Where do lamb and mutton come from?

People, especially in India, have often associated lamb with meat from sheep, and mutton with meat from goat. Meat from goat is actually called chevon. However, don’t beat yourself up over being mistaken about the jargon of meat, as things work a little differently in India. Here, the word mutton is used interchangeably between sheep and goat, but since Indians mostly consume goat, it is the widely accepted term for goat meat. Since we hardly eat sheep, you will seldom be given meat from a sheep if you walk into a butcher’s shop and ask for mutton. Therefore it is not completely wrong to refer to goat meat as mutton.

Most of the differences between lamb and mutton stem from the age of the animal. Now that we are clear about the vernaculars, let’s learn about some other basic differences between lamb and mutton.

Flavour
Lamb: mild and delicate
Mutton: rich and bold

Colour
Lamb: tender pink to pale red
Mutton: deep red

Texture
Lamb: tender
Mutton: firm

There are three popular methods used for cooking lamb - grilling, braising, and roasting. Grilling is preparing the meat over hot coal, and is most suitable for making burgers or lamb chops. In braising, the meat is first browned in fat and then put in a covered utensil with a small amount of liquid. It can be done on a stove or oven. This method is most suitable for tougher cuts like the shoulder. Roasting is cooking the meat uncovered, which makes the outside of the meat brown and the interior moist. This method is most suitable for tender cuts like the rack of the leg.
The most popular method to prepare mutton is to slow cook, or stew it. Since mutton is a tougher meat with more fat, slow cooking methods like stew tenderizes the meat and brings out the flavour.

Mutton and lamb are highly nutritious, with both providing a high amount of protein. However, mutton contains a higher fat content as compared to lamb. Consuming high fat foods regularly can be detrimental as it builds up cholesterol in the arteries which can lead to heart diseases. Although mutton is a more popular dish than lamb because of its preferred strong flavour, lamb is a healthier choice, although both should be consumed in moderation for optimum health.

When we talk about meat from goat, we are talking about a more popular and more healthy meat. While lamb is more popular in North America and mutton is more popular in Europe and the Middle East, meat from goat is not favourable in any particular geographical location. Most countries in the world consume goat meat, which makes it one of the most popular meats.
Goat meat is also significantly healthier than sheep meat. It contains lesser calories, saturated fats, and cholesterol than not only sheep meat, but also than chicken. It also contains more protein and iron than sheep, making it a more beneficial meat choice.