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Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary

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Make your own Lamb Jerky

How to Make Lamb Jerky

Published on March 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Atia
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Making your own lamb jerky is really easy to do. Includes butchery and drying tips. #jerky #lamb #trylamb

 

Lamb Jerky is an incredibly tasty and nutritious snack, and it’s very easy to make at home! Shetland butcher Chris Wright shows us just how easy it is with his recipe.  This post has been created in collaboration with Try Lamb.

Make your own Lamb Jerky

Lamb Jerky 

I am a big fan of jerky. It’s low calorie, high protein and portable, making it a perfect post-workout snack for the walk/drive home from the gym or strength-training class. It also quickly fills that hunger gap when needed.

Some months ago I spotted that a friend had shared an experiment he’d been trying on Instagram: how to make lamb jerky at home! I was one of the lucky taste testers and was really impressed with its flavour.

I’m delighted to have the opportunity to introduce you to Shetland butcher Chris Wright, and to share his super easy lamb jerky recipe with you. Do watch the video below too, if you want to see how he trims and cuts down the lamb in preparation for jerky making.

We also interview Chris, to find out more about lamb and his butchery work.

Chilli and Lime Lamb Jerky
Chilli & lime lamb jerky
Unflavoured lamb jerky

How to make lamb jerky at home

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients needed to make homemade lamb jerky
  • How to make homemade lamb jerky – step-by-step instructions
  • Video – How to trim the lamb & make lamb jerky at home
  • Can I smoke lamb jerky for added flavour?
  • Can I make lamb jerky without a dehydrator?
  • How long will homemade lamb jerky keep?
  • Tips for making homemade lamb jerky
  • White spots have appeared on my lamb jerky, what is it?
  • Introduction
  • Sustainability
  • Health
  • Affordability
  • Easiness
  • Where can we find you on social media?
  • Homemade Lamb Jerky Recipe

Ingredients needed to make homemade lamb jerky

  • lamb loin or lamb fillet 
  • Original Bacon Cure / Dry Curing Mix
  • heather or wood chips, for smoking (optional)
  • herbs & spices for flavouring (optional)

How to make jerky step by step instructions

How to make homemade lamb jerky – step-by-step instructions

  1. Trim lamb loin or fillet of all fat and sinew. Cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick pieces.
  2. Place the lamb in a bag and rub all over with the cure. VacPack or tie tightly. Cure in the fridge for 24 hours.
  3. Smoke and/or season as desired by coating in your favourite flavours (optional).
  4. Place in a single layer in a dehydrator and leave to dry for 12 hours.
  5. Take one piece out of the dehydrator and see if it will snap on the grain of the meat. If it does it is ready. If it bends, leave it for another hour and check again.
  6. Cool and cut into bite-sized slices. Store in an airtight container.

Video – How to trim the lamb & make lamb jerky at home

How to Make Homemade Lamb Jerky

Shetland butcher Chris Wright shows us how to trim lamb loin, cure, smoke, season and dry your own lamb jerky at home.

Can I smoke lamb jerky for added flavour?

Yes! Create a makeshift home smoker with a large, deep roasting tin – something you don’t mind getting scorched. Pop whatever you’re wanting to smoke, from heather to wood chips, into one corner of the tin (placed on a heatproof surface – ideally outdoors!) and lay your cured meat (before dehydrating) flat next to it. Cover with good quality kitchen foil (poor quality might catch fire) and make two holes in the corners at opposite ends. 

Light the heather (or chips) and loosely cover the hole nearest the flames with more foil. This will create a chimney effect and the smoke will travel over the meat and out the other hole. 

Smoke the lamb for 15-60 minutes, depending on how strong you want the smoke flavour, and then dehydrate.

Can I make lamb jerky without a dehydrator?

Absolutely! You could:

  1. Hang the cured, smoked, seasoned lamb pieces in the back of your fridge* for two weeks or so (like Chris did here).
  2. Put the lamb on a wire cooling rack, in a dry room, with an office fan blowing onto the lamb for about 24hours. This could take longer depending on the humidity of the room.
  3. Hang it with meat hooks in a warm airing cupboard. You could also use a dehumidifier in there too.

