Saddle of lamb

Lamb · Loin
Roast
NeckRackLoinChumpLegShoulderBreast

Both loins of the lamb still attached, butchered in one piece — the section of the back between the rack (rib end) and the chump (rump end), with the kidneys and fillets often left in. A centerpiece Sunday-lunch roast in British and French butchery: tied with butcher's twine, rubbed with herbs and garlic, roasted at high heat to medium-rare, then carved into thick T-bone-style slices that include both the loin eye and the fillet. The French version (*selle d'agneau*) often gets stuffed (*farcie*) with kidneys, sweetbreads, or a herb-and-breadcrumb mixture between the loins. Source of the Barnsley chop: a Barnsley is a single thick cross-cut from the saddle, including a double helping of loin meat on one bone.

Raw Saddle of lamb — Lamb Loin cut

Names by country

CountryNameNotes
🇺🇸United StatesSaddle of lambSame term used in US fine-dining and butchery; less common at retail than rack of lamb or leg of lamb.
🇬🇧United KingdomSaddle of lambprimaryBoth loins still attached; classic British Sunday-lunch roast. Kidneys often left in for *saddle of lamb with kidneys*.
🇫🇷FranceSelle d'agneauClassic French preparation; often stuffed (*selle d'agneau farcie*) with kidneys, herbs, or breadcrumb mixtures between the loins.
🇵🇹PortugalSela de borregoPortuguese term; "barão de borrego" is the saddle plus both legs together (rare ceremonial roast).
🇮🇹ItalySella d'agnelloItalian-butchery term; less central to Italian lamb tradition than carrè (rack) or cosciotto (leg) but used in classical preparations.

Similar cuts

Lamb Rackapproximate

Anatomically adjacent — rack is the rib end (8 ribs), saddle is the loin section behind it. A whole rack-plus-saddle is sometimes called a *long saddle* or sold as a guard-of-honour preparation.

Lamb Loin Chopclose

Same anatomy: a saddle is both loins attached as one roast; a loin chop is a cross-cut single-loin slice from that same section. Saddle is the whole, chops are the divisions.

Barnsley chopclose

A Barnsley chop is a single thick cross-cut from the saddle (T-bone-shaped, with both loin eyes on one bone). The saddle is the whole roast; the Barnsley is the chop variation.

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