An easy throw together lamb mince with Middle Eastern spices, the starting point of many of our recipes. You can make a big batch and freeze some for the perfect shortcut for future cooking!
What is lamb mince?
Lamb mince is the starting point for a lot of Middle Eastern recipes. We use it to make a simple spiced rice dish, to top cooked eggplant with, top pasta in yogurt sauce with (like one of my favorite throw together meal ever) for shepherds pie, bolognese, to fill kebbe with.
Lamb has a distinct flavor that is enhanced with spice but still kept simple. That being said, you can absolutely follow the below recipe and use ground beef instead of lamb. That’s something we do all the time!
Is lamb mince healthier than beef mince?
It’s close, but according to this article , lamb might emerge victorious. It is fattier than beef, but has good quality fats, with a good ration of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. It is also much more likely to be grass fed than beef (which is usually grain fed) which means it’s more digestible and has good quality protein sources.
How to cook lamb mince:
You need a good amount of onions and garlic to keep the meat from tasting- well, too meaty. The recipe calls for red onions, but you can use any, just don’t be shy with the quantity. You start with a large skillet that’s been coated with olive oil and is heated on medium high heat, and sauté until softened.
Middle Eastern lamb mince:
Crushed garlic is another essential ingredient, but it goes in after the onion so that it doesn’t overcook. Just a minute or so in the skillet, then the minced lamb goes in. Stir and break it apart a little, then dump in all your spices: seven spices, ground cinnamon, salt and pepper. That’s the basis of Middle Eastern spiced meat! Keep cooking and stirring until meat is brown and completely cooked through with no pink bits.
How to keep minced meat from clumping:
I don’t like big clumps of meat, so I’m very vigilant to keep breaking it apart as it cook with a wooden spoon. Tip: I sometimes even use a potato masher and squish the meat until it breaks apart. You want the minced to be evenly textured and bite sized.
That’s about it! I usually make a big batch, same as the recipe quantities below, so that I can freeze at least half of it for use in other recipes. Makes prep so much easier in the future!
How to store minced meat:
Cooked minced meat will last for three days tightly covered in the fridge.
How long does frozen cooked minced meat last in the freezer?
It lasts up to four months, tightly covered. I like to weigh out individual portions (however much I’d typically use in a recipe- like 300-500g (up to 1lb) and keep them in freezer safe Tupperware or freezer bags, labeled with the date I froze them. Then, I can thaw individual portions either overnight in the fridge, or in the microwave right before using.
Lamb mince recipes to use up your mince:
Lamb Mince
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3-4 small red onions, finely chopped
- 4-6 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 kg ground lamb or beef* about 2 pounds
- 2 tsp seven spices or all spice
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1-1.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the diced onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened, stirring continuously.
- Add the crushed garlic, and cook for a further minute or so, then add the minced lamb.
- Cook for a minute, breaking apart any clumps of meat with a wooden spoon, then add all the spices (seven spice or all spice, cinnamon, salt and black pepper). Continue cooking, a good 6-8 minutes until lamb is all cooked through and brown with no pink bits remaining. Keep stirring and breaking apart clumps of meat throughought- you can even use a potato masher to break the meat apart a little.
- If desired, drain any extra fat. Taste the mince and adjust for seasoning.
Notes
Did you make this? Tag @everylittlecrumb or hashtag #everylittlecrumb and I’ll share your images!
This is a great guide. I love the recipe for the middle eastern spiced lamb, it’s something we make time and time again!
So glad to hear that!
So easy and yet so delicious. Would love to enjoy it at any meals. Would go well on a sandwich or as a Pizza topping too.
Totally would! Thanks Veena!
This is such a great recipe to have on hand. We use it for so many things – a favorite is as a stuffing for zucchini!
One of my favorite uses too!!
Such a handy recipe and guide especially with Ramadan coming up! Thank you for sharing
That’s the truth! Can’t wait to post a lot more Ramadan recipes 😋
I love the way you spiced your mince I can almost smell all the spices! Such a fantastic and versatile recipe to have in one’s repertoire as can be used in so many dishes. I will be making a batch this weekend!
Thanks so much Jo! So glad to need you enjoyed the recipe