If you are wanting an easy introduction to lamb, nothing could be better than a fantastic lamb burger.  Not the adventurous type?  Give it a shot with this classic hamburger recipe and trimmings, perfect for the grill.  Once you get the taste for lamb, let the kitchen be your lab and experiment away.  My favorite?  Mix feta into the ground lamb and top with grilled pineapple and bacon, but that’s a story for another day…

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Move over beef… it’s time to start eating healthy

Easy Lamb Meatballs with Cucumber Dill Dipping Sauce

A hearty and tasty appetizer with a creamy dipping sauce, just in time for football season!

Servings: 4-6 Servings

Prep Time: 30 min

Cook Time: 20 min

Difficulty: Easy

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It’s the Facts of Lamb!

The American Lamb Board has a page where you can see everything you’ve ever wanted to know about lamb.  Cooking times, temperatures, storage and thawing; as well as several facts about the american lamb industry.  All you’ve ever wanted to know and even some fun facts thrown in as well.

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…Lamb Cooking School that is. 

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Barbecue Lamb Pita Pizza

Recipe from the American Lamb Board (www.americanlamb.com)

Feta Lamburgers with Spinach Slaw

# Servings: 4 servings

3 tablespoons quick-cooking rolled oats
1 egg white
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound ground American Lamb
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 green onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups fresh spinach, leaves and stems removed, chopped
4 English muffins, split and lightly toasted

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes

In a bowl, combine oats, egg white, pepper and salt. Add lamb; mix well. Form into eight 1/4-inch patties. In a small bowl, toss together the feta cheese and green onion. Place one-fourth of the cheese mixture on each of four patties. Top with remaining four patties and seal edges to hold filling inside.

In bowl, combine vinegar, mustard and sugar; mix well. Pour over chopped spinach; toss to mix. Set aside.

Grill burger over medium-hot coals for 5 to 6 minutes per side until no longer pink inside. Place each burger on a muffin half; top with spinach mixture and second half of the muffin.

By the American Lamb Board

Brighten Up BBQ with Marinades:

Soy Balsamic: Combine 1/2 cup each of olive oil, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar with 1 TBSP lemon zest and salt and pepper to taste.

Mint Yogurt: Combine 1/2 cup Greek style yogurt, 1/3 cup olive oil, 2 TBSP fresh chopped mint, 2 TBSP fresh lemon juice and 2 garlic cloves, minced.

Rosemary Garlic and Mustard: Combine 1/2 cup Dijon mustard, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup dry white wine, 2 TBSP fresh lemon juice, 2 TBSP fresh chopped rosemary, and 4 garlic cloves, minced.

Classic Marinade: 1 tsp fresh chopped parsley, 1 tsp fresh chopped rosemary, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 2 TBSP red wine vinegar, 2 TBSP olive oil, 1 TBSP coarse ground Dijon mustard

Great for Grilling Rubs:

Mole Lamb Rub: 1 TBSP chopped fresh cilantro, 1 TBSP minced garlic, 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder, 1/8 tsp kosher salt, 1/8 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp olive oil

Smokey Spanish Lamb Rub: 1 TBSP chopped fresh parsley, 1 TBSP chopped fresh cilantro, 1 TBSP minced garlic, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp ground coriander, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, 1/4 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp olive oil

*Visit the American Lamb board website for more information and helpful tools on how to prepare the perfectly grilled lamb cut.  Click here for the American Lamb Board website.

