Best 3 Chile Cumin Lamb Meatballs With Yogurt And Cucumber Recipes

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Embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Middle Eastern flavors with our tantalizing Chile Cumin Lamb Meatballs recipe. These succulent meatballs, infused with a harmonious blend of warm chili, fragrant cumin, and the richness of lamb, promise an explosion of taste in every bite. Perfectly paired with a refreshing yogurt and cucumber sauce, this delectable dish strikes a perfect balance of spice and coolness. Prepare to captivate your taste buds with this flavorful creation!

Alongside the Chile Cumin Lamb Meatballs, we present a delightful spread of complementary recipes to elevate your dining experience. Discover the art of crafting homemade pita bread, essential for savoring the meatballs in their traditional form. Complement your meal with a vibrant fattoush salad, a refreshing combination of crisp vegetables tossed in a tangy dressing, adding a burst of freshness to your plate. Indulge in the creamy delight of hummus, a classic Middle Eastern dip made from chickpeas, tahini, and aromatic spices, offering a smooth and flavorful accompaniment to the meatballs. To complete your culinary adventure, embark on making a batch of refreshing mint lemonade, a perfect thirst-quencher that balances the richness of the meatballs with its zesty and invigorating flavor.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

CUMIN LAMB MEATBALLS WITH TAHINI YOGURT DIPPING SAUCE



Cumin Lamb Meatballs With Tahini Yogurt Dipping Sauce image

Meatballs are not the kind of thing one would usually think of as quick-and-easy-dinner fare. All that rolling and frying can take forever, making meatballs a weekend project for a leisurely afternoon. There are, however, shortcuts - if you can suppress your perfectionist urges. You can use this recipe as a template for whatever kind of ground meat you like. Lamb is earthy and works well with the creamy tahini sauce, reminiscent of a carnivore's falafel. But beef, turkey, veal or pork are good substitutes. And all will make equally good blobs and none will be a project. Just a fast and filling dinner any night of the week.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, main course

Time 20m

Yield 2 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, plus a pinch
1 pound ground lamb
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, more for serving
Black pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon chile powder
1 scallion, minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
Olive oil, for greasing pan
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup tahini
Fresh lemon juice, to taste

Steps:

  • Heat broiler with an oven rack placed 3 inches below heat source.
  • Using a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a knife, make a paste with garlic and a pinch of salt. Put half the garlic paste in a large bowl and add lamb, 1 teaspoon of the salt, cumin, hot sauce, pepper, chile powder, scallion and 1 tablespoon parsley. Mix to combine.
  • Shape lamb mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs and place on an oiled rimmed baking sheet. Make sure meatballs are spaced at least 1 inch apart. Transfer baking sheet to oven and broil meatballs for 8 to 10 minutes, or until browned on top and slightly pink on the inside.
  • Meanwhile, combine yogurt, tahini, remaining garlic paste,1/4 teaspoon salt and the lemon juice to taste.
  • Transfer cooked meatballs to a serving platter or individual plates and serve with tahini sauce and extra hot sauce, if you like. Garnish with the remaining parsley.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 448, UnsaturatedFat 22 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 38 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 22 grams, SaturatedFat 13 grams, Sodium 363 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram

SPICED LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND HERBS



Spiced Lamb Meatballs With Yogurt and Herbs image

These spice-loaded meatballs have a Turkish inflection. The warm yogurt sauce adds tang and richness, along with a sprinkling of tart sumac powder and chopped mint. American "Greek-style" yogurt is not always tart enough, but it can be thinned with a bit of buttermilk or even lemon juice. Whisking it with cornstarch and egg produces a silky sauce. Though the ingredient list looks long, this is a simple and impressive dish to make.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, easy, meatballs, main course

Time 1h

Yield 5 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 1/2 pounds ground lamb, not too lean (from a cut like shoulder or breast, not leg)
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
1 teaspoon toasted ground cumin
1 teaspoon toasted ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of cayenne
3 eggs
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup plain, very tart yogurt (if using Greek-style yogurt, thin it with milk and lemon juice)
1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
2 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon sumac
Crushed red-pepper flakes, to taste
Turmeric, for garnish (optional)
3 tablespoons chopped mint
2 tablespoons chopped dill
Cilantro sprigs

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.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 481, UnsaturatedFat 18 grams, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fat 35 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 26 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 599 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams

CHILE-CUMIN LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND CUCUMBER



CHILE-CUMIN LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND CUCUMBER image

Categories     Lamb

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 33

Chile Sauce
3 poblano peppers, seeds removed, chopped
1½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
¼ cup Sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sweet smoked paprika
1 garlic clove, chopped
½ cup olive oil
Kosher salt
Meatballs And Assembly
¼ small onion, chopped
8 garlic cloves, 7 chopped, 1 clove finely grated
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
¾ teaspoon fennel seeds
¾ teaspoon ground coriander
¾ teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more
1 large egg
1¼ pounds ground lamb
1 tablespoon rice flour or all-purpose flour
4–5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
½ English hothouse cucumber, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1½ tablespoons Sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper
½ cup plain sheep’s-milk or cow’s whole-milk yogurt
¼ cup chopped fresh mint
Crushed red pepper flakes (for serving)
Special Equipment
A spice mill or a mortar and pestle

Steps:

  • Preparation 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 Tbsp. 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 ½" balls. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Working in 2 batches and adding another 1 Tbsp. 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 Tbsp. 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.

Tips:

  • Choose the right lamb: For the best flavor, use ground lamb that is at least 80% lean. You can also use a mixture of lamb and beef.
  • Season the meatballs well: Don't be shy with the spices! The cumin, chili powder, and garlic give the meatballs a ton of flavor.
  • Cook the meatballs thoroughly: Make sure the meatballs are cooked through before serving. This will help prevent foodborne illness.
  • Serve with a variety of dipping sauces: Yogurt sauce, cucumber sauce, and tahini sauce are all great options.

Conclusion:

These Chile-Cumin Lamb Meatballs with Yogurt and Cucumber are a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer or main course. They're perfect for a party or a weeknight dinner. The meatballs are flavorful and juicy, and the yogurt and cucumber sauce is a refreshing complement. So next time you're looking for a new recipe to try, give these meatballs a try! You won't be disappointed.

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