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TueMay 7

National Roast Leg of Lamb Day – May 7, 2024

National Roast Leg of Lamb Day occurs annually on May 7 to celebrate and encourage everyone to try out the dish. This mild and tender meat is a unique and tasty dish adored by people around the world. Lamb is lean red meat full of nutrients like potassium, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. This generally more tender meat is typically taken from sheep between the ages of one month and one year old.

History of National Roast Leg of Lamb Day

Lamb is the tender meat of a younger sheep aged between 10 and 14 months, whereas meat from older sheep is called mutton. ‘Hogget’ is another word for sheep’s meat, but this is specifically referring to sheep in their second year.

Traditionally, sheep were kept solely for their meat, milk, and skins. However, the rearing of sheep for secondary products and the resulting breed development (for example woolly sheep) only began in Southwest Asia and Western Europe around 6000 B.C.

Today, the tradition continues with the growing consumption of lamb meat, considered one of the most desirable types of meat because of its various nutritional benefits, tender texture, and low-fat characteristics in comparison to other types of meat. According to the Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) guidelines, lamb contains less fat than other red meats.

Lamb can be cooked in a variety of different ways, but roasting is one of the preferred methods. A typical preparation would require covering the meat from the leg of lamb with several seasoning ingredients like butter, oregano, cauliflower, thyme, lemon zest, asparagus, or rosemary sprigs. These are then pushed deep inside incisions made in the leg before being grilled for about two hours at a temperature of about 680 degrees Fahrenheit.

National Roast Leg of Lamb Day timeline

1900s
Americans Switch to the Consumption Of Lamb

Mutton is still widely consumed in the United States but consumption has declined since World War II.

1931
A Lamb Boning Instructional Book is Released

K. F. Warner’s “Boning’s Lamb Cuts” book is released.

2014
Chronicles of the Benefits of Lamb Meat

Bob Kennard’s "Much Ado About Mutton" is released and chronicles the nutritional benefits of lamb’s meat and its older cousin, mutton.

2015
The U.N. Food Agency’s Consumption Outlook

The Organization for Economic Co-operation Development (O.E.C.D.) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (F.A.O.) releases an outlook on the consumption of lamb meat for the first time.

National Roast Leg of Lamb Day FAQs

Is National Roast Leg of Lamb Day a real holiday?

Unfortunately, National Roast Leg of Lamb Day is only one of several unofficial holidays that doesn’t keep you at home to celebrate as some holidays do.

Why does roasted leg of lamb taste so good?

The tenderness of the meat is the reason for its flavorful taste.

How can I celebrate National Roast Leg of Lamb Day?

Enjoy a meal of roasted lamb’s leg to celebrate National Roast Leg of Lamb Day.

National Roast Leg of Lamb Day Activities

  1. Roast a lamb

    There is no better way to celebrate National Roast Leg of Lamb Day than to roast a lamb. Find a recipe online or ask a friend, and roast lamb leg or loin today.

  2. Host a lamb picnic

    Invite some friends over and organize a lamb roasting party or picnic. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the day.

  3. Share selfies to encourage people online

    Share pictures of your roasted leg of lamb in all its tasty glory online for people to see. You may even include your recipe and use #RoastLegOfLambDay on your social media posts.

5 Important Facts About Lamb And Sheep

  1. There is a critical distinction

    In its first year, the meat of a sheep is lamb, whereas that of a juvenile sheep older than one year is hogget, and an adult sheep is mutton.

  2. Lamb meat is lean meat

    On average, a three-ounce serving of lamb has only 175 calories and meets the Food and Drug Administration’s (F.D.A) definition for lean meat.

  3. Raising sheep is an ancient skill

    The oldest organized industry specializes in raising sheep.

  4. The U.S. and lambs

    All American-raised lambs are hormone-free and can be offered as antibiotic-free.

  5. U.S. consumption records

    Americans eat less than a pound of lamb each year on average.

Why We Love National Roast Leg of Lamb Day

  1. Its succulence

    We love how tender roasted lamb meat tastes. Compared to beef, lamb is firm with a tender texture that soaks in flavor, with just a hint of smokiness.

  2. It’s nutritious

    Aside from its taste, lamb is some of the most nutritious meat around. A 100-gram serving of lamb typically has 25.6 grams of protein, 16.5 grams of fat, and 258 calories.

  3. It’s low in fat

    According to the F.D.A, lamb meets the criteria to be considered lean meat because it typically has fewer ounces of fat. Although not leaner than fish or chicken, in comparison to other red meats, lamb is the way to go.

National Roast Leg of Lamb Day dates

YearDateDay
2024May 7Tuesday
2025May 7Wednesday
2026May 7Thursday
2027May 7Friday
2028May 7Sunday

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