Homemade Lamb Jerky

How long will homemade lamb jerky keep?

This recipe will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for around a month. 

Tips for making homemade lamb jerky

  • Ensure your hands are clean at all times when working with the raw meat.
  • Test the meat after it’s been curing for at least 24 hours. Cut into the thickest part and if it isn’t all a vibrant pink colour then you should need to leave it to cure longer.
  • When making the chilli & lime jerky, drip the lime juice onto the loin before rolling it in the chilli flakes. Grate some of the lime zest onto it too for extra flavour.
  • Play around with your favourite flavours: lamb & mint pair well together, or even rich berry flavours like blueberry.

White spots have appeared on my lamb jerky, what is it?

This is the salt from the cure coming out of the meat and is perfectly harmless. If it smells fine, it’s still edible.

Interview with Chris the Ethical Butcher 

Chris Wright Butcher @ReelMaetShetland

Introduction

Tell us a bit about yourself – how did you get into butchery?

I kind of fell into butchery after having a rough year of mental health. I applied as an Apprentice Butcher at one of the most well-known butchers in Shetland. Being in a new job, surrounded by passion and knowledge, really encouraged me. Having this focus helped me recover from my rough year and I’ve never looked back. I love the trade.

What’s one thing that might surprise people to learn about your job as a butcher?

The enthusiasm that a lot of butchers have for the trade might surprise a lot of people. We tend to be mega friendly and we love to speak about what we do. We like to get to know our customers, and we often offer our knowledge personalised around their food preferences. Want to watch us do a technique? Ask, unless we are mega swamped we are usually happy to cater.

Let’s talk lamb – off the top of your head, what’s your favourite lamb dish?

I personally love a roasted lamb rack coated with mint. It’s something simple but if the lamb has enough fat to crisp up it really becomes a taste explosion with lots of gorgeous textures.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Another photo of my favourite thing I’ve made this week! Lamb Rack with White Pudding! Caught alot of folks eyes on the counter this week… . . . . #passion #enjoy #love #foodie #foods #foodporn #foody #foodstagram #meats #butchery #butchers #meats #butchershop #butcherblock #food #butcher #meat #handmade #life #picoftheday #lamb #lovelamb #loin #butchersofinstagram #shetlandfood #cutting #chef #insta

A post shared by Chris Wright – Butcher (@reelmaetshetland) on Mar 14, 2019 at 3:06pm PDT

Sustainability

How did you first become interested in sustainability when it comes to farming?

As part of becoming a butcher, I also wanted to know about all of the processes – from farm to fork. I learned early on about keeping the whole process as sustainable as possible and why it makes sense to do so.

What are the more sustainable meats out there?

Lamb is one of the more sustainable meats. They can survive on various types of terrain and graze on a wide variety of foliage with very low maintenance. This means we don’t need to change peat lands to suit farming. Lamb will even munch on seaweed which will make their meat even tastier.

What advice would you have for people looking to find responsibly- and sustainably-produced meat?

Head to your local butchers for a start – they are your experts on all things meat after all. Ask where they get their meat from. You will be surprised at how many use local farms as much as possible. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Half a Peerie Shetland lamb! . . . #shetland #lamb #butcher #inspiredbyshetland #butchersofinstagram #food #foodie #fresh #tasty #trylamb #lambtryitloveit #andersonbutchers

A post shared by Chris Wright – Butcher (@reelmaetshetland) on Feb 1, 2019 at 8:42am PST

Health

What drove you to be more interested in the health aspect of meat?

Well, in a past career I was a parkour coach so I have the knowledge of nutrition being a major part in fitness. I’m also currently a casual gym instructor. Making post-workout snacks that are high in protein is fun, but they must be mega tasty, like with my lamb jerky.

What are some of the healthier meat options out there?

