Meatballs are a great way to make any meal stand out. Spaghetti and meatballs would not be nearly as fun to eat if the meat was paired with the sauce (like bolognese sauce). This Middle Eastern take on meatballs is out of this world delicious. Ground lamb is paired with spices including cumin, coriander, and cinnamon and other flavorings like onion and garlic. Along with an egg and breadcrumbs, plain Greek yogurt is used to bring the meatballs together. A trick to tender meatballs is to not overwork the meat. Add all the ingredients at once and incorporate the ingredients by hand instead of with a wooden spoon. This technique yields better meatballs. To finish the dish, the meatballs are simmered in a simple eggplant and tomato sauce and served over rice (couscous or even pasta would also work here).
Middle Eastern Lamb Meatballs with Tomato Eggplant Sauce
Recipe from Food Wishes
Ingredients:
For the sauce:
1 eggplant, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup minced onion
red pepper flakes, to taste
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup marinara sauce
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon fresh mint, chiffonade
For meatballs:
1 large egg
1 1/2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
4 cloves finely minced garlic
1/4 cup finely minced onions
1 pound ground lamb
For full recipe instructions, watch the video below or click here.
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