Lamb

Lamb is about as Aussie as it gets on the barbecue, and it handles big flavour. Rosemary and garlic on a Sunday roast. A Greek-style shoulder smoked until it falls apart. Cutlets straight off a ripping hot grill. This is where we keep the lamb rubs and lamb spice rubs from makers like Four Saucemen, Butchers Axe, SINSQUE and Low N Slow Basics, plus the mint sauces, glazes and chimichurri that finish the job.

What is a good rub for lamb?

A good rub for lamb leans on herbs, garlic and warm spice rather than heavy sugar. Rosemary, oregano, thyme, cumin and pepper all stand up to lamb's richness. Greek and Mediterranean blends suit roasts and shoulder, while punchier spice rubs suit cutlets and chops cooked hot and fast.

Lamb rubs by the cook

Lamb shoulder, low and slow

Shoulder is made for the smoker. It's fatty, forgiving and pulls apart when it's done. A lamb shoulder rub with plenty of herb and garlic builds a dark, crusty bark over the long cook. Try Four Saucemen's The Lamb Rub, Low N Slow Basics' Lamb Layup Rub or SINSQUE's Grass Lamb Rub. Butchers Axe also makes a Lamb Injection if you want to get flavour deep into a big cut.

Roast lamb

For the Sunday leg, a herby lamb spice rub over a scored fat cap is hard to beat. Four Monkeys BBQ's Lamb Rub, Emus Rub's Lamb Rub and Ember Republic's Elephant Karoo Flame & Thyme are all built for lamb. Serve with Tracklements' Traditional Mint Sauce or Fresh Mint Jelly.

Greek and Mediterranean lamb

Souvlaki, gyros and yiros-style wraps need that oregano-and-lemon hit. Look at Black Market Spice Merchants' Its all Greek to Me, Butchers Axe's Gyros Rotisserie Seasoning Rub and Taipan BBQ's Mediterranean Magic. Finish with a spoon of El Chori chimichurri from our chimichurri range.

Cutlets, chops and backstrap

Thin cuts cook in minutes, so you want a rub that tastes right fast. Middle Kingdom's Lamb Lord, Butchers Axe's Hunter Lamb and Game Rub and Taipan BBQ's Mongolian Mint all work on the grill. Brush on Heavenly Hell's Lamb Almighty BBQ Glaze at the end for a sticky finish.

Smoke and lamb

Lamb carries a lot of flavour of its own, so most cooks keep the smoke on the gentle side. Fruitwoods and olive are popular choices. Browse the smoking woods that suit lamb, including Natural Smoke's olive, cherry and apple wood chunks, and read our guide on how to match the wood to the meat.

Cooking goat, venison or roo as well? Plenty of these blends cross over, and there's more in our game meat rubs.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best rub for lamb?

It depends on the cut and the cook. Herb and garlic rubs like Four Saucemen's The Lamb Rub suit roasts and smoked shoulder, Greek-style blends suit souvlaki and gyros, and bolder spice rubs suit cutlets on the grill. Pick the cooking method first, then choose a lamb rub that matches it.

How do you smoke a lamb shoulder?

Season a lamb shoulder generously with rub, then smoke it low and slow until it's probe tender and pulls apart easily. That usually means an internal temperature somewhere past 90°C. Wrapping it partway through helps push through the stall. Rest it well before pulling, and keep the juices for the meat.

Should I put rub on lamb the night before?

You can. Rubbing a lamb roast or shoulder the night before and leaving it covered in the fridge gives the salt time to work into the meat. For cutlets and chops, seasoning 30 minutes to an hour beforehand is plenty. Either way, let the meat sit briefly before it goes on the heat.

What herbs go well with lamb?

Rosemary, garlic, oregano, thyme and mint are the classic lamb herbs. Rosemary and garlic suit a Sunday roast, oregano and lemon lean Greek, and mint comes in as a sauce or jelly on the side. Warm spices like cumin and coriander also pair well, especially on grilled cutlets and chops.

What wood is good for smoking lamb?

Milder woods are a common choice for lamb because the meat already has a strong flavour. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry give gentle, sweet smoke, and olive wood suits Mediterranean-style cooks. Stronger woods can work too, just in smaller amounts. Start light and add more smoke next time if you want it.