Lamb's neck is a fabulously underrated and inexpensive cut of meat, known for its rich flavour and melt-in-the-mouth texture when cooked properly. Despite appearing to have little meat, it yields a surprisingly generous amount once slowly tenderised through the right cooking process. This cut of meat can be purchased either on the bone or off the bone as a neck fillet. Both forms benefit from slow cooking methods such as stewing or braising to achieve a beautiful end result. The versatility of lamb neck and lamb neck fillets make it a great choice for a variety of budget-friendly and hearty dishes that are big on flavour and value.

Join us as we explore a variety of simple yet satisfying lamb neck fillet recipes from hearty stews to fragrant curries and the popular Lancashire hotpot.

Where Does Lamb Neck Fillet Come From?

A Lamb neck fillet is a cut of meat that comes from the neck region of the lamb. This area yields a flavourful cut, which is well-suited for slow cooking methods due to its marbling and connective tissues. The lamb neck fillet is often overlooked compared to more popular cuts such as the rack or leg, but it offers robust flavour and becomes incredibly tender when cooked properly.

Lamb neck fillets are an underrated cut of meat but they are incredibly budget friendly, easy to cook and deliver flavour in buckets!

Is Lamb Neck Fillet a Tough Cut?

Lamb neck fillet is a tougher cut of meat due to its location on the animal and the amount of work the muscle does. It contains connective tissue and marbling, which, when cooked slowly, break down and result in tender, flavourful meat. However, if not cooked properly, it can remain tough. Slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or slow roasting are ideal for lamb neck fillets to achieve a fall-apart texture.

What to Look Out for When Buying Lamb Neck?

When buying lamb neck, consider the following factors:

Quality: For the best cooking and eating experience, make sure that you always buy quality meat. Lamb meat labelled with the Scotch Lamb logo guarantees quality assurance from farm to fork.
Grass-Fed Lamb: Opt for grass-fed lamb for maximum flavour. Grass-fed lamb is more flavorful than grain-fed, as the diet of the animals greatly influences the taste of the meat. Scotch Lamb comes from animals that have been raised in the lush, green pastures of Scotland.
Appearance: The meat should be a healthy pink-to-red colour with a good amount of marbling. The fat should be white and firm.
Quality Assurance Marks: Look for quality assurance marks or certifications that indicate the lamb has been raised and processed according to high standards.

How To Cook Lamb Neck Fillet?

Cooking lamb neck is a simple and rustic process that requires a handful of ingredients, time and patience. There are many recipe variants but lamb neck is a popular choice for one particularly iconic Northern dish – the Lancashire hotpot!

✅ To cook lamb neck, particularly in this classic recipe, follow these steps:

Dice the Lamb Neck: Cut the lamb neck into chunks, suitable for stewing.
Brown the Meat: In a large frying pan or casserole dish, brown the lamb neck pieces on high heat in a little olive oil, stirring occasionally to develop flavour and a nicely browned colour on each piece. Do this in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
Use the Bones: Don't discard the bones! Quickly brown the bones similarly to the lamb fillet pieces and put them in your stew as it adds an incredible depth of flavour to your final dish.
Prepare the Gravy: Remove the lamb pieces with a slotted spoon and keep them in a warm place. Soften the onions in the same pan and add the lamb back in with all its juices.
Flour Thickens the Gravy: Stir in a little flour, then pour in some stock. For seasoning add a couple of bay leaves, a good sprinkling of salt and pepper and a good splash of Worcestershire sauce.
Slowly Cooking: Transfer the pan contents to a casserole dish and stir in some chopped carrots. Then top with thinly sliced potatoes. Brush the potatoes with a little melted butter or flavoured butter and a sprinkle of dried thyme. Cover and place in the oven for a minimum of 1 hour or longer depending on size and quantity.
Cook Until Tender: The lamb neck should be cooked until it is fall-apart tender. This could take several hours, depending on the size of the meat pieces and the cooking temperature.

To achieve a deep colour and flavour heat the oil until smoking hot, add the lamb neck fillets and cook all over until nicely browned on every side.

Popular Lamb Neck Fillet Recipes

Lamb neck is a cheap and versatile ingredient featured in many cuisines around the world.

✅ Here are some of the most popular lamb neck recipes globally:

Irish Lamb Stew: In Ireland, lamb neck is often used in stews, cooked with root vegetables, potatoes, and herbs in a flavourful broth.
Moroccan Tagine: Lamb's neck is a common choice in Moroccan tagines, slow-cooked with spices, dried fruits, and nuts for a fragrant and tender dish.
Greek Lamb Kleftiko: A rustic Greek dish where lamb neck is marinated in garlic, lemon, and herbs, then slow-roasted until tender, often wrapped in parchment paper.
Indian Lamb Curry: In India, lamb neck pieces are used in curries, stewed with a mixture of spices, tomatoes, and onions for a deeply flavoured and tender curry.
Middle Eastern Lamb Neck Soup: A comforting soup made with lamb neck, vegetables, and spices, slow-cooked to extract the maximum flavour of this underused cut of lamb.

Simple ingredients such as onion, carrot, salt, black pepper, bay leaves, fresh rosemary or thyme and Worcestershire sauce will make lamb neck fillets sing after slow cooking them in the oven or in your slow cooker. You can do the same process with beef too.

These simple recipes showcase the global appeal of lamb neck, demonstrating how its rich flavour and texture can be adapted to various culinary traditions.

Where Can I Buy Scotch Lamb Near Me?

Creating unforgettable meals begins with exceptional ingredients, and Scotch Lamb stands at the pinnacle of quality, making it a top choice for discerning cooks and chefs. The great news is that this superb quality lamb is now readily accessible on your doorstep.

Simply enter your postcode into our user-friendly map and it will take you to your nearest Scotch meat supplier. It really is as simple as that!

Supporting Scottish Farmers

By purchasing Scotch Lamb you are also supporting a community of dedicated farmers who are carrying on time-honoured traditions of producing premium quality Scotch meat that sets the Scottish red meat industry apart.