Robert Redford's Chili Recipe Has A Secret Ingredient Full Of Health Benefits
Whether it's Texas Red, Oklahoma-style, or even vegetarian, chili is quite an adaptable stew. Even the late Hollywood celebrity Robert Redford had his own preferred recipe, according to Paul Newman's 1998 cookbook – one that used lamb meat. Although lamb is a staple meat in many countries (especially in the Middle East, India, and North Africa), it's less commonly purchased across the United States. But if you've been hankering for a new way to spruce up your chili, you may want to follow Redford's lead.
Like all meats, lamb contains a hefty dose of protein. In fact, you'll get 17.5 grams for every 100 grams of ground lamb, which is roughly the same as you'd expect for 90% lean ground beef (18.2 grams) or ground chicken (17.9 grams). Lamb also contains two kinds of B vitamins (B3 and B12) and zinc. Plus, its fat makeup includes a type of fat called ruminant trans fat. Though you have probably heard that artificial or industrial trans fat isn't good for you, consuming ruminant trans fat (which is naturally occurring) could have some important health benefits.
Health benefits from nutrients found in lamb meat
A 2023 review in Frontiers in Animal Science notes that ruminant trans fat may protect against the development of type 2 diabetes. While the review is careful not to advocate for overdoing ruminant trans fat consumption, it observes a correlation between eating ruminant trans fat and blood sugar regulation, particularly in animal studies.
Additionally, a 2021 study in Scientific Reports found that rats that were fed ruminant trans fat showed gut microbiome improvements as well as reduced systemic inflammation. Additionally, the rats didn't experience fatty liver disease, as would be expected after consuming a high trans fat diet. (Read about lamb versus beef, and which option is best.)
Vitamin B3 (also called niacin) gets broken down by the body to help distribute energy at the cellular level and support cell-originating antioxidant capabilities, among other functions. Long-time consumption of vitamin B3 may also help reduce cholesterol. Meanwhile, vitamin B12 is essential for normal nervous system, DNA, and red blood cell functionality. It may also be the vitamin you need if you are constantly tired: A 2023 study in the International Journal of Medical Sciences determined that boosting a person's intake of vitamin B12 for 28 days could result in improved athletic performance and lowered post-exercise tiredness.
Cooking with lamb (and one potential downside to it)
Adding a bit of lamb into your chili is just one of the ways to bring this less common animal protein into your kitchen. Many meat-based dishes could be just as delicious if they were made with lamb. Take grilled steaks, for instance. You can grill lamb chops instead for a more tender-tasting meat. For the perfect grilled lamb, experts recommend taking the lamb off the grill when it's at the medium-rare stage (typically at 130 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit).
As you get more confident using lamb, you may find that the only roadblock to buying it regularly is cost. Lamb prices have steadily risen since 2023 because of a variety of factors, such as an uptick in livestock feed and unfavorable climate conditions. That said, beef doesn't cost as little as it once did, either: beef prices rose 12% between June 2024 and June 2025. (One reason was worries caused by the parasitic screwworm fly.) Therefore, you may want to wait for sales or stock up on lamb cuts in the springtime, since about one-fifth of total lamb consumption in the United States is said to happen during that season.