1. Our lamb products are 100% All Natural: All Ranchline All Natural lamb products are 100% all natural, meaning they receive absolutely no growth hormones or stimulants. Plus, they are all grass fed. As a result, our lamb meat has a taste that is second to none, with a tenderness that is unmatched by any other meat product.
2. Great fit for a healthy lifestyle: Who said that you need to stop eating red meat in order to live healthily? When you include All Natural Lamb in your diet, you are including a naturally lean, high in essential vitamins, meat alternative to the more traditional. Because our animals are 100% all natural and grass-fed, they receive absolutely no growth hormones or stimulants – they are a great source of iron, zinc and vitamin B-12. Also, most lamb cuts are naturally low in fat and cholesterol. Plus, a recent study showed that 64% of the fat in lamb is monosaturated or polyunsaturated, the “good” fat in our diets (source: American Lamb Board).
3. Great alternative to the conventional: All Natural Lamb cuts can be used in almost any recipe that calls for beef, so the next time you reach for a beef cut, re-think it, and go for a lamb cut instead – you will be happy you did.
4. Do business with a local business with local values: Just living in the western part of the United States generates a value system like no other place around the world. Ranchline All Natural is a local, New Mexico company, based out of Roswell, New Mexico. We value the vast lands dominating the west, and the animals that are raised on them. We are simple people with a simple goal of providing each customer a product that was raised with love and care from the very beginning to the time it arrives on your dinner table.
5. One of the most versatile recipe ingredients around: Lamb meat isn’t only for a special occasion or the master chef – with the thousands of recipes calling for lamb available, preparing lamb can be an excellent choice for anyone.
6. Great for any occasion: Whether you are planning a big family holiday get together or a dinner at home, Ranchline All Natural lamb is the perfect choice. Lamb can spice up your everyday meals by offering delicious flavor and variety to your menus, plus cooking lamb is easy. It’s perfect for convenient, everyday cooking.
7. Lamb sent right to your doorstep: With different, convenient, ordering methods through Ranchline All Natural, you never have to wait too long for your favorite cut of lamb – it is always delivered fresh and right to your doorstep – no need to make a grocery run.
8. Freshness guaranteed: When you place an order with Ranchline All Natural, you get the satisfaction of knowing that every cut you order will arrive fresh. Ranchline All Natural has a satisfaction guarantee, because we know that our lamb products are of the finest quality, and will not leave you disappointed.
9. Value: The value of lamb is non-comparable! For all the added value all natural lamb cuts offer over other red meat selections, the price doesn’t compare. Ranchline All Natural lamb yields higher meat output because it is naturally lean – meaning more meat, and less fat – getting the full bang for your dollar, every time.
10. Served in some of the finest restaurants in the United States: You can get the same lamb that is served in some of the finest dining establishments in the United States sent right to you, no hassle needed. Plus, you can get premium lamb recipes right on your computer from the Ranchline All Natural website. So there is no need to get dressed up, just step right to your kitchen.

Don’t wait for a special occasion – spice up your everyday meals with fresh American lamb tonight. American lamb offers delicious flavor and variety to your menus and is sure to impress everyone around the table. Don’t worry – cooking lamb is easy! It’s perfect for convenient, everyday cooking.

• Marinating allows the budget-minded cook to use the most affordable cuts of meat in kebobs, since many marinades not only flavor the chunks of meat but also tenderize them.
• Tired of the same old steaks and burgers? Don’t be afraid to try American lamb on the grill. Whether it’s a marinated loin chop, kebobs or even a ground lamb burger, American lamb is a great secret weapon when it comes to grilling. Lamb is just as easy to grill as other meats but the flavor is uniquely sweet and rich.
• Don’t rush a large American lamb roast by cooking it at a constant high temperature; it can cook unevenly – underdone in the center and overdone just below the surface. For best results, first sear the roast followed by low and slow roasting.
• The proper determination of doneness for American lamb that has been prepared by a moist heat method like braising is tenderness, not temperature. Lamb that is slow cooked is done when the meat is tender and a fork can easily pull through the meat.

Visit the American Lamb Board website (www.americanlamb.com) for many more valuable lamb facts.

Servings: 4

Total preparation and cooking time: 30 min.

Lemon-Rosemary Aioli:

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

2 teaspoons minced garlic

3/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Lamburgers:

1 small eggplant, cut crosswise into 4 slices, each about 1/2-inch thick

1-1/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1-1/2 pounds ground lamb

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/8 teaspoon pepper

4 Roma tomatoes, cut lengthwise in half, seeded

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 hamburger buns, split

Combine aioli ingredients in a small bowl and mix well; refrigerate until ready to use.

Place eggplant slices in a single layer on a baking sheet; sprinkle both sides of slices liberally with 1 teaspoon of the salt and set aside.

Combine lamb, garlic, pepper and the remaining salt in a medium bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Lightly shape lamb mixture into 4 patties, each about 1/2-inch thick.

Rinse eggplant slices and pat dry. Brush both sides of eggplants slices and tomato slices with olive oil.

Grill eggplant and tomato, covered, over medium indirect heat 14 to 16 minutes. Place lamb patties over medium direct heat; grill, covered, 7 to 9 minutes to medium (160 degrees F) doneness, turning occasionally. Remove vegetables and burgers from grill. Place hamburger buns on the grill and toast 1 to 2 minutes.

Spread 2 teaspoons aioli on bottom of each bun; top each with a burger. Place one eggplant slice and two tomato halves on each burger; top with additional 1 teaspoon aioli and top of bun.

Recipe by the American Lamb Board