Best Way to Cook – Low and Slow!
The best way to cook goat meat is to cook it slowly, preferably in a slow cooker, at a low temperature, and with plenty of moisture. Moreover, goat meat should never be served rare; it must be thoroughly and well-cooked for best results. Flavourful additions tend to make goat meat delicious.
Why cook with kid goat?
Nutritionally, kid goat is lower in saturated fat and just as high in protein compared to beef, pork, lamb and chicken, making it a healthy, and tasty, source of red meat. Goat meat lends itself best to slow-cooking, but there are some cuts that will work well in a quick midweek meal too.
Goat Meat Cuts Guide
1. Kid goat leg
Best for: slow-cooking
Cut from the thigh, the leg joint can be cooked bone-in or de-boned and stuffed.
How to cook goat leg: the leg is a great example of how to cook goat meat in the oven. Roasted low and slow, it has beautiful flavour thanks to being on the bone. This aromatic kid goat shawarma recipe recommends cooking the leg in a low oven for four hours for melt-in-your-mouth delicious meat. Shredded and served with warm flatbreads, garlic yoghurt, herbs and pickles, it’s a Middle-Eastern feast to feed the whole family.
How much to get: 1 leg will serve 4 to 6 people
2. Kid goat loin
Taken from the top of the back, the loin is a prized cut due to its super-tender meat. It’s great roasted, but as it doesn’t have a layer of protective fat, take care not to overcook it. The loin comes in different cuts:
a) Loin chops
Best for: grilling, frying or on the barbecue
Loin chops are chunky and boneless – two loin chops in one or a double-sided chop cut across the whole loin with the bone in.
Cooking a double loin chops, which needs slightly longer cooking than a regular chop, can be done by roasting it in the oven with a bottom layer of onions, celery and carrot for 10 to 15 minutes before finishing it off on the barbecue for delicious, smoky flavour. Or try marinating them overnight in a rich and tangy combo of pomegranate molasses and sumac – the flavours match perfectly – before slow-roasting in the oven. When cooking regular loin chops, we recommend pan-frying until browned all over, then finishing in the oven or on the barbecue. How much to get: 1 chop per person
b) Rolled loin (or saddle)
Best for: makes for a great mini roast
How to cook rolled loin: The rolled loin can be simply roasted as it comes or unrolled and stuffed, then re-tied.
How much to get: 1 rolled loin will feed 2 people comfortably
3. Rack Best for: quick roasting or grilling
Taken from the goat rib, the rack is a great all-rounder. It can be cooked whole or portioned into cutlets, and is perfect for quick-cooking.
How to cook rack of kid goat: rack of kid is the perfect dinner party dish, but also makes for an impressive midweek meal. French-trimmed cutlets that are left whole are fantastic when crusted with herbs. But even better left bare to let its flavour speak for itself
How much to get: 1 rack will serve 2 people
4. Shoulder
Best for: slow-cooking
How to cook goat shoulder: Similar to the leg, a whole kid goat shoulder is delicious when it’s slow roasted. T
How much to get: a 1.5-2kg bone-in shoulder will serve 4 people
5. Neck
Best for: braising and slow-cooking
Due to its high fat and bone content, this cut is at its best when cooked nice and slow, as the marrow is released and fat renders into the meat.
How to cook goat neck: Cook whole in plenty of spices, then leave to cool before pulling it apart and stuffing into tacos.
How much to get: 800g-1kg kid goat neck will serve 4 people
6. Diced Kid Goat
Best for: Braising, slow-cooking and skewered on the BBQ
Diced kid goat is made up of neck, breast, shoulder and leg meat, selected specifically to create a mixture of flavour and texture and some fat from the breast.
How to cook diced goat: Long, slow-cooking will ensure your bite-sized chunks of kid goat meat are wonderfully tender. Alternatively, marinate in a marinade, thread onto skewers and throw them on the BBQ.
How much to get: 500g for 4 people
7. Shank
Best for: slow-cooking
How to cook goat shank: Marinade your shanks in olive oil, plenty of fresh herbs, chilli flakes and garlic. Sear on all sides in a hot pan until brown, then cover with plenty of white wine and cook in a low oven for around two hours, or until falling off the bone.
How much to get: 1 shank per person
8. Breast
Best for: slow-cooking
The breast has great flavour due to a generous layer of fat running through it, which when cooked low and slow keeps the meat wonderfully moist as it renders down.
How to cook goat breast: Roast on top of a bed of potatoes and onions with plenty of rosemary and thyme for a delicious one-pot supper.
How much to get: 800g kid goat breast will serve 4 people.
(Source: https://www.farmdrop.com)
