13 lamb head recipes

Roasted lamb's head marinated in olive oil, red wine, oregano, and garlic then slow-baked until tender. A bold nose-to-tail dish with rich, succulent meat pulled straight from the bone.

Traditional Pennsylvania Dutch buckwheat scrapple from hog's head, liver, heart, and sweetbreads, bound with cornmeal and buckwheat flour, seasoned with sage and mace.

Sarimsaaqli palaaw layers tender lamb, julienned carrots, and whole heads of sweet garlic over rice steamed Central Asian style. Each guest gets their own softened garlic bulb to squeeze over the pilaf.

Basque lamb stew simmered with carrots, turnips, thyme, and rosemary in a chicken-stock gravy. A make-ahead, freezer-friendly stew with a lamb shoulder base that splits into batches for the week.

A slow-simmered lamb chili with black beans, fresh ginger, allspice, and Zinfandel wine. Beans cook with lamb bones for deep flavor. Best made a day ahead for the richest taste.

A French-Caribbean lamb stew from Martinique and Guadeloupe, simmered with Colombo curry powder, ginger, garlic, boniato or potato, and calabaza squash. Make-ahead friendly and even better the next day.

Quick rhubarb mint chutney with lemon juice, sugar, and onion. Tangy-sweet condiment for lamb, ready in 30 minutes. Make up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate.

Stuffed pitta breads loaded with spice-rubbed roasted lamb, herbed couscous, griddled eggplant, and black olives in a balsamic-ginger dressing. A make-ahead meal that starts with an overnight marinade.

Crisp deep-fried curry puffs filled with cooked lamb, curry powder, and mango chutney syrup. A classic Anglo-Indian party appetizer that can be made ahead.

Greek souvlaki with lamb or pork marinated overnight in olive oil, lemon, white wine, garlic, and oregano then grilled on skewers. Includes a smart make-ahead method for parties.

Italian braised lamb and potatoes with pecorino cheese, red capsicum, and garlic simmered in stock until fork-tender. A make-ahead casserole that tastes even better the next day.

Curry garlic dip whisks mayonnaise with chili sauce, curry powder, garlic, grated onion, and Worcestershire for a make-ahead party dip. Doubles as a sauce for cold shrimp, steak, or lamb.

Par-cooked balti meat, the make-ahead base for a balti curry: lamb braised with onions, tomato, ginger and balti spices, then the aromatics blended into a thick curry sauce ready for the final balti cook.