Crispy Lamb Meatballs With Chickpeas And Eggplant Recipes

CRISPY LAMB MEATBALLS WITH CHICKPEAS AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Combine lamb, fennel seeds, garlic and 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes in a medium bowl. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, and black pepper to taste, and mix until everything is well combined and the spices are evenly distributed.
• Using your hands, roll lamb mixture into balls about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter, placing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet or plate. You should have about 12 meatballs.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs - work in batches if your skillet can't comfortably fit them all without crowding - and cook, gently rotating them occasionally so they more or less brown on all sides while keeping a vaguely round shape, 8 to 10 minutes. (Do not stress about this part; they will be delicious no matter what shape they are.) After they are evenly browned and cooked through, transfer them to a plate, leaving the fat and any browned bits behind.
• Add 4 tablespoons oil to the skillet and, working in batches, if needed, add eggplant slices in an even layer, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook the slices, flipping them once, until they are browned on both sides, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add more oil as needed. After eggplant slices are cooked and browned, transfer them to the plate with the meatballs.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil to the skillet, along with chickpeas. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, shaking the skillet and stirring occasionally, until chickpeas are nicely browned, 3 to 5 minutes. (They won't exactly crisp; you're just looking to take the edge off and get them nicely seasoned.)
• Season yogurt with salt and pepper and smear onto the bottom of a large plate or serving platter. Top with meatballs, eggplant and chickpeas. Scatter with greens and cilantro, and then squeeze lemon halves over everything before serving.

CRISPY LAMB MEATBALLS WITH CHICKPEAS AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Combine lamb, fennel, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Season with 1.5 tsp of salt, and black pepper to taste, mix until everything is well combined and the spices are evenly distributed
• Roll lamb mixture about 1.5 inches in diameter and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet
• Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and work in batches so the meatballs don't get crowded. Cook gently and rotate them occasionally so they are more or less brown on the sides. After they are evenly browned and cooked through, transfer them to a plate leaving the fat and any brown bits behind.
• Add 4 tbsps of oil to the skillet and add eggplant slices in an even layer. Season with salt and pepper. Cook the slices, flipping them until they are browned on both sides. Add more oil as needed. After eggplant is cooked, transfer them onto a plate with the meatballs, and put them into the oven at 200 degrees to keep warm.
• Add remaining 3 tbsp of oil to the skillet, along with the chickpeas. Season the chickpeas with paprika, a sprinkle of red chili flakes, salt, pepper, and coriander. Shake skillet and stir occasionally until chickpeas are browned.
• Season yogurt with salt and pepper. Add chopped up mint leaves (if available). Smear onto a bottom of a large plate or serving platter. Top with meatballs, eggplant, and chickpeas, arugula, and cilantro. Squeeze the lemon over everything before serving!

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH EGGPLANT MASH

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Place the eggplants on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil, turning once, until blackened and tender, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, chop 1/2 cup herbs. Mix with the lamb, breadcrumbs, pine nuts, 1 tablespoon olive oil, the garlic, egg, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Shape the mixture into 12 large meatballs and place on a plate.
• Peel off the eggplant skin; discard. Transfer the flesh to a colander and let drain 5 minutes, then transfer to a food processor and pulse until chopped. Scrape into a bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons olive oil and the yogurt; season with salt and pepper.
• Line the baking sheet with a clean sheet of foil. Arrange the meatballs on the pan and broil until golden brown and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, turning once halfway through.
• Toss the pomegranate seeds, remaining 1 cup herbs and 2 teaspoons olive oil, and the lemon juice in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Spoon the eggplant mash into shallow bowls and top with the meatballs and pomegranate mixture; serve with lemon wedges.

CRISPY EGGPLANT AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch rounds. Slice the rounds into quarters, so that you have wedge-shaped eggplant pieces. Lay the slices on a sheet pan covered in paper towels. Sprinkle the eggplant with salt and let sit while you are preparing the chickpeas.
• Heat some oil, coming about halfway up the side of a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, until the oil is 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a cooling rack and paper towels.
• Mix the garam masala, cumin, granulated garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the mixture over the chickpeas and toss until coated. Carefully lower the chickpeas into the oil using a slotted spoon. Fry, stirring frequently, until they are deep brown and crispy, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the chickpeas to the paper towel-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with another tablespoon of the spice mixture and some salt.
• Transfer the eggplant slices to a dry paper towel and dab until very dry. Sprinkle the eggplant on both sides with the remaining spice mixture. Add the eggplant to the oil in batches, only adding a few at a time. Fry the eggplant, flipping and turning frequently until they are a deep golden brown and crispy on the edges, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Serve the eggplant chips and crispy chickpeas warm or at room temperature.

LITTLE LAMB MEATBALLS IN A SPICY EGGPLANT TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Combine eggplant, olive oil, salt and black pepper in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until eggplant begins to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Mix in minced onion and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until onion softens, 4 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth and marinara sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until sauce mixture has reduced by half, about 30 minutes.
• Whisk bread crumbs, egg, and Greek yogurt in a large bowl until the bread crumbs absorb all the liquid, about 3 minutes.
• Mix onions, garlic, Kosher salt, black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and coriander into the bread crumb mixture.
• Crumble lamb into bread crumb spice mixture; stir in cayenne pepper.
• Form lamb mixture into small meatballs and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Place baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake until browned, but still pink inside, about 10 minutes.
• Remove meatballs from the oven and stir into simmering sauce. Simmer over low heat until sauce begins to thicken, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Garnish with chopped fresh mint.

SPICY MEATBALLS WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground lamb, raw rice, salt, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, onion and garlic. Knead mixture well.
• Coat a sheet pan or roasting pan lightly with olive oil. With wet hands, form mixture into 1-ounce meatballs and arrange in one layer on pan. Bake, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove and let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, make the gravy: Place a wide heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil. When oil is hot, add onion, sprinkle lightly with salt and cook, stirring until softened and just beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add saffron with soaking water, cumin, red-pepper flakes and cinnamon stick. Crush tomatoes with your hands, and add to pot, along with all tomato juices. Raise heat to medium-high, add broth and bring to a simmer. Taste and add more salt or red-pepper flakes as needed. Carefully add meatballs and adjust heat to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
• Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add chickpeas and a splash of water and heat through. Season to taste with salt. Sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro. Serve each diner 5 or 6 meatballs and plenty of gravy. Add a large spoonful of chickpeas on the side.