Can you eat lamb kofta when pregnant?
In this article we are going to answer can eat lamb kofta when pregnant, what is lamb, what is lamb kofta, is it healthy to eat lamb kofta when pregnant, and what is the risk of eating lamb kofta when pregnant and how do you cook lamb kofta when pregnant.
Can you eat lamb kofta when pregnant?
Yes, you can eat lamb kofta when pregnant but you need to be sure that the lamb is cooked completely. Lamb and all meats have to be cooked up to 145 F or 63 C so that food poisoning risk decreases.
Under-cooked or not fully cooked meat is a high risk of food-borne illnesses for pregnant women.
What is a lamb?
Lamb or also called hogget or mutton refers to the meat of domesticated sheep. The sheep in their first year of life is called lamb while in their second year is hogget. When it is older, it is called mutton.
- Lamb: a young sheep under 12 months with no permanent incisor teeth in wear.
- Hogget: a sheep with no more than two permanent incisors in wear.
- Mutton: is the meat of the female or castrated male with two or more permanent incisors.
Lamb is the most popular and expensive of the three types of meat. Lamb meat is taken from the animal between one month and one year old. It is tender meat and it can be sorted into three types of meat
- Forequarter: it includes the neck, shoulder, front legs, and ribs up to the shoulder. It contains more connective tissue than some other cuts.
- Loin: includes the ribs
- Hindquarter: includes the rear legs and hip
The cuts of the lamb according to the UK, Canada, and Commonwealth countries include
- Scrag end
- Middle neck
- Best end
- Loin
- Chump
- Leg
- Shank
- Shoulder
- Breast
Lamb chops are cut from the rib, loin, and shoulder areas while the rib chops include a rib bone and the loin chop includes only a chine bone.
What is lamb kofta?
Kofta is a dish very popular in the Middle East made from ground lamb, onion, garlic, and spices. The whole mixture is shaped into balls, patties, or logs and then grilled and it can be served with pita, salads, dips, or sauces.
Kofta can also be made with ground beef meat. It can be found skewered, kabob style and not skewered, depending on the style and preference of the chef.
Is it healthy to eat lamb kofta when pregnant?
Lamb kofta is a healthy dish if eaten in moderation. It is considered a high sodium food. 1 piece of lamb kofta contains 73 calories, 4.8 grams of fat, 202 mg of sodium, 105 mg of potassium, 1.3 grams of carbohydrates, and 6.1 grams of protein.
It is a good source of protein and depending on the side dish it is low in carbohydrates. You need to be aware of the high content of sodium. Pregnant women are too susceptible to sodium intake and its side effects.
High sodium diets have been linked to high blood pressure, water retention, and swelling especially of the feet.
What is the risk of eating lamb kofta?
The main risk of eating lamb kofta when pregnant is that if lamb is not fully cooked you have toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection with a bacteria called Toxoplasma gondii, often found in raw meat. It can be very dangerous for pregnant women to catch a foodborne illness.
How do you cook lamb kofta?
To make lamb kofta you need some simple ingredients
- Ground lamb
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Shallot
- Mint
- Pepper
- Salt
- Parsley
- Oil
- Ginger
You need to place a skillet over medium-high heat. Add some oil and add the shallot, garlic, and ginger.
Also add the cumin, coriander, and ginger. Season with salt and pepper.
Remove the shallot from the mixture and let it cool.
In a bowl, combine the ground lamb, shallot mixture, parsley, and mint. Season with salt and pepper.
Mix all together until fully combined.
Once all mixed, divide the mixture into about 6 equal portions and make small balls.
Place the balls in a large grill pan and put them on medium-high heat. Let them grill and remove from heat and transfer to a platter.
You can serve lamb kofta wrapped in pitta and add some lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes. You can also serve it with tzatziki, sliced cucumber, basmati rice, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, hummus, min leaves, cilantro leaves, or sliced onion.
Want another recipe? follow this link.
Conclusion
This article answered can eat lamb kofta when pregnant, what is lamb, what is lamb kofta, is it healthy to eat lamb kofta when pregnant, what is the risk of eating lamb kofta when pregnant and how do you cook lamb kofta when pregnant.
Citation
https://www.oprah.com/health/is-it-healthy-to-eat-lamb
