Loaded Lamb Meatball Hoagie Recipes

AROMATIC LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Put the lamb into a bowl and add the scallions. Sprinkle over the spices, salt, and semolina, and then beat the egg adding to the bowl. Work everything together thoroughly with your hands, and then cover with plastic wrap and leave in the refrigerator for half an hour.
• Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap and scoop out a scant teaspoon of the mixture. Roll in your hands to form the meatball and place on the lined baking sheet. Have a bowl of cold water beside you to dampen your hands with; this helps them not get too sticky for rolling the meatballs.
• When you are ready to cook them, heat about 1/2-inch of oil in a frying pan. Line another baking sheet with kitchen towel, and when the oil is hot, fry the meatballs in batches without overcrowding the pan. Cook them for about a minute a side, or until golden brown all over.

LOADED LAMB MEATBALL HOAGIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 by 9-inch baking dish.
• In a large bowl, mix together the lamb, garlic, shallots, parsley and Parmesan. Season the meat with salt and pepper, to taste. Form meat into 1-ounce balls and arrange them in a baking dish. Bake them for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven and keep warm.
• In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, add the oil from the tomatoes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic begins to brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the spinach and tomatoes and cook until warmed through and mixture has good color, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the lemon juice and season the mixture with salt and pepper, to taste. Whisk in the mascarpone cheese and remove the pan from the heat. Put 3 to 4 meatballs on each roll and top with the sun-dried tomato and spinach salad.

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 MEATBALLS WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER AND FENNEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the cumin seeds to a large, dry saute pan. Turn on the heat to medium-low and toast, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 5 minutes. Transfer to a spice grinder and process until finely ground. Add 2 tablespoons of the extra-virgin olive oil to the same saute pan and turn the heat to medium high. Add half the onion, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the crushed red pepper. Saute until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add half the minced garlic and stir to combine. Cook until fragrant and softened, 3 minutes, then transfer to a heatproof bowl and set aside to cool. Save the pan to cook the meatballs in later.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to a large, high-sided saute pan and heat over medium-high heat. Add the remaining diced onion, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper. Saute until translucent, 5 minutes. Add the fennel, bell pepper, the remaining minced garlic, the tomatoes and 1 cup water. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice and season with kosher salt to taste. Blend the sauce with an immersion blender until slightly smooth but there is still some texture.
• To a large bowl, add the ground lamb, toasted ground cumin, fennel pollen, egg, breadcrumbs, parmesan, fennel fronds, the sauteed onion and garlic and 1/4 cup water and sprinkle with kosher salt. Mix with your hands to thoroughly combine.
• Turn the saute pan back on to medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Take a small amount of the meatball mixture and cook a tester patty to check for seasoning and adjust the remaining mixture with more salt if necessary.
• Using a 1-ounce cookie scoop, portion the meatballs and roll into balls. Add to the saute pan and cook, turning occasionally until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer the seared meatballs into the red pepper and fennel sauce and simmer until heated through, 10 minutes.
• Transfer the meatballs to a serving dish and garnish with the reserved fennel fronds and goat cheese.

GRILLED LAMB MEATBALL FLATBREAD WITH GRILLED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Preheat a grill to medium.
• Combine the breadcrumbs and onions in a large mixing bowl and drizzle the milk on top; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the coriander, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt; mix until combined. Add the lamb and egg; mix until very well blended. Mix in the cilantro and parsley. Form into 20 balls, a little larger than 1 inch.
• Add the meatballs to the grill basket; grill, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cover with foil to keep warm.
• For the tomato sauce: Add the tomatoes to the grill basket; grill, turning occasionally, until charred all over in spots, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; remove the peels when cool enough to handle. Crush the tomatoes with your hands, then stir in the olive oil, cinnamon and a large pinch of salt.
• For the flatbreads: Reduce the grill to medium low. Grill the naan, top-side down, until grill marks appear, about 4 minutes. Flip and top with the tomato sauce, meatballs and feta; drizzle generously with olive oil. Cover and grill until the naan are slightly crisped and the feta has warmed through, rotating the naan 45 degrees halfway through, about 6 minutes.
• Transfer to plates, top with the cilantro and parsley, and sprinkle with red pepper flakes if using.