The short answer
Goat meat is a lean, richly flavoured red meat that is hugely popular in African and Caribbean cooking, as well as across much of the world. Often from a young goat, it is deeper in flavour than lamb, low in fat, and suited to slow cooking, which makes it tender and delicious in the rich stews, curries, soups and grilled dishes it is used for. It is the star of much loved dishes like curry goat, pepper soup, nkwobi and asun, and it is a favourite at celebrations, weddings and gatherings. In the UK goat meat is sold by African and Caribbean food shops, halal butchers and many markets.
What to remember
- Goat meat is sold by African and Caribbean food shops, halal butchers and markets in the UK.
- It is a favourite at celebrations, weddings and gatherings.
- It stars in dishes like curry goat, pepper soup, nkwobi, mannish water and asun.
- It is hugely popular in African and Caribbean cooking, and is suited to slow cooking.
- Goat meat is a lean, richly flavoured red meat, deeper in flavour than lamb and low in fat.
For Africans and Caribbean people in Britain, goat meat is a rich, celebratory taste of home.
It is the curry goat at a wedding, the goat pepper soup that warms and revives, the peppered asun at a party, the festive centrepiece that says celebration and family. Cooking goat meat far from home brings back the big pots at gatherings and the generous, joyful feasts, the warmth and flavour of home in every rich, tender piece.
There is real heritage in it too, in a meat so tied to celebration and hospitality across the continent and the Caribbean. It reflects a whole culture of generous, flavourful, communal food, and to cook a good pot of goat is to keep that alive.
Preparing curry goat or pepper soup for family who grew up on it or introducing a friend to their first taste, is a small act of welcome. That rich, celebratory taste of home is the gift of goat meat.
What is Goat Meat
Goat meat is the meat of the goat, a lean, flavourful red meat that is one of the most widely eaten meats in the world and a true favourite in African, Caribbean, South Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking.
Sometimes called chevon when from an adult goat, or cabrito when from a young kid, it has a deeper, more distinctive flavour than lamb, with less fat, and it is prized both for its taste and as a lean source of protein. Because it is lean and can be a little firm, goat meat rewards slow, gentle cooking, which turns it beautifully tender.
In African and Caribbean kitchens, goat meat is deeply loved and holds a special place at celebrations, where a goat is often the centrepiece of the feast. Its rich flavour stands up to bold seasoning, hot pepper and long simmering, which is why it appears in so many treasured dishes. Goat meat belongs to the world of African and Caribbean cooking we cover across our guides, and it is the star of dishes such as [curry goat](/blog/curry-goat), the Nigerian delicacy [nkwobi](/blog/nkwobi) and the party favourite [asun](/blog/asun).
How Goat Meat is Cooked and Eaten
Goat meat is wonderfully versatile, and the key to cooking it well is usually time. Because it is lean, it is most often slow-cooked, braised, stewed, curried or simmered in soup, so it becomes meltingly tender and soaks up flavour, though tender cuts from a young goat can also be grilled or fried. It is almost always well seasoned, with onion, garlic, ginger, thyme, scotch bonnet, curry powder or local spice blends, and often marinated before cooking. Bone-in pieces are popular, as the bones add richness to stews and soups.
Across the two cuisines, goat meat appears in a huge range of dishes. In the Caribbean it is the heart of curry goat, the celebrated Jamaican and Trinidadian dish, and of mannish water, the Jamaican goat soup. In West Africa it stars in goat pepper soup and in Nigerian nkwobi and asun, the spicy peppered goat, and in rich stews and grills.
It is eaten with rice, rice and peas, swallows, roti and provisions. This is general food information rather than dietary advice. Rich, lean and full of flavour, goat meat is a beloved centrepiece of African and Caribbean cooking.
Goat Meat in African and Caribbean food culture
Goat meat holds a place of real honour in African and Caribbean food culture, especially at celebrations. At weddings, naming ceremonies, festivals and big family gatherings, goat is often the meat of choice, and in many communities the slaughtering and cooking of a goat is a cherished part of a celebration.
Dishes like curry goat and goat pepper soup are treasured, festive foods, cooked with care and shared generously, and being served goat at a party is a mark of a proper, generous feast.
Beyond celebrations, goat meat is enjoyed as an everyday rich meat too, valued for its flavour and its leanness. Every region and family has its favourite goat dishes and seasonings, but the deep flavour and the love of slow-cooked, well-spiced goat are shared across the cuisines.
For Africans and Caribbean people, goat meat is a taste of home and celebration, and for anyone new to it, it is a delicious, flavourful meat to discover. This article is general food and cultural information. Rich, festive and satisfying, goat meat is a treasured part of African and Caribbean cooking.
Where can I buy Goat Meat in UK?
Getting goat meat in Britain is easy, as it is widely sold. African and Caribbean food shops and butchers sell goat meat, fresh and frozen, often already cut into pieces for stew, curry or soup, and staff can advise on cuts and how to cook them.
Halal butchers are also an excellent source of good goat meat, and many markets and some larger supermarkets stock it too. Bone-in pieces are ideal for the rich stews and soups goat is loved in.
If you want to cook with goat meat, an African or Caribbean food shop or a halal butcher can point you to the right cut, along with the scotch bonnet, curry powder, thyme and seasonings for your dish and the rice or provisions to serve alongside.
You can find [African food stores in London](/african-food-stores-in-london) or look up [African food stores in Birmingham](/african-food-stores-in-birmingham) to find a shop near you, where goat meat is a familiar item. Lean, rich and full of flavour, goat meat brings a beloved taste of Africa and the Caribbean to your table.
Frequently asked questions
What is goat meat?
Goat meat is the meat of the goat, a lean, richly flavoured red meat that is one of the most widely eaten meats in the world and a favourite in African and Caribbean cooking. It has a deeper flavour than lamb, with less fat, and because it is lean it is suited to slow cooking, which makes it tender. It stars in dishes like curry goat, pepper soup, nkwobi and asun.
What does goat meat taste like?
Goat meat has a rich, distinctive, savoury flavour, deeper and gamier than lamb but not overpowering, and it is lean with little fat. Its bold taste stands up well to strong seasoning, hot pepper and long, slow cooking, which is why it is so loved in richly spiced stews, curries and soups. Slow cooking brings out its flavour and makes it beautifully tender.
How do you cook goat meat?
Because goat meat is lean, it is usually slow-cooked, stewed, braised, curried or simmered in soup, so it becomes tender and soaks up flavour, though tender cuts can be grilled or fried. It is almost always well seasoned with onion, garlic, ginger, thyme, Scotch bonnet and spices or curry powder and often marinated. Bone-in pieces add richness to stews and soups.
What dishes are made with goat meat?
Goat meat stars in many African and Caribbean dishes, including curry goat, the celebrated Jamaican and Trinidadian curry, mannish water, the Jamaican goat soup, goat pepper soup, and the Nigerian favourites nkwobi and asun, the spicy peppered goat, as well as rich stews and grills. It is eaten with rice, rice and peas, swallows, roti and provisions.
Where can I buy goat meat in the UK?
Goat meat is sold by African and Caribbean food shops and butchers, often already cut for stew, curry or soup, as well as halal butchers, many markets and some larger supermarkets. Bone-in pieces are ideal for rich stews and soups. You can find African food stores near you for goat meat and the seasonings and sides to cook it with.
