Goat Meat (Recipes, Where to Buy, Price, Benefits, more!) (2024)

Get the scoop on goat meat! Goats meat is not a common food in much of the US, but it’s popular in many other parts of the world. Learn the other names for goat meat, where to buy goat meat, goat meat prices, health benefits, and more. I’ll also teach you how to cook goat meat with the best goat meat recipe.

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What is goat meat called?

Goat meat is usually called goat in the United States, though you may also see it referred to as chevon in upscale culinary circles. The young meat of a goat is called cabrito or chivo in Spanish and capretto in Italian. In the US, baby goat meat is called kid meat.

Sheep meat is called mutton or lamb in the US, depending on the animal’s age at slaughter. However, in the Caribbean and South Asia, mutton more commonly refers to goat meat (source).

Is goat and lamb the same?

No! Goat meat is not called lamb, because these are not the same animal. A lamb is a baby sheep while a young goat is called a kid.

What does goat meat taste like?

Goat meat is often described as having a slightly sweet, yet bold and gamey flavor. It’s a red meat that works as a substitute in beef dishes. However, I find goat tastes more like lamb than beef cattle.

Is goat meat good eating?

Taste is subjective, but I’d answer yes! Goat is one of the most popular meats enjoyed across the world, and for good reason. It’s a healthy lean protein that’s big on flavor.

Goat Meat Nutrition

Here is the nutrition information for roasted cooked goat meat (per Cronometer for 3 ounces/85 grams):

• Calories: 122
• Carbs: 0 gram
• Fiber: 0 grams
• Fat: 2.58 grams
• Saturated fat: 0.79 grams
• Cholesterol: 63.75 mg
• Protein: 23.04 grams
• Thiamin: 5.1% DV
• Riboflavin: 30.5% DV
• Niacin: 16.8% DV
• Vitamin B12: 16.9% DV
• Choline: 16.4% DV
• Folate: 1.1% DV
• Calcium: 1.4% DV
• Iron: 17.6% DV
• Phosphorus: 17.1% DV
• Potassium: 9.8% DV
• Selenium: 14.3% DV
• Zinc: 29.9% DV

Goat meat is a great source of many B vitamins, including riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B12. It’s also rich in the minerals iron, phosphorus, selenium, and highly bioavailable zinc.

Get the nutrition info for my goat meat recipe in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

Goat Meat Calories

Goat meat has 122 calories per 3 oz cooked serving. It’s a low calorie protein choice.

Protein in Goat Meat

There are 23 grams of protein per cooked 3oz serving of goat meat. Goat is a super choice if you’re looking to increase your intake of lean protein.

Does goat meat have cholesterol?

Yes, like many animal-based foods, goat meat does contain dietary cholesterol. You get approximately 64 mg of cholesterol per 3oz serving of cooked goat. Keep in mind though that dietary saturated fat has a bigger impact on your blood cholesterol levels than dietary cholesterol.

Does goat meat have iron?

Yes, a 3-ounce serving of cooked goat meat provides 17.6% DV of highly bioavailable iron. It’s a super choice if you’d like to increase the amount of iron in your diet.

Goat Meat Benefits

Is goat meat good for you? In general, there are many benefits of eating goat meat. For one, it’s a lean yet high protein food that fits low carb, keto, and gluten free diets (depending on the recipe).

Another one of the benefits of goat meat is that it’s a heart healthy food, perfect for the Mediterranean diet. It’s low in saturated fat, and may help you feel satisfied on fewer calories, helping you maintain a healthy weight. (This is because goat is mostly protein, which is considered to be the most filling macronutrient.)

Goat contains a form of iron that is more bioavailable than the iron in cereals and other plant-based foods. YMMV, but I’ve found including foods like beef and goat in my diet eliminated the need to take an iron supplement.

Goat Meat vs Lamb

Here’s a quick nutritional comparison of 3 ounces (85g) of cooked goat vs lamb vs beef vs chicken:

Compared to goat, lamb is much higher in calories, fat, and saturated fat. Of course, this depends on the cuts we’re comparing, with lamb breast being quite high in fat and lamb rack more moderate.

Lamb is higher in niacin and vitamin B12 than goat, but goat is higher in riboflavin and zinc. Goat meat provides a little more protein per 3 ounce serving, and a little less cholesterol.

Is goat healthier than beef?

What about goat meat vs beef? Beef is higher in calories, total fat, saturated fat, niacin, vitamin B12, and zinc than goat. Believe it or not, goat is higher in iron than beef, as well as thiamin and riboflavin.

If you’re looking for a leaner protein, goat is a healthier choice than beef. However, both are nutritious foods that are good choices for a healthy diet.

Is goat healthier than chicken?

Chicken, both with and without the skin, is higher in calories, fat, and saturated fat than goat. (It’s true- goat is one of the leanest meats you can purchase.) Chicken is higher in niacin than goat, but goat is higher in thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B12, iron, and zinc.

Between the two, I’d say goat is “healthier” than chicken in terms of nutrient density. However, the healthiest diets generally contain a wide variety of protein. This can include both chicken and goat.

