What is Cordero lechal called in the United States?

In the United States, Cordero lechal is known as Suckling lamb.

What is Cordero lechal called in the United Kingdom?

In the United Kingdom, Cordero lechal is known as Suckling lamb.

What is Cordero lechal called in France?

In France, Cordero lechal is known as Agneau de lait.

What is Cordero lechal called in Italy?

In Italy, Cordero lechal is known as Agnello da latte.

What is Cordero lechal called in Portugal?

In Portugal, Cordero lechal is known as Borrego de leite.

What is Cordero lechal called in Brazil?

In Brazil, Cordero lechal is known as Cordeiro de leite.

What is Cordero lechal called in Germany?

In Germany, Cordero lechal is known as Milchlamm.

What part of the lamb does Cordero lechal come from?

Cordero lechal comes from the Leg section of the lamb.

Cordero lechal

Lamb · Leg

Roast

Also called

🇺🇸🇬🇧Suckling lamb🇫🇷Agneau de lait🇵🇹Borrego de leite🇧🇷Cordeiro de leite🇮🇹Agnello da latte🇩🇪Milchlamm🇮🇹Abbacchio↗

→ See all Cordero lechal substitutes by country

Castilian PGI tradition of milk-fed suckling lamb, slaughtered at 21 days or younger, weighing under 7kg. Roasted whole or in halves in a wood-fired clay oven (horno de leña) at relatively low temperature for several hours, until the meat is pale, tender, and slightly milky in flavour. The IGP regions are Castilla y León (PGI 'Lechazo de Castilla y León'), with similar traditions in Aragón ('Ternasco de Aragón'). Typical Sunday-lunch centerpiece in Castilian asadores; often called *lechazo* in Castilian and *cordero lechal* more broadly.

Names by country

Country	Name	Notes
🇺🇸United States	Suckling lamb	Spanish loanword 'cordero lechal' is also used on US restaurant menus, especially Spanish-influenced ones.
🇬🇧United Kingdom	Suckling lamb	Sometimes 'milk-fed lamb' on UK menus.
🇲🇽Mexico	Cordero lechal
🇦🇷Argentina	Cordero lechal
🇫🇷France	Agneau de lait
🇪🇸Spain	Cordero lechalprimary	Castilian PGI tradition; the cordero lechal slaughter age (≤21 days) is regulated under 'Lechazo de Castilla y León'.
🇵🇹Portugal	Borrego de leite
🇧🇷Brazil	Cordeiro de leite
🇮🇹Italy	Agnello da latte
🇩🇪Germany	Milchlamm

Free Cordero lechal reference card

Diagram, cooking notes, and 8 names on one printable page.

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Similar cuts

Leitão da Bairradaapproximate

Both Iberian-peninsula PGI suckling-animal traditions — Leitão da Bairrada is the Portuguese suckling-pig version, Cordero lechal is the Castilian milk-fed-lamb version. Different animals, parallel cultural identity.

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Cabritoapproximate

Both Iberian-tradition very-young milk-fed animals, both Easter centerpieces, both whole-roasted in clay ovens. Cordero lechal is the suckling-lamb version (Castilian PGI); cabrito is the kid-goat counterpart.

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Lamb Legapproximate

Same anatomical primal but different age class — cordero lechal is slaughtered at ≤21 days (under 7kg total), regular lamb leg is from animals 4–12 months old. The age difference produces a fundamentally different texture and flavour.

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