If you’ve never cooked shredded lamb in a slow cooker, try this easy recipe! It’s the perfect meal to plan ahead. Ideal for when time is short and bellies need filling. Serve on sandwiches or stir-fries, or with the full Sunday roast.
How to
cook a leg of lamb in a slow cooker This
slow-cooker
lamb
is the world’s easiest way to cook a leg of lamb. You literally put your lamb in a slow cooker, light it, and forget about it. Perfect for busy days when you’re out and busy as a family, but want a substantial meal to be ready when you get home.
You can flavor it however you want. Very often I cook it in a slow cooker on its own without herbs, extras or flavorings. If you want to make some sauce, you can add an inch or two of water or wine to the pan.
Or you can cook the set of “dry” meat without any added liquid. It won’t burn or dry out, and you’ll actually end up with a small puddle of meat juices in the bowl of the slow cooker at the end of the cooking time.
<img src="https://hedgecombers.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/slow-clooker-pulled-lamb-8223.jpg" alt="marble bottom
with garlic cloves, herbs and fresh leg of lamb” />
What herbs to add to slowed lamb?
However, for this particular shredded lamb recipe, I’m using rosemary (a good woody herb that complements lamb beautifully and won’t disintegrate with the long cooking time) and whole cloves of garlic that will be They turn into a sweet and delicious porridge when cooked slowly.
And finally, to make it a little more special, I stirred some mint sauce until the sauce at the end. Yum!
Please don’t worry if you don’t have any of this on hand. Simply cook your lamb on your own and you’ll have a beautiful, tender bowl of shredded lamb meat to use in various recipes.
<img src="https://hedgecombers.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/slow-cooker-pulled-lamb-9694.jpg" alt="woman's hands holding a ready-to-go lamb joint in slow cooker"
/>
Choose a leg for your
slow-cooker lamb
It turns out that lamb legs tend to be quite difficult to handle when it comes to fitting one into the slow cooker.
When shopping, look for a half leg of squatting lamb instead of a whole leg of lamb, as it is much easier to place in a slow cooker.
If you need to duplicate the prescription, simply buy two of the thigh halves instead of an entire leg. There is a lot more meat on the end of the thigh anyway. You can also use lamb shoulder (as long as it fits!) or any other cut of lamb.
I like to add a splash of boiling water (or red wine) to the bottom of my slow cooker to start the slow cooking process.
Needless to say, wine will also add an extra flavor dimension to your shredded lamb, especially when it’s nice and cooked slowly! in those delicious juices!
Cooking times
for leg of lamb in slow cooker
- HIGH: 4-6 hours LOW: 8-10 hours
Slow cookers are extremely indulgent. They work by gently boiling food over low heat very slowly. There is little chance of them drying, burning or boiling. Even if you don’t check your shredded lamb again within the indicated cooking times.
They are also designed to be left on all day or night. So if you’ve bought a good brand, don’t worry about leaving it on while you go to work or sleep. It will cook your food safely and you don’t need to check it or care for it in any way.
Some slow cookers have a timer that allows you to set a delay for the start time of your cooking, giving you even more control. Others have a warm facility that reduces the temperature after the set cooking time. That means you don’t overcook your food, but simply keep it warm until you get home.
Imagine coming home with the smell of that slow-cooker lamb, all ready to serve straight to the table!
If you’re
new to the world of slow cooking, you’re going to love it. It’s such an indulgent way to cook that it allows you to turn the cheapest, hardest cuts of meat into the most delicious meals for your family.
How to make shredded lamb
Once the cooking time is over, the meat should be easily separated from the bone
.
Then you can carefully remove the meat gasket from the pan and put it on a cutting board. Then it is about simply crushing the meat with two forks. Remove any pieces of bone or very fatty parts as you go.
In the photo below, I didn’t add any liquid to the pan while cooking. Just look at how juicy and tender it is!
How
to remove fat from lamb juices
Lamb is a fairly fatty meat and you’ll want to remove most of the fat from the juices in the pan before turning it into a sauce.
It’s really easy to do while the fat floats. I just grab a spoonful of soup and slowly pull out as much fat as possible.
Pour it into a small bowl where it will then harden and then you can throw it away or use it for cooking instead of lard, butter or cooking oil.
Lamb fat has a pretty different taste that not everyone loves. So I tend to use it only in dishes like stir-fries or curries, where flavor will become an element, rather than an important factor. For example, I wouldn’t fry an egg in lamb fat!
WARNING: Do not pour lamb grease into the sink as it can block your drains!
Using
lamb
juices Those delicious juices are full of flavor and will keep the meat super moist
.
Simply pour the juices over the meat and season with salt and pepper.
And then I like to crush the garlic cloves and pour them back into the meat. Don’t worry if they’re overwhelming in taste. When cooked slowly, garlic becomes soft, sweet and mild-tasting.
Finally, you can stir everything well and serve!
What can I do with leftover shredded lamb?
Any leftover meat can be stored in the fridge, and those delicious meat juices will reaffirm themselves into a delicious salty jelly.
You can serve it cold like this, or once reheated the gelatin will melt once again.
<img src="https://hedgecombers.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/slow-cooker-pulled-lamb-9723.jpg" alt="white bowl of slow cooker of meat juices poured over
a shredded shredded white lamb bowl” />Then
I serve this shredded lamb hot or cold, in sandwiches, salads, stir-fries or at a hot dinner with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables.
It’s such a versatile way to cook that it makes meal preparation so easy!
P.S. if you love your slow cooker as much as I do, you might also want to see my amazing way of cooking a whole chicken in one. Click here to find my slow cooker whole chicken recipe. Enjoy!
