Enhance Meal: 8 Tasty Side Dishes for Leg of Lamb

Leg of lamb, sometimes referred to as a hind lamb or just ‘a leg’, is the lower portion of a sheep’s (or goat’s) shank.

It is often considered an inexpensive cut of meat because it contains a lot of tough muscle and little marbling, although it is one of the most tender cuts of meat.

If you have decided to buy a leg of lamb, it cannot be easy to decide what method to cook.

There are many options when broiling and roasting leg of lamb.

One simple technique is roasting the meat with an open pan (and no lid) to get a crisper outside the meat.

Other than roasting and broiling, leg of lamb can be made into stews and curries as well.

However, the leg of lamb needs to be cooked either very quickly or very slowly to avoid making it tough to chew.

The taste of leg of lamb is generally pleasant but not exceptional or anything you would proclaim to be delicious.

If you are looking for a tasty meal, it is recommended that you make the leg of lamb in the form of stews or curries or serve with vegetables and other side dishes.

In this article, we will list the top 8 best side dishes to serve with the leg of lamb.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Leg of Lamb?

If you plan to host a holiday dinner, chances are you’ll be thinking about cooking your best main course.

However, don’t forget the side dishes.

Side dishes can make or break your holiday meal, and they provide an opportunity for showcasing your culinary skills.

One key advantage of side dishes is that they are often much easier to make than the main course.

For example, you can cook up a simple mashed potato dish in about fifteen minutes or prepare any number of vegetables that you steam or roast along with the meat.

Traditional holiday meals indeed feature prominently roasted meats and heavy, starchy side dishes.

However, not everyone likes those flavors, and lifestyles are changing, so you might want to consider serving some lighter options.

For example, you can serve a green salad dressed with vinaigrette or perhaps some roasted vegetables with fresh herbs.

Even if your main dish is more traditional, this doesn’t mean you have to follow suit with the sides.

You might want to include some fries, rice, or even cornbread alongside your meat dishes.

What to Serve with Leg of Lamb? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Once you’ve decided to serve side dishes, you’ll want to think about which ones are best.

Here are eight of the most popular choices.

1 – Colcannon

Colcannon is a traditional Irish mashed potato dish.

It’s made by mixing boiled potatoes with cooked and mashed kale or cabbage, as well as onions and butter.

This creates a simple dish that takes just minutes to prepare but can easily serve as your main course side dish.

Colcannon is particularly good if you’re serving it with fish or chicken, as the potatoes and vegetables are light enough not to overwhelm your main dish.

However, you can serve this dish with meat if you prefer.

This is a great way to go if you’re serving lamb because it gives some variety to your dinner plate without overwhelming the flavor of the lamb itself.

2 – Roasted Vegetables

You might think that roasted vegetables are an easy side dish, but there’s more to it than just plopping some veggies onto a sheet pan and throwing them in the oven.

If you want these veggies to come out well, you must watch them during cooking, as most require different cooking times.

For example, choose some sweet potatoes, turnips, carrots, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.

Cut these vegetables into large pieces or slices, making them roughly the same size, cooking evenly.

Then toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper before baking for about 40 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

These are great if you’re serving lamb because roasted veggies go well with pretty much any main course, and they don’t overwhelm the mild flavor of lamb.

3 – Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are an excellent choice to serve with the leg of lamb because the two flavors go so well together.

They’re rich and sweet while still being mild enough not to overpower your main dish.

To make these, peel some sweet potatoes and cut them into cubes.

Boil them in a pot until tender, then drain and mash with butter, salt, and pepper.

If you want to go the extra mile, you can make a sweet potato topping for your meat instead of serving it as a side dish.

To do this, mix some cream cheese, sour cream, and maple syrup or brown sugar.

Put this mixture on top of your lamb along with whatever other toppings you prefer and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

4 – Green Salad with Vinaigrette

A green salad is always nice to have at a dinner party, especially if you’re serving red meat.

This dish is extremely easy to make and takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish.

The key to any good salad is making sure the dressing isn’t too heavy, which can easily overpower your greens.

A classic vinaigrette is perfect, with just a touch of oil and vinegar.

Mix some olive or vegetable oil with red wine vinegar, then season with salt and pepper to taste.

In addition to being healthy, this is a great choice if you’re serving a leg of lamb because it doesn’t overwhelm the meat’s flavor at all.

5 – Baked Caprese

This salad is easy to make and takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish, making it a great choice if you’re looking for something easy but still tasty.

Start by slicing some tomatoes and mozzarella cheese into even slices about 1/2 inch thick.

Then arrange them on a plate and top with fresh basil leaves and salt and pepper.

Drizzle some olive oil over the top to add some richness; then you’re all set.

This salad is great if you’re serving lamb because it adds a lot of flavor without overwhelming your dish’s flavor at all.

It’s also just as good served cold or at room temperature.

6 – Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

If you’re looking for a more filling dish and has some extra burst of flavor, try this broccoli cheese sauce.

This recipe is extremely simple – all you need to cook the broccoli and make the sauce.

Steam or boil your broccoli until tender, then drain and set aside.

Next, mix some butter, flour, and milk to make a white sauce.

Then add your shredded cheese and season with salt and pepper.

Pour the cheese sauce over the broccoli, and you’re all set.

This is great if you’re serving lamb because of its richness, which pairs well with the meat’s flavor without overpowering it at all.

It also goes well with any other green vegetable you may want to serve.

7 – Pomegranate and Apple Salad

This light and refreshing salad are perfect for serving with the leg of lamb.

It takes only 10 to 15 minutes to make, so no need to spend too much time in the kitchen if you’re already busy cooking.

To start, toast some slivered almonds by arranging them on a baking sheet.

Then drizzle olive oil over the top and broil until golden brown, about three minutes.

Next, mix some arugula or other greens with thinly sliced apples and pomegranate seeds.

The key to this salad is the dressing – it’s made out of olive oil, lemon juice, and salt.

Just whisk these ingredients together until emulsified, then pour over your salad.

Finally, top with your toasted almonds, and you’re all set.

This salad is great if you’re serving lamb because it brings a lot of freshness that pairs well with the meat.

You can also serve this alongside any other green vegetable you have.

8 – Asparagus Risotto

A classic risotto is always a good choice.

This is especially true if you’re serving a leg of lamb, as the meat and risotto together make a perfect pairing.

The key to making a delicious risotto is to add your broth slowly while stirring constantly – this will help you achieve the creaminess that makes risotto so special.

Chicken broth or water can be used depending on what flavor you’re going for.

We also recommend using a good parmesan cheese – it’s the best way to finish your risotto and make it extra special.

Stir in some grated parmesan and serve.

The risotto’s richness goes great with the rich meat and is great if you need something that can be served without overpowering your dish.

Conclusion

Leg of lamb is a delicious and rich dish that can stand on its own.

However, it’s important to remember that by itself, it can also be pretty bland.

That’s why it’s important to choose the right side dishes when serving your leg of lamb – check out these eight best side dishes if you want to find inspiration.

We hope you enjoyed our article, and we’d love to hear what you think.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the box below.

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