If you are going for the leaner meats, anything off the leg of an animal or the loin will be your leaner option. Shoulders and flanks are always fattier (but also super tasty).  Lamb is one of your best options for red meat. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

In Shetland we have some of the most amazing lamb! This is one cut into its primals, can anyone name them all? . . . #meat #shetland #lamb #butcher #butchersofinstagram #love #foodie #foodanddrink #flintandflame #block #butchersblock #old #new #toolsoftrade #butchersguide #ButchersofInstagram #saturday #weekend #foodporn #butchersguide #butcherlife #localproduce #locallamb #lambtryitloveit #primals

A post shared by Chris Wright – Butcher (@reelmaetshetland) on Feb 23, 2019 at 4:39am PST

Affordability

There is a misconception that lamb is expensive. What would your advice be to people wanting to buy and eat lamb while being money-savvy?

I would always advise if someone has the freezer space and the confidence to order a whole or half lamb. Most butchers will be happy to do this and it will cost much less than if you buy individual cuts.  The shoulder, neck or flank cuts tend to be less expensive as well. With these, you can make some beautiful slow-cooked roasts, curries or stews.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Lemon marinated Lamb Stir Fry with cashew nuts, ginger and noodles. Proof that lamb isn’t just for roasts or chops! @trylamb . . . . #lamb #lemon #marinated #noodles #stirfry #pepper #springonion #butcher #butcherlife #legoflamb #notjustforroasts #shetland #shetlandlamb #cashew #nuts #cooking #foodie #food #foodporn #trylambloveit @the_camilleon_

A post shared by Chris Wright – Butcher (@reelmaetshetland) on Feb 28, 2019 at 1:00pm PST

Easiness

What lamb cuts are easy to cook with for people who might be super busy?

Personally, I would go with lamb leg steaks. Cook them on a hot griddle pan. It’s really fast to prepare, super tasty and looks impressive on the plate too. 

Another option if you are mega busy is to invest in a slow cooker. Have everything prepped the night before, and just before you head to work put the ingredients in the slow cooker. By the time you’re home your dinner is ready!

What is your go-to lamb dish for a quick and easy mid-week meal?

One of my favourite options is to make some stuffing for a boneless lamb flank.  Roll the stuffing inside the flank after adding seasoning to the inside – I like mint and rosemary and some heavy rock salt. Put in the oven for around an hour at 160 degrees. Great way to use a flank and you can be really creative with the stuffing.

Where can we find you on social media?

You can find me on Instagram at @reelmaetshetland where I share all sorts of things butchery-related!

The Lamb, Try It, Love It Campaign

Lamb, Try It, Love It are here to banish the bland and help make meals great again. They started this campaign to prove lamb is more than a roast dinner with mint sauce, bringing you easy recipes created by real people like myself who have a passion for cooking.

Lamb is an incredibly versatile ingredient, available in a wide variety of cuts which can be easily prepared into your favourite meals; any time of day. 

Visit the Try Lamb website for some more recipe inspiration, and don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

What is your favourite way to cook with lamb? Let me know in the comments!

Lamb Jerky

Lamb Jerky

Homemade Lamb Jerky Recipe

With just a few simple ingredients you can make your own flavoursome lamb jerky at home. Perfect for a post-workout snack.
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Snack
Cuisine: South American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Curing & Drying: 1 day 12 hours
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 75kcal
Author: Elizabeth

Ingredients

  • 200 grams lamb loin trimmed
  • 8 grams Original Bacon Cure / Dry Curing Mix

Flavourings (optional)

  • chilli flakes
  • lime
  • cracked rainbow pepper
  • mixed herbs
  • Jerk seasoning
  • Indonesian long peppers
  • caraway seeds
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Affiliate Links

This recipe card may contain affiliate ingredient and equipment links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Instructions 

  • Pop the trimmed lamb in a bag with just enough cure to rub in all over the lamb.
  • If you have a vacuum packer then you can Vacpack them but if not, just tie the lamb up in the bag as tight as possible and leave it in the fridge for at least 24 hours.
  • Take out of the fridge and cut into the middle of the largest part of the lamb. If the meat isn't all a vibrant pink colour then you should need to leave it to cure longer.
  • This is where you need to choose a flavour from above most of them are easy though, just place your ingredients on a plate or a cutting board and then roll the lamb in it getting an even covering.
  •  Place the cured, seasoned lamb in a single layer in the dehydrator and leave overnight to dry.
  • 12 hours later: take one piece out and see if it will snap on the grain of the meat. If it does it is ready. If it bends, leave it for another hour and check again.
  • Remove the lamb jerky from the dehydrator and let cool for an hour. Cut into slices and enjoy!

