anonimouse

The countryside here is so much like the UK in many parts, so why don't farmers do sheep.

I Love lamb and miss it.There must be a good reason they don't have sheep but I can't think what it is.

Do you think there's an opportunity for some budding farmers here?

Rural Hungary

They must all be down this way and on the plains There are several sheep farms in this area, our village has one. A neighbour informed me that lamb is too expensive for most Hungarians so the majority of it is exported, as is the better cuts of beef, though you can order it in certain butchers near us but the cuts are different. We were told of a place that sells whole lambs though they weren't that cheap and had already been butchered. Having asked at the village farm, the farmer there says he will sell us one and we can butcher it ourselves. Might give it a try this year as the lamb Tesco has in is like nothing I ever tasted before; in that it doesn't have much taste at all and the cuts are nothing I have ever come across.

fidobsa

You do have Tesco in your area then? I had wondered if they were only in Budapest. I was intrigued by the sheep in Bulgaria. They keep a breed that has very long legs and are minded by wandering shepherds in small flocks of sometimes only a dozen or so.

Rural Hungary

LOL, yes, Hungary is far more westernised than Bulgaria. We even have a C&A! Lidls, Aldis and Tesco can be found in nearly every town - oh and Mcdonalds

And of course, Interspar

anonimouse

Re' Tesco's, Don't expect the same quality as in the Uk, nor the choice

I have never seen lamb in our Tesco's but bought some from Metro (UK Macro) it tasted like metal lol, nothing like lamb and it cost me about 20 quid for a small leg, I won't buy it again.

I was told that in Spain they sell Goat as lamb as it's very similar in taste, might be some truth in that too, the legs do look very slim.......taste nice though

Zalacsanybrits

Tesco's had New Zealand lamb in at Xmas but I didn't buy it even though it was a huge piece still worked out at about £30. Saying that it is pretty expensive in the UK as well.

anonimouse

Wow, Nice but, what a price.

I found Turkeys were quite expensive too.

fidobsa

I think it likely that I will find myself spending more on food in Hungary than I do now in Scotland. I tend to go shopping at about 4 or 5pm because around that time they reduce the price of perishable goods on their sell by dates dramatically to avoid having to throw them away. I once got some smoked salmon reduced from £2.50 to 10p. Todays bargains included:
Coop mini classics fish pie 49p
150g blue Brie cheese 10p
6 Mr Kipling apple & blackcurrant pies 10p
227g Tesco strawberries 20p
250g Country Life butter 10p
100g Dinosaur Turkey roll 10p
1.3kg Tesco carrots 12p

It can sometimes be a challenge making a meal from the ingredients, a bit like ready, steady cook

Rural Hungary

They usually have loads in the reduced section at both Tesco and Lidl (more in Tesco) - problem is knowing what most of it is and what to do with it!! Typically, manage to pick up reduced mozzarella, pate, yoghurt's, mushrooms and salami.

Initially I thought our turkey was expensive, about £30 for just under 10kg. However, considering it was free range and likely to be organic, it actually isn't that expensive.

Rural Bulgaria

Bulgaria has Lidls, Aldi, Metro, Billa, Ikea......McDonalds, KFC, Subway....

The sheep in Bulgaria are kept mainly for milking. Lamb is only really eaten on special occasions and so is expensive.

Rural Hungary

It is far more westernised, in many ways.

stromnessdundee

Most of the sheep meat sold here is Birka- mutton in other words. I really like it and it makes a mean curry- if slow cooked in a slow cooker- watch out for the bones though. Our local Tesco (Siofok) has a premium meat range which includes real lamb- it is not much more expensive than lamb in the UK. We do not eat much meat so it is good for a treat....

Rural Hungary

I haven't seen any mutton in our local butchers. I tried Tescos premium lamb and was disappointed, little taste and the cuts were, I thought, very different to UK cuts.

Might try again this year to secure a whole lamb - though I don't relish the thought of butchering it along with the half a pig.

Austin Allegro

They definitely have sheep, because they have sheepdog trials on telly!

Rural Hungary

We have a sheep farm in our village but no lamb in the butchers (unless you order a whole one)