Lamb Shoulder Recipes

Lamb shoulder is a very forgiving cut that's ideal for braising in a slow cooker. Here, it's amped up with Middle Eastern ingredients including dried lime and saffron. This recipe appears in our cookbook "Martha Stewart's Slow Cooker" (Clarkson Potter).

This satisfying Irish Lamb Stew, filled with tender meat and vegetables, is just the thing for a cold winter's night.

This Arabian Gulf showstopper is traditionally prepared by stuffing a whole lamb with rice or pasta, nuts, onions, and spices. Martha simplifies the dish by using lamb shoulder instead.

The ultimate antidote for cool spring nights, this old-fashioned farmhouse soup with shredded lamb offers sustenance without the heft. Garden-fresh peas lend a lightness, while turnips (which contain good-for-you fiber) add a mildly sweet bite to the meaty broth.

This hearty, savory stew is perfect for those rainy days when you just need stick-to-your-ribs goodness.

Grab a good book, because these smoky chile-lamb tacos practically cook themselves. An uninterrupted afternoon over indirect heat is just what a tough cut like lamb shoulder needs to collapse into a shreddable, succulent filling; finish by tossing poblanos and limes onto the grill for a nice char and deeper flavor.

Sweet pears make an unexpectedly delicious foil for tender braised lamb shoulder in this stew-like dish. A trio of spices -- ginger, cinnamon, and saffron -- impart a wonderful aroma as the tagine simmers.

This rustic yet elegant pie is composed of a few simple ingredients. Break through the crisp upper crust and you reveal the mellow nuances of rosemary-infused lamb that, in turn, give way to a clandestine bottom layer of potatoes, which serves no purpose other than to soak up the rich, intensely flavorful juices.

The ingredients for Irish stew are layered in a heavy pot and slow-cooked in the oven, allowing the lamb and potatoes to tenderize and the flavors to deepen and meld. The best part is that you can walk away from the simmering pot and return two hours later to a mouthwatering meal.