So, I was at a fancy party on Friday and I had lamb suya for the first time - I didn’t know that lamb suya was a thing. Turns out it is and it’s pretty much-grilled lamb meat spiced with yaji.  I’d never had lamb before, and I’m still trying to decide if I like it or not. It’s definitely not as popular (for suya) as beef or goat meat though and I’ve always thought it’s for people with elite taste buds. Lol. 

Texture-wise, Lamb is very tender. It’s also a little gamey, but not as much as goat or ram. When I first bit into it, my mind went “Oh, no, oh no, there’s goat meat in my mouth!” 

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I HATE goat meat. Goat meat tastes the way goats smell, gross, and I cannot stand their smell. 

Gross, again. 

As I started chewing, I realized that it was something else: first, its texture was more tender with a taste that’s not quite as gamey as goat meat. It was also a lot more fatty (eww) but I discovered that I enjoyed it. It was really good - maybe it was the seasoning or the fact that it was grilled to very well done perfection and I wouldn’t mind having lamb suya again sometime soon. 

While I don’t think it’s even physically possible for me to get tired of beef, the taste of lamb made me curious to find out if it could become a staple over beef and I came across a few interesting facts about lamb. 

Here are a few things to consider if you’re interested in trying lamb as a replacement for goat or beef - even for other dishes apart from suya. 

Price

Lamb is a bit more expensive than beef and goat, with beef being the cheapest. It’s most likely because of the fact that both goat and beef are more popular than lamb as a staple. Or cattle is just easier to raise. So your pocket is one thing to consider if you want to try lamb for a change. It’s definitely worth the extra bucks though because, like I said: it’s elite. 

Health benefits

Lamb is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. It is also very high in protein - it contains all the nine amino acids you need -  which means it’d do very well for a keto diet. Due to this, it is an important agent in sustaining muscle mass.  That said, lamb usually contains more saturated fat than either goat or beef so it is advisable to use leaner cuts of lamb for meals. 

Taste and texture

For those of us who enjoy consuming meat in all its forms, it can get boring sticking with one particular type of meat and lamb can be a replacement for goat- its flavour is less gamey and its texture is more tender. It is another option of people like me who do not mind gamey flavours but cannot stand the taste of goat. 

Method of preparation

While lamb has been found to taste better when grilled, braised or roasted, it could also be prepared in so many diverse ways (based on different cuts) - from pot roasts to filets to tagines and even curry. Experimenting with food is always a good idea, you never know what delicious delights you could come up with.  

Basically, the point is that lamb can be considered as a replacement for beef or goat especially if (like me) you do not enjoy goat meat. I can tell you that it is great for suya due to its texture and unique flavour. It’s also very high in protein, so it’s a great option if you’re considering or already on the keto diet. Tired of beef suya? You might want to try lamb.