What can I do with the meat and fat trimmed from the top of lamb ribs?
I'm making rack of lamb tonight. I got the rack at a local farmer's market and it was a bit less butchered than I expected. I can (and did) trim it myself, but there seems to be a lot of meat embedded in the large amount of fat I trimmed off the top of the ribs. I'm not really sure what its proper name is ("rib meat"?), so here's a couple pictures to make it clear:
I'm talking about the large slab of fat and meat in my hand in the second picture. As far as I can tell, it's usually just discarded, but there seems to be a good deal of meat there, and it was expensive, so I'd hate to just toss it. I'm fairly patient and good at separating the fat and meat on membranes, so I can probably isolate a good portion of the meat, if necessary.
Is there anything I can do/make to avoid throwing out so much good meat?
For the record, I got about 12 oz of usable meat out of this. Didn't weigh the fat, but probably 20-24 oz.
Best Answer
I always save all my scraps to make stock. I'm not sure what you would do with lamb stock, but it would probably make a good sauce to use on lamb. The fat that renders out is also useful for future cooking of whatever it came from (duck fat for duck confit, for example).
I just throw all the scraps into a slow cooker with celery, carrot, and onion (veggies are optional) and let it cook for a day (or two). You can pick out the meat if you like (after a day it will be easy to separate) and use it for anything you might use shredded lamb for (pot pie, shepherd's pie, etc.).
I use rendered chicken or turkey fat instead of butter for making pot pie dough, to cook more chicken in, or for matzo balls, and beef fat instead of butter for making gravy, replacing the butter in a beurre manié (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beurre_mani%C3%A9).
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Quick Answer about "What can I do with the meat and fat trimmed from the top of lamb ribs?"
Render the fat down and use it to make pie crust. Cut, sear and brown the meat, and use it to make lamb pot pie. This way, all of the "discards" are used up, and supper is delicious!Should you remove fat from rack of lamb?
When you buy a rack of lamb it usually comes with a thick layer of fat on top. Whilst this is okay to cook, it will take a while to render down, so it's best to trim it off. You can ask your butcher to do this or you can do it yourself.Should you trim the fat off lamb ribs?
Lamb Ribs. Start by trimming off any visible outside layers of fat on the meat. Once completed look to the bones \u2013 if there is a layer of almost plastic like skin then remove it as this can reduce flavour.How do you render fat from lamb ribs?
Be sure to bake them a good hour to an hour and a half. - Ribs may be simmered in water for 30 minutes which will render the fat and partially cook them. The second challenge is to keep from overcooking the ribs while sufficiently rendering the fat. To do this it is wise to have a small instant- reading thermometer.Can you eat the fat on lamb chops?
How to cook lamb chops. Don't remove fat from the chops before cooking them. The fat provides lots of flavor and your guests can take care of removing it on their plates. Cook the chops by applying intensive heat ina pan or on a grill for a short time.How to Grill Lamb Ribs | Full rack of Lamb Ribs easy way | Xman \u0026 Co
More answers regarding what can I do with the meat and fat trimmed from the top of lamb ribs?
Answer 2
Why are you taking it off. This is the most delicious part of the rack of lamb. It is a complete ruination of a beautiful cut. Whoever invented frenching of lamb racks and cutlets should go back to the basics of what gives lamb its flavour. I am hare pressed to find a traditional old fashioned cut style of a lamb cutlet. It is usually a stick of bone with a little bit of meat the size of a 50cent piece attached to it and rare as all get out. No way. Leave the back strap on. Never take it off. People can if they want to when they are eating it but I'll bet you will end up with bones chewed down to bare if you don't. I'm trying to teach my butcher but he just doesn't get it. Get a retired butcher to teach you.
Answer 3
We used to raise sheep. I never liked lamb, but mutton was good. You mentioned your skills with separating meat from fat. Render the fat down and use it to make pie crust. Cut, sear and brown the meat, and use it to make lamb pot pie. This way, all of the "discards" are used up, and supper is delicious!
Answer 4
In the southern U.S., a "crackling" (or pork rind) is the fried skin of a pig. I have found that after cooking a rack of lamb (frenched or not), the fat layer(s) or "skin" of the lamb rack makes a fine crackling with the addition of a slight amount of salt, pepper, or not. Best, you can harvest a crop of crackling every time you skim the fatty side of the lamb cut, after reintroducing it into the oven at 350F for about 20 minutes and skimming; re-enter the balance to the oven for some more.
Answer 5
Another option if you have a meat grinder would be to mix it with a leaner cut of meat to increase the fat content when making sausages.
Answer 6
One solution is to sprinkle it with salt and pepper, place it in a small baking dish covered with aluminum foil, and bake in a 325 degree oven for about an hour or so. The fat will render nice and slowly and the meat will crisp up in certain areas. The meat will be delicious in tacos, sandwiches, over pasta, or on its own!
Answer 7
I have found a great use for the little nuggets of meat/fat in between the ribs that you have to cut out to get that bone to hold on to for your lollipop lamb chops. Just saute meat in a wok over high heat to render as much fat as you can, about 15-20 minutes, pour off all the fat then add a marinade/sauce I like Korean Kalbi or a Red wine demi and slowly cook/braise it out for another 15-20 on low heat. I add a little blanched veggies, diced onion, re-season and let the sauce coat everything well 3-4 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles..............AMAZING!!!!!
Answer 8
How about making boneless Ribs?
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