Lamb meatballs with mint pesto and yogurt
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Spicy Middle-Eastern lamb meatballs flavored with turmeric, cumin, garlic and crushed red pepper and served with a mint and parsley pesto and yogurt are an easy appetizer or main course.
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
For the meatballs
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup panko
  • ½ tsp. ground cumin
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ cup parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1½ tsp. Kosher salt
  • 1 lb. ground lamb
  • 1 garlic clove
For the pesto
  • 1 cup parsley
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 cup mint leaves
  • 3 Tbsp. golden raisins
  • ½ cup olive oil
To serve
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425F.
  2. To make the meatballs, combine the egg, panko, cumin, turmeric, crushed red pepper, parsley, salt and olive oil in a bowl and mix well. Grate the garlic over the mixture. Add the lamb and mix with your hands until combined.
  3. Rub a little oil on your hands. Form lamb mixture into 1-inch balls (it should make about 30). Place on a rimmed baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, make the pesto. In a food processor, combine the mint, parsley, garlic, and raisins. Pulse until finely chopped. Pour the oil in with the machine running. Season with salt.
  6. Serve meatballs with yogurt and pesto.
Recipe by white plate blank slate at https://whiteplateblankslate.com/lamb-meatballs/