Where to Buy Goat Meat

How to find goat meat near me? It can be tough to find fresh goat meat for sale in stores in the United States. I purchase goat at a local grocery store that specializes in South and East Asian foods.

You may be able to find a goat meat butcher at the Farmer’s Markets in your area. I have not found goat meat for sale on Amazon.

Why is goat meat not sold in stores? Goat isn’t widely popular in the US yet. Since the demand isn’t there, stores typically don’t supply it. Sometimes you can find goat meat shipped in from Australia or New Zealand.

Even if you can’t find goat in local supermarkets though, you may still be able to try it. Ask around at the Jamaican restaurants in your area- sometimes they sell curried goat and other goat dishes.

Goat Meat Price

Goat meat prices vary widely depending on location and seller. The last time I bought it, the price of goat meat was $7.95 per pound. Generally, I’m lucky to even find goat, and can’t purchase specific cuts.

Why is goat meat so expensive?

Goat meat is expensive because it’s in limited supply. Additionally, goats are challenging to raise in terms of diet and space requirements. Plus, the yield of meat per goat is relatively low.

How to Cook Goat Meat

Here’s what you need to make this goat meat recipe:

• 2 lbs goat meat (bone in, 907 grams)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Jamaican curry powder (other curry powders may be substituted)
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• ½ habanero pepper, minced (remove seeds if less heat is your preference)
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 1 lb russet potatoes, chopped (454 grams)
• 1 cup beef broth (no added salt or low sodium), or more as needed
• Rice for serving (optional)

The other items you need to make this curry are a large pot, knife, and a vegetable peeler. I don’t recommend using cast iron here, as the stew may dry out too quickly (necessitating more liquid).

Recipe for Goat

Here are the step by step directions for this easy goat recipe:

1. Put the oil in a pot on the stovetop and set the heat to medium high. Add the onion and cook for 5-10 minutes, until softened but not browned.

2. Sprinkle both sides of the goat meat pieces with curry powder, thyme, salt, and black pepper.

3. Add the garlic, ginger, and habanero to the pot and cook for 30-60 seconds. Next, add the seasoned goat and beef broth to the pot. Cover the pot and simmer on medium heat for 2-2½ hours until the curry is thickened and the goat is tender. Check the pot occasionally to adjust the heat and add more broth if more moisture is needed.

4. While the goat cooks, peel and roughly chop the carrots and potatoes. Add the vegetables to the pot 30-40 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Bring the pot to a simmer, turn the heat to low, partially cover the pot, and cook until the veggies are tender.

5. Serve this delicious goat curry over rice, if desired.

How long does goat take to cook?

Goat should cook for 2-2½ hours over medium or medium low heat on the stovetop. It benefits from a low and slow cooking time to get fall-off-the-bone tender.

The goat meat temperature for food safety is 145F (63C). Since the goat cooks for so long in this recipe, I never check it with a meat thermometer. There should be no worries that it has reached a safe internal temp, but you’re welcome to check if you wish.

How to Season Goat Meat

In this recipe, I’ve seasoned goat with curry powder, ginger, garlic, thyme salt, and black pepper. The Jamaican curry powder I used prominently features fenugreek, turmeric, and coriander, and I highly recommend it.

That said, you can season goat with any of your favorite seasonings for beef. You can also marinade goat. Here are some other ideas:

• Cajun seasoning
• Jerk spices
• Italian seasoning
• Parsley
• Basil
• Oregano
• Allspice
• Cumin
• Rosemary
• Curry leaves
• Scallion

FAQs

Which part of goat meat is best?

You’ll find a variety of opinions on which cut of goat is best, depending on what you want to do with it. This source recommends goat neck for boiling and ragu, goat loin or rump for grilling and roasting, and goat leg for braises and stews.

Is goat meat a red meat?

Yes, goat is red meat. By weight, cooked goat contains more iron than beef!

Why do we not eat goat meat?

Americans may be put off by the high price and gamey flavor of goat. The US is a bit of an anomaly in this regard, as people all over the world eat goat. You can find goat dishes in various cuisines across Africa, the Middle East, Portugal, Mexico, Italy, the Caribbean, India, and many more.

Is it legal to eat goat in the US?

Yes, it is legal to eat goat meat in the United States. However, it can be hard to find.

Can goat meat make you sick?

Any meat can make you sick if not cooked or handled properly. Like beef, cuts of goat should be cooked to a minimum safe internal temperature of 145F (63C). Don’t leave goat meat (cooked or raw) out at room temperature for more than 1-2 hours.

Which goat breeds are used for goat meat?

According to the American Goat Federation, some breeds of goat used for meat include Spanish goats, Boer goats, Kiko goats, Myotonic goats (AKA fainting goats), Savannah goats, and Texmaster goats.

Goat Meat Recipes

You can find recipes for goat meat that are grilled, stewed, roasted, and more. Here are some other ways to use goat meat:

• African Goat Stew
• Greek Slow Roasted Goat
• Grilled Goat Chops

📖 Recipe Card

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