Lamb Meatballs With Escarole Cipollini Onions And Cranberry Beans Recipes

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH ESCAROLE, CIPOLLINI ONIONS, AND CRANBERRY BEANS RECIPE

Steps:

• If using dried beans, soak the beans overnight in room-temperature water to cover. (If using fresh beans, shell the beans and skip to step 3.)
• To cook the beans, drain the beans and place in a medium sauce pot with 5 cups water, the salt, bay leaf, and bacon (if using). Simmer over low heat for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the center of the beans reaches a creamy texture.
• Meanwhile, to prepare the meatballs, combine the lamb, marjoram, rosemary, onion, garlic, eggs, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix with clean hands until well combined. Heat 2 teaspoons of the olive oil in a 7- to 8-quart Dutch oven or sauce pot over medium heat. Form one small meatball and sauté until the meat is no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes. Taste the meatball and adjust the seasoning of the meat mixture as needed.
• Use a 2-ounce ice cream scoop to form 24 meatballs and lay them on a rimmed baking sheet. (Or, divide the mixture into 4 parts and make 6 meatballs per part.) Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pot and heat over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches, brown the meatballs on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes per batch. Drain the fat from the pot, then return the meatballs to the pot. Add enough beef or lamb stock to cover. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and allow the meatballs to simmer gently until they are cooked through, about 1 hour.
• Remove the meatballs from the braising liquid with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large platter or baking sheet. Tent the platter with foil to keep the meatballs warm. Strain the braising liquid and reserve.
• To make the vegetables, heat a large saute pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the cipollini onions, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add the escarole, season with salt and pepper, and cook until just wilted, 2 or 3 minutes. Add the beans and 1/4 cup of the reserved meatball cooking liquid, stirring to combine.
• To serve, spoon the onions, escarole, and beans with the pan juices into bowls. Top with 3 or 4 meatballs per serving and garnish with Parmigiano-Reggiano and the parsley and celery leaves.

LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Melt the 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the shallots in the skillet until tender. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Mix lamb, bread crumbs, parsley, egg, and lemon zest into the bowl with the shallots. Season with marjoram, salt, and pepper. Let stand 1 hour in the refrigerator.
• Melt 1/2 cup butter and heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Form the lamb mixture into small meatballs, and cook in the skillet in batches until evenly brown. Do not drain skillet. Drain meatballs on paper towels, and place in a serving dish.
• Mix tomato sauce, wine, garlic, and cinnamon into the skillet. Cook and stir until well blended and heated through. Drizzle over the meatballs in the dish. Serve with toothpicks.

CURRIED LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Salt and pepper the lamb, then mix and form into little balls.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet and start browning the meatballs.
• Slice the peppers and onion thinly and add to the browning meatballs. Shake the pan or stir every so often to brown the meatballs all over.
• When the meatballs are brown and the peppers and onions have softened slightly, add the butter and curry powder. Stir again and add the tomato sauce.
• Stir again and cover with a lid, simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove lid, stir in the spinach and cilantro and simmer 5 minutes.
• Serve with steamed basmati rice.

CRANBERRY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine meat ball ingredients blend well.
• Form meatballs the size of walnuts.
• Arrange in a single layer in baking dish.
• Set aside Combine sauce ingredients in a saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat until smooth, stir frequently.
• Pour over meatballs.
• Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Serve in a chafing dish, provide toothpicks.
• CROCK POT VERSION: Cook meatballs in 350F oven for 15-20 minutes with out the sauce.
• Drain.
• Place in crock pot, pour on the sauce.
• Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
• I serve the meatballs and sauce over cooked egg noodles.

CURRIED LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Put the lamb in a mixing bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small skillet and add 1/2 cup of the onions and half of the garlic. Cook briefly, stirring, until wilted. Sprinkle with cumin and ground coriander and stir. Let cool briefly.
• Scrape the onion mixture onto the lamb. Add the fresh coriander, bread crumbs, egg, salt and pepper. Blend well with the fingers. Shape the mixture into 20 round balls.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and add the remaining 3/4 cup chopped onions, the remaining garlic and the curry powder. Cook, stirring, until the onions are wilted. Add the apples and banana and stir to blend.
• Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Let simmer 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and pour the mixture into the container of a food processor or electric blender. Blend thoroughly. Return the mixture to a saucepan. Bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy skillet and add the meatballs. It may be necessary to use two skillets or repeat the browning of the meatballs, half of them at a time. Turn the meatballs so that they brown evenly, about 5 minutes.
• Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover and let simmer about 15 minutes.