Spiced Lamb Meatball Stew 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.

SPICED LAMB MEATBALL AND SWISS CHARD STEW

Steps:

• Combine the eggs, garlic, bread crumbs, paprika, cumin, 1¼ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Add the lamb and gently mix with your hands until just combined. Form the mixture into 18 meatballs (about 2 tablespoons each).
• Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the meatballs, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 4 to 6 minutes. (They do not need to be cooked through.) Transfer to a plate; reserve the pot.
• Add the chard stems to the reserved pot. Cook, stirring, until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth and meatballs and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the orzo and simmer until tender, 8 to 11 minutes.
• Just before serving, fold in the chard leaves. Serve warm topped with the yogurt, if desired.

SPICED LAMB MEATBALL STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, shallow casserole dish or deep frying pan. Add the meatballs and fry for 3-4 mins, turning regularly, until golden. Remove and set aside.
• Tip the onion into the pan and fry for 7 mins until softened. Stir through the garlic cumin, coriander and cinnamon, and cook for 1 min. Add the harissa, tomatoes and lamb stock, and bring to a simmer. Stir though the chickpeas and meatballs, season and simmer for 10-15 mins until slightly reduced and the meatballs are cooked through.
• Stir through half the herbs, then scatter the rest on top along with the pomegranate seeds.

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH SPICED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. In a large bowl, mix together the onion, cream, egg yolks, cinnamon, cumin, red pepper and cayenne. Put the lamb in the bowl, and season it aggressively with salt and pepper. Add the bread crumbs and parsley, and combine the mixture well. Shape the meat into balls that are a little larger than golf balls.
• Grease a baking pan with olive oil, and put the meatballs onto it, spaced evenly. Place beneath the broiler, and cook, turning once or twice, until the meatballs are well browned, approximately 5 to 7 minutes, then set meatballs aside. Turn oven to 400.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Pass the tomatoes through a food mill, or whizz them quickly in a food processor. Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat for a minute, then add olive oil, rosemary and red pepper and shake to combine. Cook for another minute, then add onion, thyme, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne and bay leaf and sauté until the onions are translucent, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomatoes, sugar, orange juice and peel, along with salt and pepper.
• Cook for 8 to 10 minutes over medium-low heat, until reduced by a third. Adjust seasoning.
• Pour the tomato sauce into a large baking dish that you can put on the table. Transfer the meatballs to the sauce, putting them about ½ inch from each other. Bake for 15 or 20 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the meatballs are cooked through.
• Top with crumbled feta and scattered mint.

WARM-SPICED SAUCY LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Toasted Cauliflower Crumbs:
• Coarsely chop cauliflower and pulse in a food processor until about the size of grains of rice (or, you can very finely chop with a knife instead). You should have about 2 cups.
• Heat oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Cook cauliflower, stirring often, until golden brown all over and charred in spots, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat; season with salt and pepper. Let cool in skillet.
• Lemony Mint Yogurt:
• Mix yogurt, mint, and lemon juice in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Stew and assembly:
• Season lamb shanks very generously all over with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Working in 2 batches, cook lamb shanks in a single layer, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 8-12 minutes per batch. As the shanks finish cooking, transfer to a large plate.
• Reduce heat to medium; add onions and garlic, cut side down, to the same pot and cook, tossing onions occasionally, until onions are browned in spots and garlic is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add cinnamon and crushed coriander and cook, stirring constantly, until spices are very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add harissa paste and cook, stirring often and scraping bottom of pot, until vegetables are coated and paste is slightly darkened in color, about 2 minutes. Add 7 cups water, stirring to release any bits stuck on bottom of pot. Season generously with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Return lamb shanks to pot and bring stew back up to a simmer. Cover with a lid, leaving slightly askew so steam can escape, and cook, adjusting heat to maintain a very gentle simmer and skimming foam from surface as needed, until meat is tender and easily pulls away from bones, 1 1/2-2 hours.
• Transfer lamb shanks to a cutting board and let cool 10-15 minutes; keep liquid at a simmer. Pull meat from bones and tear into bite-size pieces. Add bones back to pot as you go. Transfer meat to a medium bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
• Simmer bones in broth, uncovered, until liquid is thick and very flavorful, 25-30 minutes. Remove from heat; add meat back to pot and let cool uncovered (bones and all) until no longer steaming. Cover pot and chill stew at least 12 hours (you can skip this step, but it will dramatically improve the flavor).
• Uncover stew and spoon off half to three-quarters of fat on the surface; discard. Gently reheat stew until barely simmering. Pluck out and discard bones. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Ladle stew into bowls and serve with Toasted Cauliflower Crumbs, Mint Yogurt, harissa, and olives, mint leaves, and/or preserved lemon as desired.
• Do Ahead
• Yogurt can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Stew can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.

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 LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Soak the breadcrumbs in the milk. In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumb mixture, lamb, cheese, mustard, paprika, sambal, garlic, shallots and some salt and pepper. Form the mixture into about 20 small meatballs.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the meatballs on all sides until browned. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• For the sauce: In the same skillet, saute the onions until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, carrots, celery and chiles and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the canned and fresh tomatoes, the oregano and 1/4 cup (60ml) water. Season with salt and pepper. Add the meatballs to the skillet and simmer until cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Divide the meatballs among plates and spoon the sauce on top. Add a spoonful of goat cheese and sprinkle with parsley. Serve with Naan Bread.
• In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast with the sugar and salt in 1 cup (250ml) warm water. Let stand until frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, turning to coat, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Flatten the dough with your hands. Divide the dough into 8 pieces, each about the size of a golf ball. Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Roll one ball of dough into a thin round on a lightly floured surface. Lightly oil a cast-iron skillet and heat until hot. Add the dough and cook until puffy and lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and brush the cooked side with butter. Continue cooking until browned, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining dough.

MOROCCAN MEATBALL STEW

Steps:

• To make the meatballs: line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap. Mix the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Using moistened hands and about 2 tablespoons of the mixture make 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Arrange meatballs on the cookie sheet. I prepared these ahead and put in the fridge.
• To make the stew: heat oil in a large ovenproof pot over medium heat. Stir in onions and saute them for 15 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, cinnamon, turmeric and saffron (if using) and cook stirring for 2 minutes.
• Stir in broth, tomatoes and raisins.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring stew to a simmer and stir in carrots and meatballs. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cilantro. Cover pot and place in oven.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes.
• Sprinkle with spinach and cover and bake another 5 minutes.
• Stir to mix and remove cinnamon sticks.

SPICY LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• For the meatballs:.
• Soak the breadcrumbs in the milk. In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumb mixture, lamb, cheese, mustard, paprika, sambal, garlic, shallots and some salt and pepper. Form the mixture into about 20 small meatballs.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the meatballs on all sides until browned. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• For the sauce:.
• In the same skillet, saute the onions until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, carrots, celery and chiles and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the canned and fresh tomatoes, the oregano and 1/4 cup (60ml) water. Season with salt and pepper. Add the meatballs to the skillet and simmer until cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Divide the meatballs among plates and spoon the sauce on top. Add a spoonful of goat cheese and sprinkle with parsley. Serve with Naan Bread.
• Naan Bread:.
• In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast with the sugar and salt in 1 cup (250ml) warm water. Let stand until frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, turning to coat, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Flatten the dough with your hands. Divide the dough into 8 pieces, each about the size of a golf ball. Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Roll one ball of dough into a thin round on a lightly floured surface. Lightly oil a cast-iron skillet and heat until hot. Add the dough and cook until puffy and lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and brush the cooked side with butter. Continue cooking until browned, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining dough.