We’re sharing how versatile lamb can be, and it’s not just for a special occasion. From weeknight meals to summer entertainment, lamb is on the menu. We’ve created an eye-popping Aussie Lamb Platter, which is perfect for a summer grazing board idea! This post is sponsored by True Aussie Beef & Lamb; however, all opinions are 100% my own.

Aussie Lamb Platter | Summer Grazing Board Idea

The long days of summer are the perfect time to discover what lamb can do to make those everyday meals more special, flavor-packed, and unforgettable. From leg of lamb, lamb shanks, rack of lamb, and lamb chops, there is a lot of savory and fun ways to use lamb in an endless variety of recipes. And because it’s summertime, it is a great time to get your grill fired up and grill some of your favorite cuts of delicious, tender, and mouthwatering lamb. For this Aussie lamb platter, I used a rack of Aussie lamb and Aussie lamb chops.

One of the keys to preparing flavorful lamb is sourcing quality products. When it comes to price and overall quality and taste, you can’t beat True Aussie lamb. What sold me on True Aussie was its agreeable price point when compared to lamb sourced domestically. And of course, the flavor profile of True Aussie is lamb is also a major factor. Great price and an even better flavor, what’s not to like?

When it comes to lamb, I love using marinades to create a greater depth of flavor by using ingredients that pair well with lamb.

Protip: When marinading lamb, there are two rules of thumb: for smaller cuts like lamb chops and cut rack of lamb, marinate these smaller cuts of lamb for 3-5 hours. For large cuts like a leg of lamb and lamb shoulder, etc. marinade from 7-8 up to 24 hours. I also love using fresh herbs like garlic, thyme, rosemary, mint, and savory. I also often combine extra virgin olive oil with balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and thinly sliced onions. When it comes to seasoning lamb, start with the basics, coarse sea salt, and freshly grated black peppercorns. From there, select flavors that compliment the unique flavor profile of lambs like fresh rosemary, mint, or seasonings like za’atar, or dried oregano, and ground cumin, curry, and turmeric. There are so many flavor combinations you can use with True Aussie lamb and have the fun is discovering them all!

I also love combining lots of fresh vegetables when serving lamb, and for our Lamb Grazing Board, we used fresh asparagus and carrots we purchased at a local farmer’s market. Some of our favorites also include Brussel sprouts, fresh spinach, radicchio, potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, grilled sweet corn, as well as varieties of kale and collard and mustard greens. What’s your favorite?

What You Will Need To Create Our Aussie Lamb Platter:

Aussie Lamb Chops & Cut Rack Of Aussie Lamb. Our favorite cuts of lamb are free-range Aussie lamb and raised without artificial additives or hormones; we love cooking on our charcoal-fired grill. To find True Aussie lamb in your neck of the woods, look here.

Marinades. Using a marinade is an easy way to get a lot of deep and savory flavor in your favorite cuts of lamb. I have created two lamb marinades, and you probably already have all of the ingredients to make either one, or both, in your pantry.

Vegetables. When it comes to pairing vegetables with marinades is as simple as selecting your favorite veggies. For this lamb grazing board, we used fresh asparagus, carrots, and fresh tomatoes from our garden. But you can also use broccoli, cauliflower, and peppers or whatever vegetables are in season.

Recipes for our Lamb Platter

Garlic Mustard Marinade

Serves 16

8 lamb chops
8 pieces sliced from a rack of lamb
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
juice of one lemon
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Kosher salt or sea salt to taste
Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Herb Lemon Marinade

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons
juice of one lemon
2 cloves garlic
3 fresh rosemary sprigs
2 fresh lemon thyme sprigs
2 fresh sprigs of savory
Kosher salt or sea salt
Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Directions:

Prepare the Aussie Lamb by removing them from the packaging and using paper towels to remove any excess moisture, then set it aside.
Season both sides of the lamb chops with freshly cracked black peppercorns and coarse sea salt. Allow the seasoned lamb chops to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
Into a large pan with high sides, combine the marinade ingredients and mix.
Place the seasoned lamb chops into the marinade then turn them over. Place a tight-fitting lid or plastic wrap over the pan and allow the lamb to marinade between 3 to 5 hours for smaller cuts of lamb and 7 up to 24 hours for large cuts of lamb.
Prepare the charcoal grill; the grill temperature should be between 375°F and 450°F.
Get the charcoal grill going, arrange the charcoal briquets on one side of the grill, creating both a hot-zone (direct heat) and a cooler zone (indirect heat).
Use a wire brush to clean the grate if needed, then brush the grates with a high smoke point oil like canola or vegetable oil.
Place the lamb chops directly onto the grate above the red-hot coals, sear the chops for 3-4 minutes. Using a pair of tongs, turn the lamb chops over and move them to the cooler side of the grill and close the lid. Allow the lamb chops to cook for several more minutes or until you get the internal temperature you want — 120 degrees for rare, 125 medium-rare, 130 medium, and 145 for well-done. Sidebar: How long you will need to cook your lamb chops will vary depending on the thickness of the cut and the temperature of the grill, and your personal preference in regards to doneness.
Remove the grilled lamb chops and transfer the grilled meat to a cutting board, allow the meat to rest for 15 minutes.

Common Questions & Answers About Lamb

What Herbs Work Well With Lamb? Fresh herbs like rosemary, mint, savory, garlic, thyme, and dried oregano and marjoram work well with lamb.

Which spices compliment the flavor of lamb? I love using sea salt and freshly cracked black peppercorns as a seasoning base then use spices like curry, or spice blends like garlic pepper, garam masala, baharat, or zaatar also compliment lamb.

What kind of oils should I use when marinading lamb? Most neutral cooking oils work best, and some common options include avocado oil, walnut oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil will do the job.

What kind of vegetables or sides can I serve with lamb? The sides you would typically pair with beef are also compatible with lamb. Potatoes, rice, quinoa, farro, or even cheesy grits all work well with lamb. And when it comes to vegetables, the sky is the limit. Use whatever kind of vegetables you and your family love to eat.

Our Cucumber Dill Yogurt is a perfect match for our delicious Lamb Grazing Board, and with a food processor, it’s ready in minutes.

Cucumber Dill Yogurt

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups Greek Yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
2 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
half of a small cucumber peeled and diced

Directions:

Place the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more or less Greek yogurt.

This is a great grazing board idea for a backyard summer party, holiday platter idea, or just because you’re a fan of good, quality Aussie Lamb. We created a summer tablescape with a bohemian vibe, which goes great with our lamb platter. The pops of color on the vegetables mirrors the colors throughout this summer tablescape.

Cheers to a beautiful summer filled with priceless memories, good food, and the people we love!

Find other Aussie Lamb recipes to try this summer:

Garlic & Mint Grilled Aussie Lamb Chops

Aussie Lamb Sheet Pan Dinner

Grilled Lamb Of Leg With Honey Mustard Marinade

Hickory Smoked Lamb Chops