Lamb Meatballs With Cucumber Mint Yogurt And Couscous Recipes

GRILLED CUMIN-LAMB PITAS WITH COUSCOUS AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Set strainer over large bowl. Line strainer with 2 layers of cheesecloth (do not let strainer touch bottom of bowl). Spoon yogurt into strainer. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour (liquid will drain out and yogurt will thicken; discard liquid). Mix yogurt, garlic and lemon juice in small bowl. Season to taste with salt.
• Rub cumin and coriander over lamb pieces. Thread lamb onto 6 metal skewers. (Yogurt and lamb can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
• Combine 1 cup water and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Add couscous. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand until liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Transfer couscous to large bowl; fluff with fork. Cool to room temperature. Stir in chopped cucumber, tomato, onion, olive oil and fresh dill. Season with salt and pepper.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill lamb to desired doneness, turning frequently, about 10 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to platter. Sprinkle with salt. Grill pitas until heated through and lightly toasted, about 1 minute per side.
• Place 1 pita on each of 6 plates. Spread yogurt mixture evenly over pitas. Spoon couscous down center of pitas. Slide lamb off skewers onto couscous.

CHILE-CUMIN LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND CUCUMBER

Steps:

• Chile sauce:
• Toast chiles, red pepper flakes, and cumin seeds in a dry small skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until fragrant and cumin seeds are golden, about 3 minutes.
• Let cool. Working in batches, finely grind in spice mill, then transfer to a blender. Add vinegar, paprika, and garlic to blender and blend until smooth. With motor running, gradually stream in oil and blend until combined. Transfer to a large bowl; season with salt.
• Do ahead: Chile sauce can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• Meatballs and assembly:
• Pulse onion, chopped garlic, parsley, oregano, sage, fennel seeds, coriander, cumin, and 1 tablespoon salt in a food processor, scraping down sides as needed, until finely chopped. Add egg, lamb, and flour and pulse until evenly combined. Form lamb mixture into 1 1/2" balls.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Working in 2 batches and adding another 1 tablespoon oil to skillet if needed, cook meatballs, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through, 5-8 minutes. Transfer meatballs to paper towels to drain.
• Transfer all meatballs to bowl with chile sauce and toss to coat. Toss cucumber in a medium bowl with lemon zest, lemon juice, vinegar, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon yogurt into bowls. Evenly divide meatballs among bowls; top with dressed cucumber and mint and sprinkle with red pepper flakes.
• Do ahead: Meatball mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH CUCUMBER MINT YOGURT AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, soak bread crumbs in milk. In a medium bowl, combine the lamb, almonds, soaked bread crumbs, onion, raisins, egg, garlic, parsley, cilantro, and chili pepper flakes. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle olive oil onto a sheet pan you will place the meatballs on and rub oil into the palm of both hands.
• Form meat mixture into meatballs 1/2-inch in diameter. The recipe makes about 30 golf ball-sized meatballs.
• Heat oven to 400, place meatballs on a baking sheet and cook about 12 minutes until heated through.
• Yogurt sauce:.
• Place the yogurt in a sieve lined with cheesecloth. Allow to drain at least two hours to overnight.
• Toss the cucumber in 2 teaspoons salt and place in a sieve to drain for at least two hours.
• Combine in a medium bowl, the yogurt, cucumber, mint, and the preserved lemon. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve warm over couscous and drizzled with yogurt sauce and, parsley and sesame seeds.

ROASTED LEG OF LAMB WITH MINT AND CUCUMBER YOGURT

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the shallots, garlic, rosemary, sugar, coriander, salt, and chile flakes. Rub the mixture on the surface of the lamb. Set the lamb in a large glass baking dish; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Rinse the lamb and pat it dry. Heat a roasting pan or large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Brown the lamb on both sides.
• Set the lamb on a roasting rack in the pan and roast, fat side up, until it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a platter. Set the pan over medium heat and add the stock, scraping the pan drippings to dissolve them in the broth. Simmer until reduced by half.
• Serve the lamb with the reduced pan sauce, Tzatziki Sauce, and grilled vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini, and yellow squash tossed with red wine vinegar and olive oil.
• Stir together all the ingredients in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
• This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH LEMON-CUMIN YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
• Combine all meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands.
• Form into 30 balls (about 2 teaspoons each) and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake until meatballs are no longer pink in the middle, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine all yogurt ingredients in a small bowl and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix well.
• Serve with the meatballs.
• NOTE: The meatballs can be formed up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated; they'll just need an additional 3 to 5 minutes in the oven to cook through.
• The yogurt dip can be made 1 day ahead, covered tightly, and refrigerated.

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH CUCUMBERS AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Combine onion, raisins, and vinegar and let soak, tossing every now and then so everything gets vinegary. Put coriander and cumin seeds in a skillet and cook over medium heat, shaking skillet around a lot quite vigorously to move them around. When they start to smell fragrant and toasty, after a minute or two, transfer to a mortar and pestle, spice grinder, or cutting board. Crush them up just a bit and transfer to a large bowl.
• Add Aleppo pepper, cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and ground lamb to bowl with spices. Chop leaves from parsley and half of mint and dill; add to bowl. Add breadcrumbs and egg and grate in 1 clove garlic; use your hands to mix and combine. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Divide mixture into 12 balls and put on sheet.
• Bake 12 to 15 minutes for medium (about 145°F on an instant-read thermometer). Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine cucumbers, pickled-onion mixture, and 1 handful each parsley and mint leaves. Season with salt and black pepper and drizzle with a little oil.
• Put labneh in another bowl; grate in remaining 1 clove garlic and zest of lemon. Season with Aleppo pepper and salt. Swoop mixture onto your serving plate or platter with the back of a spoon. Top with salad and meatballs. Cut zested lemon into wedges and serve alongside.