Three Easy Asian BBQ Lamb Marinades

The BBQ season is officially upon us! Lamb is an incredibly versatile bbq meat, and in this post, I’m sharing three super quick and easy Asian-inspired lamb marinades for lamb steaks, chops and kebabs. This recipe post has been made in collaboration with Try Lamb.

Why you should choose lamb for your next BBQ

I do love a good barbecue, me. There’s something intensely primal and satisfying about cooking outdoors over hot coals. Juicy tender meat, those delicious crispy charred bits – it’s one of my favourite ways to cook and eat.

Lamb is a perfect BBQ meat – it’s inexpensive these days (I picked up a three for £10 deal in our local supermarket for this blog post), and it’s incredibly versatile too.

Also, because lamb is one of those meats that can be served medium-rare, it means you don’t have to as careful with making sure it’s cooked all the way through, like with other lighter meats.

What are the best lamb cuts for the BBQ?

• Lamb leg steaks: a lean cut that cooks quickly and evenly.
• Lamb chops: flavoursome and versatile, perfect for the BBQ.
• Cubed lamb leg: a lean cut that lends itself to quick cooking on the BBQ. You can use cubed lamb shoulder too, which is more frequently found in the supermarket, but the shoulder tends to be fattier and is best for slow cooking.

Ingredients needed for these easy Asian BBQ lamb marinades 

With just a few simple storecupboard ingredients you can whip up these three delicious Asian-inspired BBQ marinades in a matter of minutes. 

The quantities for these marinades are sufficient for four lamb leg steaks, eight lamb chops and 300 grams of cubed lamb.

Marinade for lamb leg steaks

• 4 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 3 tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp garlic puree
• 3 spring onions, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp sesame oil

Marinade for grilled lamb chops

• 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp runny honey
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 0.5 tsp Chinese Five Spice

Marinade for lamb kebabs

• 3 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp runny honey
• 1 tsp ginger puree
• 1 tsp chilli puree
• 0.5 tsp Chinese Five Spice

How long should BBQ lamb be marinated for?

• 4-5 hours for smaller cuts like chops, steaks and kebabs.
• 12-24 hours for larger cuts like butterflied lamb legs.

Why should we marinate lamb?

The acid present in a lamb marinade helps to break down the tissue of the meat, allowing moisture to be absorbed. This results in a more tender dish infused with the flavours used in the marinade.

Tips for marinating the lamb

• Prepare your marinades in the dishes you are going to marinade your meat in to save washing up.
• Alternatively, pour the marinade into a sealable plastic bag before adding the meat. 
• Turn the plastic bag, or flip the meat over in the dish, every few hours to distribute the marinade evenly.
• Discard the remaining marinade. 

I don’t have dark soy sauce, can I use regular soy sauce?

Dark soy sauce is thicker with a richer flavour, and it also contains less salt than regular soy sauce. It’s often used in marinades for meat, but yes, you can substitute with regular or light soy sauce. You won’t get the same rich flavour or the vibrant red colour though.

Tips for BBQing lamb

• Bring your lamb to room temperature before cooking, as this will help the meat cook more evenly.
• Prepare your barbecue and make sure the charcoal is white so it’ll be at the best cooking heat.
• Using BBQ tongs, transfer your marinaded lamb to your barbecue grill.
• Turn the meat every few minutes to prevent burning.
• If your lamb is cooking too quickly or starting to burn, move it to a cooler area of the barbecue or raise the grill level.

How long to grill lamb leg steaks

• Medium-rare: 6 minutes or when the internal temperature reaches 60°C.
• Well-done: 8 minutes or when the internal temperature reaches 70°C.

Lamb leg steaks are best grilled and served medium-rare (that means it’s still pink inside!). The NHS says you can eat whole cuts of lamb when they are pink inside – or “rare” – as long as they are cooked on the outside. This is because any bacteria are generally located on the outside of the meat.

How long to grill lamb chops

• Medium-rare: 6 minutes or when the internal temperature reaches 60°C.
• Well-done: 8 minutes or when the internal temperature reaches 70°C.

How long to grill lamb kebabs

• Well-done: 12-14 minutes or when the internal temperature reaches 70°C.

If you use metal skewers for your lamb kebabs, the metal will conduct the heat towards the inside of the lamb, cooking it more quickly. If you’re using soaked wooden skewers, increase the time by a few minutes.

What to serve with this BBQ lamb

Personally, I like to serve an Asian style cold noodle salad with this recipe. Cook your favourite egg noodles, drain and rinse them under cold water to halt the cooking process.

Drizzle the cold noodles with a little sesame oil, and toss with some julienned carrots, sliced radishes and sliced mangetout. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

The Try Lamb, Love Lamb Campaign

Lamb is incredibly delicious and versatile meat. It’s easy to grow, thriving in European pastures.

Try Lamb was created to showcase the ease and versatility with which lamb could be incorporated into family meals. I and a team of other foodies have been sharing our lamb recipes with the world, hoping to inspire you to give the lamb a try. Trust me, you’ll love it!

You can find out more by visiting the Try Lamb website and following them on Instagram and Facebook.

What’s your favourite BBQ lamb recipe? Let me know in the comments!

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This is a sponsored recipe post in collaboration with Try Lamb. All thoughts and opinions expressed are our own. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipes.