5 Lamb Marinades

One of the easiest ways of improving the texture of a cut of meat and adding flavour is to use a marinade. In this blog post we have collected our favourite lamb marinades for lamb steaks, lamb chops, and diced lamb. For lovers of lamb we also have a collection of our favourite diced lamb recipes here.

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Marinades are incredibly versatile and can be used to infuse your meat with a variety of flavours depending on what your personal tastes and preferences are. They are also incredibly simple to use, all you need to do is put the ingredients of your marinade together, ensure that this marinade is coating your meat, leave the meat to marinate in the ingredients for a few hours, then grill or cook your meat in the oven. This makes marinating ideal for those that like to meal prep as you can prepare the meat in advance and then cook when needed, which is ideal for sprucing up a midweek meal. Another fantastic option for using a marinade is if you are intending to BBQ your meat, as marinating beforehand will result in a much more flavourful bit of meat that also has an improved texture.

For more on the science of marinades, our blog post on Guide to Marinades and How to Marinate delves into the science of how the ingredients of a marinade work together to improve the texture and flavour of meat. It also gives you plenty of tips and tricks to ensure that you get the best out of your chosen marinade. We also have several other marinade recipe blog posts for chicken, pork, and beef.

These marinades are very simple, and each should be enough for up to 1kilo of lamb but can be scaled up or down. Simply mix all of the ingredients together until fully combined, then cover your meat with the marinade, then allow for the flavours to fully infuse by placing in the fridge for several hours. We recommend using a resealable freezer or sandwich bag to keep your meat and marinade together but another option is to lay out your marinated meat in a glass casserole dish, just make sure that your bits of meat are not too crowded. You can also use food safe plastic but be aware that other materials may react negatively to the acids used in marinades and can spoil your meat. You will want to leave your meat in the marinade for about 5 to 6 hours.

Read on to discover our favourite recipes for lamb marinades.

 

Greek Lamb Marinade

This Greek style Lamb Marinade is packed with flavour and will infuse your lamb chops and lamb steaks with a zesty and citrusy finish. The herbs and spices found in Greek cuisine work particularly well with lamb. This marinated lamb works well on its own with a side salad or grilled vegetables, but also works particularly well with a feta salad.

Ingredients:

• 5 tbsp olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed and minced
• Juice from 2 large lemons
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

 

Balsamic Lamb Marinade

Not only does this marinade have a plenty of flavour, it also uses very few ingredients that are commonly found in the cupboard. It has a wonderful mix of tangy and sweet flavours with a well-rounded depth that create a tasty and refreshing lamb dish.

Ingredients:

• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

 

Honey and Mint Lamb Marinade

Mint and lamb work fantastically well together and are found in combination in a wide variety of cuisines across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This marinade adds an incredible freshness to the meat through the mint, while the honey adds a complimentary underlying sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp of oil
• Juice from 2 lemons
• 1 tsp chilli flakes, to taste
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp dried mint

 

Italian Lamb Marinade

This Italian style marinade has a rich and complex flavour that works perfectly with lamb. Perfect when served with a variety of side dishes including grilled vegetables, salad, or chips.

Ingredients:

• Juice from 2 lemons
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 4 cloves of garlic, crushed then minced
• 3 tsp dried thyme
• 3 tsp dried oregano
• 3 tsp dried basil
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

 

Hoisin Lamb Marinade

Hoisin comes from Cantonese style cuisine in China. It is a sweet and fragrant sauce that is used as an accompaniment and cooking ingredient for a wide variety of dishes

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 6 garlic cloves, crushed and minced
• 1 tbsp honey
• 4 tbsp spring onion, minced
• 1 tsp salt