we also put a sprinkle of coriander on top. I love coriander.

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The flavour's certainly as good- if not better.

I wonder what goat tastes like? Now that's something I've never seen for sale in a British shop.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

We eat both goat and mutton in Spain. Young goat is very tasty and tender and does not have that "sheep smell" associated with mutton. It's flavour is hard to define. I love it, carnivore that I am. Unfortunately, goat is hard to find at market and has become mostly a restaurant or rural village dish.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't believe the English have ever really eaten goat. I suppose it's not a native animal.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Those who eat goat meat claim it has much in common with lamb...Mostly Muslims buy it at the pushcart market.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I must look for it. We have plenty of Muslim shops.