Best Lamb Meatballs With Yogurt Sauce Recipes

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SPICED LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND HERBS



Spiced Lamb Meatballs With Yogurt and Herbs image

These spice-loaded meatballs have a Turkish inflection. The warm yogurt sauce adds tang and richness, along with a sprinkling of tart sumac powder and chopped mint. American "Greek-style" yogurt is not always tart enough, but it can be thinned with a bit of buttermilk or even lemon juice. Whisking it with cornstarch and egg produces a silky sauce. Though the ingredient list looks long, this is a simple and impressive dish to make.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, easy, meatballs, main course

Time 1h

Yield 5 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 1/2 pounds ground lamb, not too lean (from a cut like shoulder or breast, not leg)
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
1 teaspoon toasted ground cumin
1 teaspoon toasted ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of cayenne
3 eggs
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup plain, very tart yogurt (if using Greek-style yogurt, thin it with milk and lemon juice)
1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
2 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon sumac
Crushed red-pepper flakes, to taste
Turmeric, for garnish (optional)
3 tablespoons chopped mint
2 tablespoons chopped dill
Cilantro sprigs

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, use your hands to combine lamb, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, onion, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and cayenne. Beat 2 of the eggs and add to meat, mixing until incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 24 hours to allow the seasonings to permeate the meat.
  • Using wet hands, break off walnut-sized pieces of lamb mixture, roll into spheres and set aside on a baking sheet. You should have about 30 1-ounce meatballs.
  • Heat oven to 225 degrees. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. When shimmering, add meatballs in one layer and brown for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and cook for 4 to 5 minutes more. (Work in batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding the pan.) Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to blot any extra oil, then pile meatballs on a heatproof serving platter and keep warm in the oven.
  • Pour off any excess oil from skillet and turn heat to high. Add broth and bring to a simmer. In a bowl, whisk together yogurt; 1/2 teaspoon salt; remaining egg, beaten; and cornstarch. Pour yogurt mixture in a thin stream into the hot broth, whisking constantly. Turn heat down slightly and continue whisking until yogurt is heated through and slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Do not let mixture boil.
  • Pour hot yogurt sauce over meatballs. Sprinkle crumbled feta, sumac and crushed red pepper on top. Finish with pinches of turmeric, if using, and sprinkle with mint, dill and cilantro. Serve immediately with rice, orzo, pita bread or potatoes.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 481, UnsaturatedFat 18 grams, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fat 35 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 26 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 599 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams

CUMIN LAMB MEATBALLS WITH TAHINI YOGURT DIPPING SAUCE



Cumin Lamb Meatballs With Tahini Yogurt Dipping Sauce image

Meatballs are not the kind of thing one would usually think of as quick-and-easy-dinner fare. All that rolling and frying can take forever, making meatballs a weekend project for a leisurely afternoon. There are, however, shortcuts - if you can suppress your perfectionist urges. You can use this recipe as a template for whatever kind of ground meat you like. Lamb is earthy and works well with the creamy tahini sauce, reminiscent of a carnivore's falafel. But beef, turkey, veal or pork are good substitutes. And all will make equally good blobs and none will be a project. Just a fast and filling dinner any night of the week.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, main course

Time 20m

Yield 2 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, plus a pinch
1 pound ground lamb
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, more for serving
Black pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon chile powder
1 scallion, minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
Olive oil, for greasing pan
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup tahini
Fresh lemon juice, to taste

Steps:

  • Heat broiler with an oven rack placed 3 inches below heat source.
  • Using a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a knife, make a paste with garlic and a pinch of salt. Put half the garlic paste in a large bowl and add lamb, 1 teaspoon of the salt, cumin, hot sauce, pepper, chile powder, scallion and 1 tablespoon parsley. Mix to combine.
  • Shape lamb mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs and place on an oiled rimmed baking sheet. Make sure meatballs are spaced at least 1 inch apart. Transfer baking sheet to oven and broil meatballs for 8 to 10 minutes, or until browned on top and slightly pink on the inside.
  • Meanwhile, combine yogurt, tahini, remaining garlic paste,1/4 teaspoon salt and the lemon juice to taste.
  • Transfer cooked meatballs to a serving platter or individual plates and serve with tahini sauce and extra hot sauce, if you like. Garnish with the remaining parsley.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 448, UnsaturatedFat 22 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 38 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 22 grams, SaturatedFat 13 grams, Sodium 363 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram

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