Lamb Meatball Sandwiches With Mint Yogurt Sauce Recipes

SPICED LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND HERBS

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.

LAMB MERGUEZ MEATBALLS WITH SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• For the merguez meatballs: Preheat a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the cumin, coriander and fennel seeds to a 3- to 4-quart saucepan set over medium-low heat. Toast the spices, shaking the pan frequently, until they are fragrant and beginning to change color, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the spices to a clean plate and let cool, then add them to a spice grinder and blend. Add the blended spices to a bowl with the hot paprika, sumac and cayenne and stir to combine. In a large bowl, add the ground lamb, spice blend, potato flakes, onion, yogurt, harissa, salt, garlic and egg. Combine gently with clean hands, using care to distribute all the flavorings evenly, but try to avoid pressing down or compacting the mixture. Lightly coat your hands with olive oil, then measure out 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture with an ice cream scooper and roll it into a meatball. Set aside in a baking dish. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
• Brown the meatballs in batches in the deep-fryer until they are golden brown and hold their shape, 3 to 5 minutes. The meatballs will continue to cook in the tomato sauce, so this step is to give them color and additional flavor. Remove the meatballs to a baking dish and set aside.
• For the spicy tomato sauce: Coat the same saucepan with more olive oil and set over medium heat. Add the onions and stir with a wooden spoon to collect any browned bits caught on the surface of the skillet. Sweat until the onions are slightly softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, an additional few minutes. Add the harissa and tomato paste and toast for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the blended tomatoes and stir. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Simmer the sauce for about 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Cover the meatballs with the sauce and transfer to the oven. Roast until the meatballs are fully cooked through and caramelized from the sauce, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the yogurt, mint, parsley and lemon zest to a small bowl, then season with salt. Stir to combine and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Place dollops of the seasoned yogurt and top with the meatballs. Garnish the meatballs with crumbled feta and fresh dill tops.

MEDITERRANEAN LAMB MEATBALL SANDWICHES WITH YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine onion, mint, and garlic in a food processor; process until minced. Add lamb, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper; process until smooth.
• Form 1 1/2 teaspoon of the lamb mixture into a ball. Repeat with remaining lamb mixture to make 20 meatballs.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Fill a large skillet with 1/4 inch of oil; heat over medium heat until bubbles form around the end of a wooden spoon dipped into the oil. Add half of the meatballs; cook until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining meatballs.
• Bake meatballs in the preheated oven until center is no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
• Mix yogurt, tahini, and lemon juice together in a bowl to make yogurt sauce.
• Place 2 to 3 tablespoons yogurt sauce in a line down the center of each sheet of lavash. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of feta cheese, 1/4 cup of lettuce, 2 tablespoons of tomato, 2 tablespoons of cucumber, and 5 meatballs. Fold up one end and sides of the lavash to roll into wraps.

LAMB MEATBALL SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Mix meatball ingredients into a bowl.
• Form 2-inch diameter sized meatballs with your fingers (this recipe yields 12-15 golf ball-sized meatballs) Line up the meatballs on a baking sheet, and pop in the oven.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through.
• While meatballs are baking, mix all of the ingredients for your yogurt sauce together in a small bowl. Place in refrigerator.
• To make sandwiches, toast pita, and slice pita in half. Slather the inside of each pita with the yogurt sauce. Tuck arugula into each pita.
• Slice meatballs in half and tuck halves into pitas and enjoy.