Video

Notes

How many Weight Watchers Points are there in lamb jerky?

There are 2 Smart Points per serving of this jerky recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 423mg | Potassium: 138mg | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

Environmental Information

Tried this recipe?Mention @TangoRaindrop or tag #elizabethskitchendiary - we'd love to see what you've been making!

* if you are making jerky in the fridge, ensure your hands are very, very clean while preparing it and make sure that the meat itself is kept clean and does not touch anything else in the fridge while it is drying.

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Try Lamb. All thoughts and opinions expressed are either ours or that of Chris Wright. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipe stories.

 

Category: Hoof & Feather, Lamb, Recipe, Sponsored Post

About Elizabeth Atia

Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nik

    December 26, 2019 at 10:35 am

    What temperature do you set the dehydrator too???

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      December 27, 2019 at 9:24 am

      My dehydrator only had an on/off switch – there was no temperature control, I’m afraid. I would suggest the lowest temperature you can set yours to.

      Reply
  2. Baguio Restaurants by Mae

    April 3, 2019 at 3:15 am

    Never had jerky before but upon checking your blog, maybe it is the right time for me to try. Thank you for sharing this step by step recipe, I now have a new recipe to try on.

    Reply
  3. Beth Neels

    April 2, 2019 at 5:06 pm

    5 stars
    This is an amazingly thorough instruction! We make venison jerky every year and my family is crazy about it! I know they would love this lamb jerky! And you have such interesting flavors for the jerky here! I can’t wait to give it a try!

    Reply
  4. Laura Schwormstedt

    April 2, 2019 at 12:49 pm

    I never knew you could make lamb jerky, very interesting! I don’t eat lamb but my partner does and I know he would love that – snack on the go

    Laura x

    Reply
  5. Juana Noris

    April 2, 2019 at 9:30 am

    5 stars
    My husband and I have been DYING to make our own jerky, as we buy so much of it! We also happen to love lamb (it’s the first meal I ever made him…and then he proposed haha!)

    Reply
  6. Nicola Lawson

    April 1, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    I absolutely love jerky, but would never have thought to make my own, especially with lamb.

    Reply
  7. Sarah Bailey

    March 28, 2019 at 8:34 pm

    Now I would never have thought of making my own lamb jerky! I totally need to share this with Ash as he is such a jerky fan, especially as it is low in carbs!

    Reply
  8. Shareen HD

    March 28, 2019 at 6:25 pm

    I’ve never tried any jerky but I love lamb and I think I would love this! The option for seasoning and flavour seems amazing. Might have to give this one a go!

    Reply
  9. Lana

    March 28, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    Can’t believe how easy it is to make lamb jerky! And I don’t even need to buy a dehydrator either. Having the jerky as a post workout snack never crossed my mind. Low in calories and high in protein … perfect! I’ll be trying this recipe this weekend!

    Reply
  10. Sarah | Boo Roo and Tigger Too

    March 28, 2019 at 5:51 pm

    My knowledge of lamb recipes is very limited but I’m slowly discovering a wide range of things I can make. Jerky is something that I’ve not made before but it looks doable

    Reply
  11. Julia

    March 28, 2019 at 3:11 pm

    5 stars
    I had no idea making a jerky was so easy! Thanks for the inspiration! šŸ™‚

    Reply
  12. Toni

    March 28, 2019 at 3:10 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this! My husband will love it!

    Reply
  13. Tristin Rieken

    March 28, 2019 at 2:30 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe and video and interview with the butcher! I really enjoyed it all. And will for SURE be using this technique with any meat, but for sure I’m inspired to make it with lamb now.

    Reply
  14. Meghna

    March 28, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    5 stars
    These lamb jerkies look so good and perfect texture I must say. Can’t wait to try your recipe this weekend.

    Reply
  15. Tisha

    March 28, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    5 stars
    I honestly have never thought of making lamb jerky! This is a wonderful idea!! So tasty

    Reply

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About Elizabeth

Adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Loves bikes. Calls Shetland home. Read More…

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“Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.”

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