Best 5 Lamb Meatballs With Yogurt And Pomegranate Seed Sauce Recipes

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Tantalize your taste buds with a culinary journey to the Mediterranean, where succulent lamb meatballs bask in a vibrant symphony of flavors. These delectable morsels, lovingly crafted with aromatic herbs and spices, promise a burst of savory sensations. Accompanied by two tantalizing sauces – a cool and refreshing yogurt sauce and a luscious pomegranate seed sauce – these lamb meatballs elevate the dining experience to new heights. Dive into a world of culinary delight as we explore the secrets behind this exquisite dish, sure to become a favorite in your culinary repertoire.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

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

TURKISH SPICED MEATBALLS WITH POMEGRANATE YOGURT SAUCE



Turkish Spiced Meatballs with Pomegranate Yogurt Sauce image

Italian and Swedish meatballs, step aside. These Turkish meatballs are so juicy, light, and flavorful-not to mention easy-they'll be rocking your party world this holiday season.

Provided by Melissa Roberts

Categories     Lamb     Appetizer     Bake     Cocktail Party     Yogurt     Oscars     New Year's Eve     Ground Lamb     Spice     Family Reunion     Poker/Game Night     Shower     Pomegranate     Party     Pomegranate Juice     Gourmet     Sugar Conscious     Kidney Friendly     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free

Yield Makes about 42 meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 15

Pomegranate yogurt sauce:
2 cups whole-milk yogurt or 1 cup labne or plain Greek yogurt
1 cup pomegranate juice
Pomegranate seeds for garnish (about 2 tablespoons, or to taste)
Meatballs:
2 slices firm white sandwich bread
1 small onion, chopped
1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 pound ground lamb (preferably shoulder) or ground chuck
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon hot red-pepper flakes (see Cooks' notes)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
Decorative picks

Steps:

  • Make Sauce:
  • Put yogurt in a paper towel-lined sieve set over a bowl and keep covered and chilled 8 to 12 hours.
  • Boil pomegranate juice in a small heavy saucepan until syrupy and reduced to about 2 tablespoons, about 10 minutes. Keep warm off heat, covered.
  • Make Meatballs:
  • Soak whole slices of bread for 30 minutes in a mixing bowl filled with water, then fold and squeeze gently to remove as much water as possible.
  • Pulse onion in a food processor until finely chopped, then add parsley and pulse again until finely chopped. Add lamb, bread (torn into pieces), allspice, red-pepper flakes, cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and pulse, stopping and scraping down sides, until combined. (Do not overblend.)
  • Roll level tablespoons of meat mixture into balls (about 42), arranging them on plates or on another sheet pan.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Line a large, rimmed sheet pan with foil.
  • Heat olive oil and vegetable oil together in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until oils shimmer (put one meatball in to test; it should sizzle). Brown meatballs all over in batches of 10 to 12, turning occasionally with a spoon or shaking skillet (lower heat if oil begins to smoke), about 2 minutes per batch. Transfer, as browned, to lined sheet pan.
  • Once all meatballs are browned, transfer the sheet pan to the oven and bake until meatballs are cooked through (cut one open to look, or use an instant-read thermometer; it should register 160°F), 10 to 15 minutes. Drain briefly on paper towels.
  • Spoon drained yogurt into a small serving bowl and drizzle with pomegranate syrup, then swirl it in briefly with a spoon. Sprinkle some pomegranate seeds over top. Spear each meatball with a toothpick and serve yogurt alongside for dipping.

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

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE



Lamb Meatballs With Pomegranate Sauce image

Mediterranean-style meatballs served with a pomegranate juice reduction served with garlic and chive flavored yogurt and pita wedges. The meatballs are browned on the stove-top then finished in a slow oven.

Provided by threeovens

Categories     < 60 Mins

Time 1h

Yield 32 meatballs, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup fine breadcrumbs
1/4 cup of fresh mint, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 lbs ground lamb
1 (16 ounce) bottle pomegranate juice
1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt (must strain liquid out of regular yogurt through a fine sieve or cheesecloth for about 1/2 hour to t) or 2 cups plain yogurt (must strain liquid out of regular yogurt through a fine sieve or cheesecloth for about 1/2 hour to t)
2 tablespoons fresh chives, snipped
1 garlic clove, minced
fresh mint leaves (optional)
toasted pita bread, wedges (optional)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300°F In a large bowl combine egg, bread crumbs, chopped mint, 2 cloves minced garlic, salt and pepper. Add lamb and mix well. Shape into about 32 meatballs and set aside.
  • To prepare the sauce bring the pomegranate juice to a boil in a medium saucepan. reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, about 25 minutes until reduce to about 1/2 cup. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve.
  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Brown the meatballs, in batches, being sure to turn meatballs a few times for even browning. Once browned transfer meatballs to a 15x10x1 inch baking dish. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until and instant read thermometer reads 160°F when inserted in a meatball.
  • While meatballs are finishing prepare the yogurt sauce. In a medium bowl combine yogurt, 1 tablespoon snipped chives, and one minced garlic clove.
  • To serve, drizzle meatballs with pomegranate sauce, sprinkle with remaining snipped chives and mint if desired. Serve with the yogurt sauce and toasted pita wedges.

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND POMEGRANATE SEED SAUCE



LAMB MEATBALLS WITH YOGURT AND POMEGRANATE SEED SAUCE image

Categories     Sandwich     Lamb     Bake     Grill/Barbecue

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 16

For the Lamb Meatballs
1 pound ground lamb
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 red onion, grated on a box grater
1 tablespoon canola oil
For the Yogurt and Pomegranate Seed Sauce
5 ounces Greek yogurt
1 1/2 tablespoons milk or water
Seeds from 1 pomegranate
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • For the lamb meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the ground lamb, fresh mint, cayenne, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, salt, and red onion. Mix together with your hands until thoroughly mixed and slightly sticky. Form mixture into 16 balls, approximately two inches wide. 2 Adjust top oven rack to six inches below the broiler. Preheat broiler to high. Add oil to rimmed baking sheet. Add the meatballs, and roll them around until they are coated in the oil. Arrange in two rows in such a way that they will cook evenly under the broiler element. Transfer pan to the broiler, and cook until meatballs are browned on the top, 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully remove the pan, and use a pair of tongs to flip the meatballs. Return pan to the oven, and cook until browned on the other side, another 4 to 5 minutes. Remove and set pan aside. 3 For the yogurt and pomegranate seed sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt and milk. When smooth, add pomegranate seeds and fresh mint. Stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 4 Stuff each pita with about a quarter of the sauce and four of the lamb meatballs. Serve immediately.

Tips:

  • Choose the right lamb: Use ground lamb with a fat content of at least 20% for the most flavorful meatballs.
  • Season the meatballs well: Don't be afraid to add plenty of herbs and spices to the meatball mixture. This will give them great flavor.
  • Cook the meatballs gently: Simmer the meatballs in the yogurt sauce over low heat so that they cook through without drying out.
  • Make the sauce ahead of time: The yogurt sauce can be made up to a day in advance. This will save you time when you're ready to serve the meatballs.
  • Serve the meatballs with your favorite sides: These meatballs can be served with rice, pasta, or vegetables. They're also great as an appetizer or snack.

Conclusion:

These lamb meatballs with yogurt and pomegranate seed sauce are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. The meatballs are juicy and flavorful, and the yogurt sauce is creamy and tangy. The pomegranate seeds add a pop of color and sweetness. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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